Rank insignia of the German Bundeswehr

The rank insignia of the federal armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany indicate rank and branch of service in the German Army (Heer), German Air Force (Luftwaffe), or the German Navy (Marine).

They are regulated by the "presidential order on rank designation and military uniform". The 'ZDv-37/10 – Anzugsordnung für Soldaten der Bundeswehr' (ZDv: Zentrale Dienstvorschrift - Central Service Provision) gives the dress order and design variations. Further, the Federal Office of Equipment, IT, and In-Service Support of the Bundeswehr (Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr) provides numerous details.

Types

Basically, the different types of rank insignias might be distinguished as follows:

Shoulder straps or boards
Cuff titles or sleeve insignias
Mounting loops or straps (in de: Aufziehschlaufen)

Basic structure of shoulder straps and sleeve insignias

The rank insignias of all service personnel will be explained initially on the example of shoulder straps to the basic uniform or everyday uniform in order provide a general overview.

As to naval persons in uniform there will be additionally depicted sleeve insignias on the uniform jacket. Pertaining army persons in uniform there will be shown next shoulder straps of the uniform jacket. Variations of the first instance depicted rank insignias will be explained in more detail.

Mannschaften (Personnel)

Army, Luftwaffe	NATO	Rank insignia				Navy
Army, Luftwaffe	NATO			(shoulder and sleeve)		Navy
Army: Soldat (army recruit) Luftwaffe: Flieger (airman recruit)	OR-1[1]	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger Panzertruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 10er Verwendungsreihen	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 81er Verwendungsreihe	Matrose (seaman recruit)
Gefreiter (Private)	OR-2	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger Jägertruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 20er Verwendungsreihen	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 50er Verwendungsreihen	Gefreiter (Seaman apprentice)
Obergefreiter (Private first class)	OR-3	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger Heeresaufklärungstruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 30er Verwendungsreihen	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 40er Verwendungsreihen	Obergefreiter (Seaman)
Hauptgefreiter (Private first class)	OR-3	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger Artillerietruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 50er Verwendungsreihen	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 30er Verwendungsreihen	Hauptgefreiter (Seaman)
Stabsgefreiter (Corporal)	OR-4	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger Heeresflugabwehrtruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 60er Verwendungsreihen	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 20er Verwendungsreihen	Stabsgefreiter (Petty Officer 3rd class)
Oberstabsgefreiter (Corporal)	OR-4	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger Fernmeldetruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 30er Verwendungsreihen	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 10er Verwendungsreihen	Oberstabsgefreiter (Petty Officer 3rd class)

Unteroffiziere (Non-commissioned officers)

Operational ranks

Heer, Luftwaffe	NATO	Rank insignia				Marine
Heer, Luftwaffe	NATO			(shoulder and sleeve)		Marine
Non-commissioned Officers "without swordknot"/ Unteroffiziere "ohne Portepee"
Unteroffizier (Sergeant)	OR-5	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger Panzergrenadiertruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 10er Verwendungsreihen	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 10er Verwendungsreihen	Maat (Petty Officer 2nd class)
Stabsunteroffizier (Sergeant)	OR-5	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger Panzertruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 30er Verwendungsreihen	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 20er Verwendungsreihen	Obermaat (Petty Officer 2nd class)
Non-commissioned Officers "with swordknot"/ Unteroffiziere "mit Portepee"
Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)	OR-6b and OR-6a	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger Artillerietruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 30er Verwendungsreihen	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 60er Verwendungsreihen	Bootsmann (Petty Officer 1st class)
Oberfeldwebel (Staff Sergeant)	OR-6b and OR-6a	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger Heeresflugabwehrtruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 60er Verwendungsreihen	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 70er Verwendungsreihen	Oberbootsmann (Petty Officer 1st class)
Hauptfeldwebel (Sergeant first class / Master sergeant)	OR-7 and OR-8	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger ABC-Abwehrtruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 70er Verwendungsreihen	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 50er Verwendungsreihen	Hauptbootsmann (Chief Petty Officer / Senior Chief Petty Officer)
Stabsfeldwebel (Master sergeant)	OR-8	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger Fernmeldetruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 10er Verwendungsreihen	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 40er Verwendungsreihen	Stabsbootsmann (Senior Chief Petty Officer)
Oberstabsfeldwebel (Senior master sergeant)	OR-9	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger Heeresaufklärungstruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 20er Verwendungsreihen	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 30er Verwendungsreihen	Oberstabsbootsmann (Master Chief Petty Officer)

