Oberfähnrich zur See

Oberfähnrich zur See (OFähnr zS or OFRZS) designates in the German Navy of the Bundeswehr a military person or member of the armed forces with the last or highest Officer Aspirant (OA – de: Offizieranwärter) rank. According to the salary class it is equivalent to the Portepeeunteroffizier ranks Hauptbootsmann (Marine) and Hauptfeldwebel of Heer or Luftwaffe.

This article is about the German Marine “Oberfähnrich zur See” OR7. For the equivalent US and UK naval ranks, see Midshipman.

Oberfähnrich zur See
shoulder board / cuff title / mounting loop
Rank insignia	German NCO rank
Introduction	1966
Rank group	Non-commissioned officers
Navy	Oberfähnrich zur See
Army / Air Force	Oberfähnrich
NATO equivalent	OR-7
Navy	Midshipman
Army/Air Force	Officer cadet

It is also grouped as OR-7 in NATO, equivalent to First Sergeant, Master Sergeant, or Senior Chief Petty Officer in the US Armed forces, and to Warrant Officer Class 2 in the British Army and Royal Navy.

In navy context NCOs of this rank were formally addressed as Herr Oberfähnrich zur See also informally / short Oberfähnrich.

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

• OR-9: Oberstabsbootsmann / Oberstabsfeldwebel
• OR-8: Stabsbootsmann / Stabsfeldwebel
• OR-7: Oberfähnrich zur See and Hauptbootsmann / Oberfähnrich and Hauptfeldwebel
• OR-6a: Oberbootsmann / Oberfeldwebel
• OR-6b: Fähnrich zur See and Bootsmann / Fähnrich and Feldwebel

Remark

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

junior Rank Oberbootsmann	Oberfähnrich zur See	senior Rank Stabsbootsmann
	Hauptbootsmann

See also

Main articles: Ranks of the German Bundeswehr and Rank insignia of the German Bundeswehr

Particularity

The top-down sequence of German Marine midshipman ranks is as follows:

• Oberfähnrich zur See
• Fähnrich zur See and
• Seekadett

Already below the lowest officer designated rank "Seekadett" any military person, assigned to an officer career, has to wear additionally to the particular rank the two capital letters “OA”, indicating to the “Officer Aspirant” career. The "nautical star" symbolises the "OA" career.

• Officer Aspirant (OA) ranks, medical career excepted
• 
  Matrose OA (OR-1)
  (nautical star, waved performance)

Equivalent in other countries

• → Merikadetti
• → Oberfähnrich zur See
• → Aspirant de marine
• → Luitenant ter zee der 3e klasse
• → Chorąży marynarki
• → Kursant not to be confused with Michman
• → Midshipman
• → Midshipman