Present Estonian system of rank insignia is a direct descendant of various systems used in the past in the Estonian Defence Forces. Some of the grades trace their name back to the period of World Wars, for instance, the rank of aspirant literally means an officer in training in military academies or voluntaries, serving as temporary officers.
Most of the Estonian Army ranks were established during the Estonian War of Independence and in the 1920s. These include the rank of kapral, which is a derivate of Italian caporale – much like the English equivalent of corporal. After the Soviet occupation ended in 1991, a new rank was established, creating for the first time a brigadier general rank in the armed forces of Estonia. In Estonia, rank insignia is worn on the chest. Estonian Junior NCOs are considered as a rank of a conscript NCO or NCO in reserve. In full-time service, junior sergeants and petty officers 3rd class are filling in various soldier positions, and naval ratings and are not taken as NCOs.
Commissioned officer ranks
editThe rank insignia of commissioned officers.
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||||||||||||||
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 Estonian Land Forces[1] |
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| Kindral | Kindralleitnant | Kindralmajor | Brigaadikindral | Kolonel | Kolonelleitnant | Major | Kapten | Leitnant | Nooremleitnant | Lipnik | ||||||||||||||
 Estonian Navy[2] |
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| Admiral | Viitseadmiral | Kontradmiral | Kommodoor | Mereväekapten | Kaptenleitnant | Kaptenmajor | Vanemleitnant | Leitnant | Nooremleitnant | Lipnik | ||||||||||||||
 Estonian Air Force[3] |
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| Kindral | Kindralleitnant | Kindralmajor | Brigaadikindral | Kolonel | Kolonelleitnant | Major | Kapten | Leitnant | Nooremleitnant | Lipnik | ||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||||||||||||||
Student officer ranks
edit| Rank group | Officer candidates | Student officers | |||||||
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| 3. õppeaasta kadett-veebel | 2. õppeaasta kadett-veebel | 3. õppeaasta kadett-seersant | 2. õppeaasta kadett-seersant | 1. õppeaasta kadett-seersant | 3. õppeaasta kadett | 2. õppeaasta kadett | 1. õppeaasta kadett | 1. semestri noorkadett | |
Other ranks
editThe rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Estonian Land Forces[1] |
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| Ülemveebel | Staabiveebel | Vanemveebel | Veebel | Nooremveebel | Vanemseersant | Seersant | Nooremseersant | Kapral | Reamees | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Estonian Navy[2] |
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| Ülemveebel | Staabiveebel | Vanemveebel | Veebel | Nooremveebel | Vanemmaat | Maat | Nooremmaat | Vanemmadrus | Madrus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Estonian Air Force[3] |
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| Ülemveebel | Staabiveebel | Vanemveebel | Veebel | Nooremveebel | Vanemseersant | Seersant | Nooremseersant | Kapral | Reamees | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reserve ranks
edit| Rank group | Reserve | |
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| Ajateenijate reservrühmaülema kursuse lõpetanu | Ajateenijate reservrühmaülema kursusel õppija | |
Historical Estonian Defence League insignia
editThe separate rank system used for the Estonian Defence League was officially abolished in 2013, and it now uses ranks and insignia identical to the Land Forces.[4]
| Rank group | Higher and staff positions | Senior field positions | Junior field positions | ||||||||
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 Estonian Defence League
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| Kaitseliidu ülem | Kaitseliidu Peastaabi ülem | Kaitseliidu maleva pealik | Maleva vaneminstruktor | Malevkonna pealik | Kompanii pealik | Rühma pealik | Rühmapealik eriüksustes | Rühmapealiku abi | Jaopealik | Jaopealiku abi | |
| Positions | Commander | Chief of Staff | Chief of Malev | Senior instructor | Chief of Malevkond | Chief of Company | Platoon commander | Platoon commander in special forces |
Assistant platoon commander | Section commander | Assistant section commander |
Historic ranks
editCommissioned officer ranks
editThe rank insignia of commissioned officers.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Estonian Land Forces (1936–1940)[5] |
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| Kindral | Kindralleitnant | Kindralmajor | Kolonel | Kolonelleitnant | Major | Kapten | Leitnant | Nooremleitnant | Lipnik | |||||||||||||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Sümboolika: Maaväe Auastmed". mil.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Defence Forces. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Sümboolika: Õhuväe Auastmed". mil.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Defence Forces. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "Kaitseliidu eraldusmärgid" (in Estonian). Riigi Teataja.
- ^ "Estonian Army & Navy Ranks 1936-1940". 25 January 2005. Retrieved 2 October 2024.