Officer cadet ranks

Heer, Luftwaffe	NATO	Rank insignia				Marine
Heer, Luftwaffe	NATO			(shoulder and sleeve)		Marine
Non-commissioned Officers - Officer Cadets
Fahnenjunker (Officer canditate equivalent to Sergeant)	OR-5	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger Panzertruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 30er Verwendungsreihen	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 20er Verwendungsreihen	Seekadett (Officer candidate equivalent to Petty officer 2nd class)
Fähnrich (Officer candidate equivalent to Staff sergeant)	OR-6	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger Pioniertruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 30er Verwendungsreihen	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger 60er Verwendungsreihen	Fähnrich zur See (Officer candidate equivalent to Petty officer 1st class)
Oberfähnrich (Officer candidate equivaltent to Sergeant first class / Master Sergeant)	OR-7	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger Heeresfliegertruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst oder militärfachlicher Dienst)	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst oder militärfachlicher Dienst)	Oberfähnrich zur See (Officer candidate equivalent to Chief Petty Officer / Senior Chief Petty Officer)

Offiziere (Officers)

Heer, Luftwaffe	NATO	Rank insignia				Marine
Heer, Luftwaffe	NATO			(shoulder and sleeve)		Marine
Lieutenants (de: Leutnante)
Leutnant (Second lieutenant)	OF-1b[2] OF-1a	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger Fallschirmjägertruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst oder militärfachlicher Dienst)	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst oder militärfachlicher Dienst)	Leutnant zur See (Ensign (rank)#United States)
Oberleutnant (First lieutenant)	OF-1b[2] OF-1a	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger Panzertruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst oder militärfachlicher Dienst)	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst oder militärfachlicher Dienst)	Oberleutnant zur See (Lieutenant (junior grade))
Captains and Captains lieutenant (de: Hauptleute)
Hauptmann (Captain (armed forces))	OF-2b OF-2a	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger Heeresaufklärungstruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst oder militärfachlicher Dienst)	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst oder militärfachlicher Dienst)	Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant (navy))
Stabshauptmann (Staff captain)	OF-2b OF-2a	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger Artillerietruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (militärfachlicher Dienst)	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (militärfachlicher Dienst)	Stabskapitänleutnant (Senior Lieutenant (navy))
Senior officers (de: Stabsoffiziere)
Major (Major)	OF-3	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger Fedljägertruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst)	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst)	Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant commander (United States))
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant colonel)	OF-4	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger Heeresflugabwehrtruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst)	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst)	Fregattenkapitän (Commander (United States))
Oberst (Colonel)	OF-5	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger ABC-Abwehrtruppe	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst)	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst)	Kapitän zur See (Captain (United States O-6))

Generals and Flag officers

Heer, Luftwaffe	NATO	Rank insignia				Marine
Heer, Luftwaffe	NATO			(shoulder and sleeve)		Marine
Brigadegeneral (Brigadier general)	OF-6	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger General	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger General	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst)	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst)	Flottillenadmiral (Commodore (rank))
Generalmajor (Major general)	OF-7	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger General	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger General	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst)	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst)	Konteradmiral (Rear admiral)
Generalleutnant (Lieutenant general)	OF-8	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger General	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger General	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst)	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst)	Vizeadmiral (Vice admiral)
General	OF-9	Jacke Dienstanzug Heeresuniformträger General	Jacke Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger General	Schulterklappe Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst)	Ärmelabzeichen Dienstanzug Marineuniformträger (Truppendienst)	Admiral

^* above: description to person in uniform “ Heer Bundeswehr“ (Federal Armed Forces - Army) and „Luftwaffe Bundeswehr“ (Federal Armed Forces - Air Force) ; below – Description to person in uniform “Deutsche Marine” (German Navy)

Variations

Army- and Air Force persons in uniform of the commissioned officers rank group may carry in line with ZDv 37/10 self-procured hand stitched rank insignias (image: d.) instead of the metallic version (image: e.). However, this type of rank insignias is rather seldom in practice. Beside the rank insignia on light-grey shoulder straps, as shown above, there is to army persons in uniform a version (see image a.) on dark grey cloth. This version of shoulder straps will be worn to uniform shirt and overcoat.

