Oberstabsfeldwebel

Oberstabsfeldwebel (OStFw or OSF) is the highest Non-commissioned officer (NCO) rank in German Army and German Air Force. It is grouped as OR9 in NATO, equivalent to a Chief Warrant Officer 5, Sergeant Major in the United States Army / Chief Master Sergeant (United States Air Force), and a Warrant Officer Class 1 in the British Army / Warrant officer (Royal Air Force). Attainment of this rank requires at least sixteen years since promotion to feldwebel and at least six years since promotion to hauptfeldwebel[1]

Not to be confused with the more junior Austrian Bundesheer NCO-rank Oberstabswachtmeister (OR-7).
Oberstabsfeldwebel
Heer and Luftwaffe shoulder insignia
Country Germany
Service branchArmy    
AF
AbbreviationOStFw
RankGerman NCO rank
NATO rankOR-9
Non-NATO rankE-9
Formation1955
Next higher rankLeutnant
Next lower rankStabsfeldwebel
Equivalent ranksOberstabsbootsmann

In army/ air force context NCOs of this rank were formally addressed as Herr Oberstabsfeldwebel also informally / short Oberstaber.

The rank was introduced in the German Heer equivalent to the Marine grade Oberstabsbootsmann in 1955, and belongs to the grad group Unteroffiziere mit Portepee.

The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group (Senior NCOs with portepee) is as follows:

Remark

The abbreviation "OR" stands for "Other Ranks / fr: sous-officiers et militaires du rang / ru:другие ранги, кроме офицероф"!

junior Rank
Stabsfeldwebel

(German NCO rank)
Oberstabsfeldwebel

 senior Rank
Leutnant

History

The rank has never been used before by the Reichswehr, the Wehrmacht as well as in the GDR National People's Army. However, the rank must not be mixed up with the Stabsoberfeldwebel of the German Wehrmacht´s Kriegsmarine, used in the years from 1939 to 1945.

Equivalent in other NATO countries
  • – Adjudant-chef
  • – Офицерски кандидат
  • – Chief Warrant Officer/Adjudant-chef
  • – Časnički namjesnik
  • – štábní praporčík
  • – Chefsergent
  • – Ülemveebel
  • – Adjudant-chef
  • – Ανθυπασπιστής/ Anthypaspistis
  • – Főtörzszászlós
  • – Maresciallo capo
  • – Augstākais virsseržants
  • – Seržantas majoras
  • – Army: Adjudant / Air Force: Adjudant-Onderofficier
  • – Starszy chorąży sztabowy
  • – Sargento-mor
  • – Army: Plutonier adjutant / Air Force: Maistru Militar clasa I
  • – Subteniente
  • – Astsubay KıdemliBaşçavuş
  • – Army: Warrant Officer Class 1 /RAF: Warrant officer
  • – US Army: Sergeant Major, Chief Warrant Officer 5 / USAF: Chief Master Sergeant, Chief Warrant Officer 5

References
  1. https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/slv_2002/__18.html

Sources
  • BROCKHAUS, Die Enzyklopädie in 24 Bänden (1796–2001), Band 5: 3-7653-3665-3, S. 487, Definition: Oberstabsfeldwebel
  • BROCKHAUS, Die Enzyklopädie in 24 Bänden (1796–2001), Band 7: 3-7653-3676-9, S. 185, Oberstabsfeldwebel
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