Oberstabswachtmeister

Not to be confused with the more senior German Army/ Air Force NCO-rank Oberstabsfeldwebel (OR-9).

Oberstabswachtmeister (short: OStWm) is in the Austrian Bundesheer a NCO-rank. It belongs to the higher Staff-NCO rank group, and is normally dedicated to command a platoon or to serve in a military staff appointment (assignment group M BUO 1 / professional NCO; respectively M ZUO 1 / reserve).

Oberstabswachtmeister in Austria
Rank insignia	Austrian Bundesheer
Introduction	1965
Rank group	Stabsunteroffiziere
Army / Air Force	Oberstabswachtmeister
Navy	no equivalent
Lower: Higher:	Stabswachtmeister
	Offiziersstellvertreter
NATO equivalent	OR-8

During United Nations missions and in NATO Partnership for Peace the rank Stabswachtmeister will be designated in English with Sergeant First Class (SFC) / Staff Sergeant (SSG) and is equivalent to NATO-Rang code OR-8.

The equivalent to Oberstabswachtmeister might be the Stabsfeldwebel of the Bundeswehr as well.

Rank insignia on the collar patch are a wide and a small white stripe with two sex serrated stars, symbolising the Austrian edelweiss.

See also

• Ranks of the Austrian Bundesheer

References

• Die Streitkräfte der Republik Österreich, 1918-1968, Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, Militärwissenschaftliches Institut, 1968.