Naval persons in uniform, of the enlisted personnel rank group, wear relatively seldom the dark blue jacket with the above indicated cuff titles, because enlisted mariner in the age below 30 years prefer to wear the white shirt or blue shirt instead of the uniform jacked. Sleeve insignias on shirts more simple, but pertaining form and dimensions identically to those on jackets.

a. Dark grey shoulder strap - Heer (here: Stabsunteroffizier armored corps)
b. Cuff title to the dark blue seaman shirt (here: Oberstabsgefreiter with a seamanship rating)
c. Cuff title to the dark white seaman shirt (here: Obergefreiter with a control & communications rating)
d. Shoulder strap dress uniform strap (hand stitched version) - Heer (here: captain - OF2)
e. Shoulder strap basic form (metallic version) - Heer (here: lieutenant - OF1b infantry)

Mess Dress uniform, male Heer

Mess Dress uniform, female Heer

In the place of stripes, with parts of metallic spinning fibers wire yarn, the oblique chevrons are made from golden-yellow or steel-blue spinning fibers without any metallic parts of wire yarn (see images b and c.). For Army and Air Force personnel in Bundeswehr dress uniform, as well as for all female soldiers, shoulder straps are mandatory. However, male naval persons in uniform wear cuff titles, known from the jacket.

Particularities

Deviating from the description above, naval enlisted personnel of the Guard Battalion of the MOD-Germany (de: Wachbataillon beim BMVg) are exempted from wearing any sleeve rating mark on all uniforms.

In opposition to the ZDv 37/10, in representative military units (e.g. Guard Battalion of the MOD-Germany and Staff Military Band of the Armed Forces) for enlisted personnel and non commissioned officers the background of the basic uniform gorget patches shows the specific corps colour of the appropriate armed service, special troop, corps or assignment.[3]

Also in deviation from the description above, on the service jacket and skiing blouse colour pipings or cops background colour on gorget patches are dropped.[3]

Basic form of mounting straps

Mounting straps or loops (Aufziehschlaufen in German) are in principle identical to the design of the epaulettes depicted above. From this point of view it is sufficient to demonstrate the different versions of the design, instead of showing a complete list. Officially-procured mounting straps are weaved. The field-uniform type of mounting straps, used most, have black or golden emblems on stone-grey/olive-coloured base textiles. Soldiers of the lowest ranks generally do not wear shoulder straps. Exceptions to this are comparatively-low-ranked sub-officers, Mate aspirants, and Boatswain aspirants, as well as wearers of stone-grey/olive Luftwaffe uniforms that do not feature badges with the double wings.

Rank	Person in uniform			Notes
Rank				Notes
Enlisted personnel		Aufschiebeschlaufe Feldanzug Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger	Aufschiebeschlaufe Feldanzug Marineuniformträger	On army uniform, the shoulder strap loops consist of a base textile the colour of the collar patch with markings in 0.4-cm-wide coupled flat thread. Luftwaffe shoulder straps of this type are the only type to have the Luftwaffe double wings woven in. These are longer than all the other types used by the Luftwaffe.
Non-commissioned officers	Aufschiebeschlaufe Feldanzug Heeresuniformträger Stabsunteroffizier Fernmeldetruppe	Aufschiebeschlaufe Feldanzug Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger Oberstabsfeldwebel	Aufschiebeschlaufe Feldanzug Marineuniformträger Bootsmann
Staff officers	Aufschiebeschlaufe Feldanzug Heeresuniformträger Oberst Heereslogistiktruppe	Aufschiebeschlaufe Feldanzug Dienstanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger Oberst	Aufschiebeschlaufe Feldanzug Marineuniformträger Fregattenkapitän	This shoulder strap is also worn on the Battle Dress Uniform featuring 3-colour Flecktarn camouflage. Epaulettes and armbands on the Battle Dress Uniforms of personnel whose ranks feature stars are only worn by some comparatively-low-ranked Officer aspirants.
General ranks Flag officers	Aufschiebeschlaufe Feldanzug Heeresuniformträger General	Aufschiebeschlaufe Feldanzug Luftwaffenuniformträger Generalleutnant	Aufschiebeschlaufe Feldanzug Marineuniformträger Admiral

Variations which conform to regulations

Similar mounting straps exist for differently-coloured uniform parts as well as for Army, Air Force, and Navy personnel in uniform. Army personnel in uniform, for example, wear black mounting straps with bright-grey emblems (gold-yellow for Generals) on the epaulettes of grey shirts (see image a.).

For naval personnel, dark-blue mounting straps are widespread, particularly on the ship-parka (see image c.).

For Air Force pilots' flying suits there exists a version of the mounting straps with bright-grey emblems (gold-yellow for Generals) on dark-blue base textile (without double-wing). The Air Force double-wing is mounted to other parts of the flying suit, and is intentionally omitted on mounting straps.

a. Black base textile with bright-grey emblems – Heer (here: colonel NBC defense corps, grey pullover)
b. Dark-blue base textile with bright-grey emblems – Air Force (here: captain grey-blue flying suit)
c. Dark-blue base textile with gold-yellow emblems – Navy (here: captain lieutenant, ship-parka)

Versions being phased out

By amendment of the "Presidential Order on Rank Designation and Uniform of Soldiers" on February 7, 1996, it was decided that the silver-coloured rank insignia on the camouflage fighting suit (de: Kampfanzug Tarndruck) would become obsolete. They will be replaced by black-coloured ones. [4]

According to the ZDv 37/10, ”Until official procurement of the newly designed olive-green mounting loops with black-coloured rank insignias (for enlisted personnel, non commissioned officers, and commissioned officers including colonels of the Heer and Luftwaffe), the old-fashioned mounting loop with grey-colour rank insignias may be worn."

In practice, the replacement of the obsolete grey-coloured mounting loops by the new fashioned black-colour version is almost complete. However, on uni-coloured flying suits of army pilots and aviation technicians, mounting loops with grey-coloured rank insignias conform to the regulations.

a. Mounting loop with bright-grey emblem on stone-grey base textile – Heer (here: Oberstabsfeldwebel renonnaissance corps)
b. Mounting loop with bright-grey emblem on stone-olive base textile – Luftwaffe (here: lieutenant colonel)

Tolerated versions

The following tables below depict mounting loops that are used in practice in conjunction with the 3- or 5 colour flecktarn fighting suit. However, these particular versions are not mentioned or depicted in the ZDv 37/10, nor are they officially procured. Mounting loops in 3- and 5-colour flecktarn are de facto in contravention of the Presidential Order on Rank Designation and Uniform of Soldiers, and may be only procured individually. However, the mounting loops in 3- and 5 colour flecktarn with black-, grey- or yellow-coloured emblems depicted below are tolerated and worn up to highest rank groups and grades. In service, some black-colour emblems, e.g. for the feldwebel grades, lieutenant, or major, might not be very visible.

Rank insignias tolerated versions - field uniform:
black emblem on 5-colour-flecktarn – Luftwaffe (Stabshauptmann)
black emblem on 5-colour-flecktarn – Heer (Lieutenant Armour corps)
bright-grey emblem on 5-color-flecktarn – Heer (Colonel Supply corps)
bright-grey emblem on 5-colour-flecktarn – Luftwaffe (Hauptfeldwebel)
black emblem on 3-color-flecktarn – Luftwaffe (Lieutenant colonel)
black emblem on 3-colour-flecktarn – Heer (Oberstabsfeldwebel Army aviation corps)
gold-yellow emblem on 5-colour-flecktarn – Marine (Hauptgefreiter)
gold-yellow emblem on 3-colour-flecktarn – Marine (Kapitänleutnant)

Additional elements

As illustrated above, all rank insignias come with a number of diverse additional elements. In most cases they characterize a rank or career group within the Bundeswehr. Additional elements are not components of the rank insignia, because the rank or grade level is clearly defined by the rank isignia itself. However, there are additional statuses not defined by these rank markings, such as being a licensed medical officer or a designated officer of NCO rank. These require additional elements to signify such status.

Double wing

The double wing (also: aviator wing) is part of the mounting loop of any Luftwaffe uniform. It is woven in the colour of all other emblems (in most cases: black (image b.) – or gold by general ranks (image c.)). The double wing, also part of other elements on aviator's uniform, unambiguously distinguishes stone-grey/olive Luftwaffe uniforms from those of the Army. Double wing mounting loops are longer and wider than any other in the Bundeswehr. The double wing is even part of the otherwise empty mounting loop of the lowest private OR1-rank (German: Flieger (flyer) or Kanonier (gunner); see image a.), in order to distinguish between the Luftwaffe and Army in flecktarn Battle Dress Uniform.

Double wing to rank insignias Luftwaffe - field uniform:
a. Flieger OR1 (flecktarn uniform – Luftwaffe)
b.Major (flecktarn uniform – Luftwaffe)
c. Major general (flecktarn uniform – Luftwaffe)

Corps colour

Corps (or troop-function) colours (Waffenfarben in German) have been traditionally used in German armed forces since the 19th century. Corps-coloured piping and padding (4-mm-wide plain braiding) are used on the uniforms of Army and Luftwaffe personnel, placed on shoulder straps and cuffs to characterize the membership of an armed service, a special force, or a particular assignment. Corps-coloured loops might be used on mounting straps of field uniform. The collar patches on uniform jackets show corps colours as well. It should be mentioned that the piping and padding (German.: Litze) on the shoulder (bottom part of the badge) is issued after boot camp and the beret is issued to the Corps that the wearer is currently serving in. Hence, the Litze can have a different colour to the beret since a soldier may have passed boot camp in another Corps than that which they currently serve in.

Corps colours

Collar patches of Army/Luftwaffe general ranks OF6 – OF7:	Deep-red
Army Officers in general staff assignment (i.G.):	Carmine
Personnel in Luftwaffe service uniform:	Gold-yellow
Artillerietruppe (Artillery):	Deep-red
ABC-Abwehrtruppe (CBRN defence):	Maroon ("Bordeaux")
Panzertruppe (Armored, MBT only):	Pink
Heeresaufklärungstruppe (Army reconnaissance, HUMINT):	Gold-yellow
Feldjägertruppe (Military Police):	Pure-orange
Führungsunterstützung (Electronic Warfare, IT, Communication, Psychological):	Yellow
Infanterie (Light Inf., Mechanized, Paratroopers, SOF):	Forest-green
Heereslogistik- und Instandsetzungstruppe (Logistics, Supply, Maintenance):	Medium-blue
Sanitätsdienst der Bundeswehr (Medical Personnel):	Gentian-Violet
Heeresfliegertruppe (Army Aviation):	Ash-grey
Pioniertruppe (Pioneers/Sappers):	Black
Militärmusikdienst (Military bands):	White

Assignment badges

Assignment badges (German: Laufbahnabzeichen) of the German Navy are equivalent to the corps colours of the Army and Luftwaffe and have corresponding functions respectively.

Uniformed Naval personnel of enlisted and NCO rank wear specific marks of distinction or badges on epaulettes (not on mounting straps) and sleeves to characterize the appropriate assignment. The exception to this is officer-designated (OF(D)) grades.

As well as rank insignias on epaulettes, assignment badges are made up of metallic gold-coloured embossed pins or badges. Both are identical in colour and design. However, the assignment badges on sleeves are embroidered by hand or machine. Only the steel-blue assignment badges on white shirts of enlisted personnel are weaved. Seamen (recruit OR-1) wear assignment badges on shoulder straps or upper-sleeves that are otherwise empty. Assignment badges are normally positioned as follows:

Enlisted personnel: in the middle below of the rank insignia
NCOs with portepeed (sword knot): in the middle above of the rank insignia
Maat and Obermaat: in the middle of the square between the sets of stripes

Assignment badges on epaulettes are normally symmetric and placed between the head and rank insignia. The exception is for members of the Naval health service (assignment series 81), where the asymmetrical Rod of Asclepius is placed at the head.

Various Assignment Series (AS) of German Marine assignment badges:
Nautical Service (10th)
Navy Command Service (20th)
Navy Weapon Service (30th)
Nautical Technical Service (40th)
Navy Aviation Service (50th)
Supply and Staff Service (60th)
Transport and Navy Security Service (70th)
AS 81: "Health Service Support"(design to left cuff)
AS 85: "Military Music Service"

Officers and designated officers

Army and Luftwaffe

In the Army and Luftwaffe, the epaulettes of general ranks OF6 to OF9 on service uniform (basic design) and dress uniform are ornamented with a gold border made from metallic fabric (piping), as shown above. Field officer ranks (OF1 to OF5), including the officer designated grade Oberfähnrich (Army: Senior Cadet Sergeant, Luftwaffe: Senior Aviation Cadet, Senior Warrant Officer (Br. Senior Acting Pilot Officer), Navy: Senior Midshipman), have silver-ornamented borders, also made from metallic fabric.

The metallic fabric ornamental border of the general ranks is made of fire-gilded silver wire. As for the field officer ranks, the ornamental border contains aluminium. A similar piping is employed on other uniform parts as well, e.g. on collar points of the service uniform jacket for officer ranks including Oberfähnrich (Army and Luftwaffe), or on the peaked cap (Schirmmütze in German) or mountain cape (German: Bergmütze).

Most officer designated ranks (Army and Luftwaffe) already have this particular silver metallic tissue border on epaulettes, next to the lower end of the mounting loop. The only exception to this is the Oberfähnrich shoulder strap, to be worn on service and dress uniform. This particular epaulette has the silver piping on its outline, indicating the officer's career, but lacks the bronze-coloured edging that usually borders the centre part of NCO-rank insignia, as opposed to the service uniform epaulettes of a Hauptfeldwebel (Staff Sergeant/First Sergeant, OR-7). However, rank badges on the mounting loops of Hauptfeldwebel and Oberfähnrich are identical.

Designated officers of OR-1 rank wear simple silver mounting loops on the otherwise empty epaulettes. A silver cord on the lower end of the mounting loop is usually worn in the Army. Alongside is another loop of corps colour, which indicates the membership to the appropriate branch of service, special force or assignment. The visible, silver-coloured stripes are essential in order to differentiate from equivalent NCO ranks, because an officer candidate with the rank of "Fähnrich" (Army: Cadet Sergeant, Luftwaffe: Aviation Cadet, Warrant Officer, Navy: Midshipman) may not yet have professional knowledge about his future troop type, whose colours he is already wearing, as opposed to a "Feldwebel" (Sergeant, OR-6). This is an issue solely related to specific service requirements, since formally, these ranks (e.g. Fahnenjunker and Unteroffizier) do not differ in their position in the command chain.

Rank insignias (epaulette / mounting loop) for officer aspirant (OA) ranks
Schütze OA
(Army Gunner OA, service uniform epaulette, military musician service)
Fahnenjunker OA
(Army Officer Cadet OA, service uniform epaulette, military police corps)
Oberfähnrich OA
(Senior Warrant Officer OA Luftwaffe, epaulette of basic design for officers in service uniform)
Jäger OA
(Army Jäger OA, mounting loop, field uniform)
HA OS5 32 Oberfeldwebel OA
(Army First/Staff Sergeant OA, Panzer Grenadier Corps, field uniform)
Mounting loop Gefreiter OA
(Army Private OA, Mechanized Infantry Corps, field uniform)
Mounting loop Oberfähnrich OA
(Luftwaffe Senior Warrant Officer OA, basic form of mounting loop identical to Hauptfeldwebel, field uniform)

Navy

Regarding the Navy, apart from the rank insignia there are no additional elements given to all officer grades and officer designated ranks. Various assignment badges indicate the different officer chains of career and distinguish designated officers from other rank groups, e.g. enlisted ratings and NCOs. Examples of assignment badges dedicated to officer ranks are:

Military geographical service – a stylized globe with GEO written in the middle.
Military musician service – a three-sided lyre.
Line officers (German: Truppendienstoffizier(e)) and warrant officers (German: Fachdienstoffizier(e)) – a five pointed nautical star (with the a single point at the top).

Assignment badges on shoulder straps are worn principally above the parallel gold-coloured galloons. They are designed as gold-coloured metallic stamped stickers in the style of the rank insignias of NCOs and enlisted men. The exception is weaved mounting loops, because not any assignment badge or career badge has to be worn on it.

Cuff assignment badges for officers are hand-embroidered and made from gold-coloured metallic fabric. In accordance with ZDv 37/10 on dark-blue epaulettes, hand-embroidered naval stars, made from gold-coloured metallic fabric, are tolerated as well.

Examples of assignment badges on epaulettes/cuff
Kapitänleutnant
(line officer or warrant officer career)
Stabskapitänleutnant
(military geographical service)
Kapitän zur See
(line officer career)
Leutnant zur See
(military geographical service)
Leutnant zur See
(military musician service)

As mentioned above, the nautical star identifies all officer dedicated ranks as well, with the exception of the medical career chain (see below).

Versions for officer aspirant (OA) ranks, medical career excepted
Gefreiter OA
(Able Seaman OA epaulettes)
Fähnrich zur See
(Midshipman OA epaulettes)
Oberfähnrich zur See OA
(Senior Mdishipman OA epaulette, designed identically to officer ranks)
Matrose OA
(Seaman Recruit OA sleeve)
Gefreiter OA
(Seaman OA sleeve)
Seekadett OA
(Sea Cadet OA sleeve)
Oberfähnrich zur See OA
(Senior Midshipman OA cuff, designed identically to officer ranks)
Matrose OA
(Seaman Recruit OA mounting strap, with embroidered nautical star)
Hauptgefreiter OA
(Able Seaman OA mounting strap, with embroidered nautical star)
Oberfähnrich zur See
(Senior Midshipman OA mounting strap, with embroidered nautical star)

Officers of the Medical Service including Officer Aspirants

The speciality badge is different for medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and pharmacy. As mentioned above, it depicts the Rod of Asclepius. The head of the snake points forward, i.e. the direction the soldier is facing. Officer Aspirants are known as Sanitätsoffizieranwärter or SanOA for short, which translates as Medical Officer Aspirant (MOA). This denotes personnel who are yet to finish their medical studies. Excluding Officer Aspirants and Generals, medical ranks have slightly different names to denote specialities, e.g. a physician holding a rank equivalent to Hauptmann (Captain) is called Stabsarzt (Staff Doctor), a dentist Stabszahnarzt (Staff Dentist), a veterinarian Stabsveterinär (Staff Vet), and a pharmacist Stabsapotheker (Staff Pharmacist).

Versions for officers of the medical service including officer candidates
Sanitätssoldat SanOA
(Army MOA mounting loop, field uniform, studying veterinary medicine)
Gefreiter SanOA
(Luftwaffe MOA epaulette, service uniform, studying medicine)
Oberfeldwebel SanOA
(Army MOA, field uniform mounting loop, studying veterinary medicine, patch interrupting border)
Fähnrich zur See SanOA
(Navy MOA, field uniform mounting loop, studying pharmacy, patch not interrupting border)
Leutnant zur See SanOA
(Navy MOA, service uniform shirt epaulette, studying medicine)
Stabsarzt
(Army Staff Doctor, service uniform epaulette)
Oberstabsapotheker
(Luftwaffe Senior Pharmacist, field uniform epaulette)
Flottenarzt
(Naval Doctor cuff insignias)
Oberfeldarzt
(Army Senior Field Doctor, sweater mounting loop)
Oberstveterinär
(Army Senior Vet, service uniform epaulette)
Generalarzt
(Army General Dentist, service uniform epaulette)
Generalstabsarzt
(Luftwaffe Staff General Doctor, field uniform mounting loop)
Generaloberstabsarzt
(Army Senior Staff General Dentist, field uniform mounting loop)

Feldwebel/Bootsmann Aspirants

Feldwebel (Sergeant) Aspirant epaulettes include a bronze cord at the bottom of the strap as career indicator (Barely visible on some pictures; Click on Image to enlarge).

Versions of Feldwebel Aspirant (FA)/Bootsman Aspirant (BA) ranks
Panzergrenadier FA
(Army sergeant aspirant, Panzer Grenadier Corps, field uniform)
Hauptgefreier FA
(Army lance corporal/Private first class sergeant aspirant, field uniform mounting strap)
Unteroffizier FA
(Army NCO sergeant aspirant, field uniform mounting strap)
Oberstabsgefreiter FA
(Army corporal sergeant aspirant, Mountain Infantry, field uniform mounting strap)
Gefreiter FA
(Luftwaffe airman sergeant aspirant, service uniform epaulette)
Unteroffizier FA
(Luftwaffe corporal sergeant aspirant, field uniform mounting strap)
Gefreiter BA
(Navy seaman boatswain aspirant, 30th assignment series, service uniform epaulette)
Gefreiter BA
(Navy seaman boatswain aspirant, 10th assignment series)
Stabsgefreiter BA
(Navy able seaman boatswain aspirant, field uniform mounting strap. note the small stripes)
Obermaat BA
(Navy senior mate boatswain aspirant, field uniform mounting strap)

Unteroffizier/ Maat cadets

Versions to Unteroffizier Aspirant (UA) ranks/ Maat Aspirant (MA) Marine
Flieger UA
(Heer, Army aviation, service uniform)
Hauptgefreiter UA
(Heer, mountain infantry, field uniform)
Obergefreiter UA
(Luftwaffe, service uniform)
Hauptgefreiter UA
(Luftwaffe, service uniform)
Flieger UA
(Luftwaffe, field uniform)
Gefreiter MA
(Marine, 50th assignment series)
Gefreiter MA
(Marine, 85th assignment series)
Oberstabsgefreiter MA
(Marine, mounting loop)

Aspirants, examination/course of instruction passed

Versions to Unteroffizier Aspirant (UA) ranks, examination/ course of instruction passed
Obergefreiter UA exam.passed
(Luftwaffe, service uniform)
Stabsgefreiter UA exam.passed
(Heer, Panzergrenadie, field uniform)
Obergefreiter UA exam.passed
(Luftwaffe, field uniform)

Reservist badges (obsolete)

Versions to reservist badges Heer/ Luftwaffe
Obergefreiter der Reserve
(Army lance corporal/private first class reservist, service uniform, engineer corps)
Stabsunteroffizier der Reserve
(Army staff sub-officer reservist, service uniform, military police)
Oberfeldwebel Reserveoffizieranwärter (ROA)
(Army staff sergeant, field uniform, mechanized infantry corps, reserve officer aspirant)
Brigadegeneral ausser Dienst
(Luftwaffe off-duty brigadier general, service uniform)
Stabsunteroffizier der Reserve
(Luftwaffe staff sub-officer reservist, field uniform)

Navy

Examples of Navy reservist badges
Obergefreiter der Reserve
(Able seaman reservist)
Kapitänleutnant der Reserve
(Captain-lieutenant reservist)

gollark: Nim? Rust?

gollark: Even if we do end up actually switching stuff over to them in the next N years, there will be *so many* devices which don't get updated.

gollark: While there are quantum-cryptography-proof cryptographic schemes around, they're barely in the early stages of being standardized, not really deployed in any common protocols yet, not reviewed as thoroughly as existing primitives, and generally not very production-ready.

gollark: Which allows factoring things faster, and also apparently discrete logarithm problems somehow.

gollark: Quantum computers can apparently cause problems for all widely deployed asymmetric cryptography via Shor's algorithm.

References

The abbreviation "OR" stands for "Other Ranks / sous-officiers et militaires du rang"
The abbreviation "OF" stands for "officer / officier"
vgl. "An- und einnähbare Schulterklappen für Heer und Luftwaffe (paspeliert oder unterlegt)" (PDF). Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung. 2006-09-26. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-14. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
Bundespräsident Roman Herzog; Bundeskanzler Helmut Kohl; Bundesminister der Verteidigung Volker Rühe, eds. (22 February 1996), "Anordnung zur Änderung der Anordnung des Bundespräsidenten über die Dienstgradbezeichnungen und die Uniform des Soldaten. Vom 7. Februar 1996", Bundesgesetzblatt (in German), Bonn, 1996 Teil I (10)

ZDv 37/10 Dress order to the soldiers of the Bundeswehr (de: "Anzugordnung für die Soldaten der Bundeswehr") (PDF; 3,5 MB)

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[NATO2-1] The abbreviation "OR" stands for "Other Ranks / sous-officiers et militaires du rang"

[NATO1-2] The abbreviation "OF" stands for "officer / officier"

[TL84550087-3] vgl. "An- und einnähbare Schulterklappen für Heer und Luftwaffe (paspeliert oder unterlegt)" (PDF). Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung. 2006-09-26. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-14. Retrieved 2013-12-12.

[4] Bundespräsident Roman Herzog; Bundeskanzler Helmut Kohl; Bundesminister der Verteidigung Volker Rühe, eds. (22 February 1996), "Anordnung zur Änderung der Anordnung des Bundespräsidenten über die Dienstgradbezeichnungen und die Uniform des Soldaten. Vom 7. Februar 1996", Bundesgesetzblatt (in German), Bonn, 1996 Teil I (10)