Vääpeli ( Fältväbel in Swedish) is a Finnish and former

Swedish Swedish or ' may refer to: Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically: * Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland ** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...

Non-commissioned officer A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who has not pursued a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. (Non-officers, which includes most or all enli ...

military rank above Ylikersantti ( Översergeant) and below Ylivääpeli ( Överfältväbel). The rank is derived from the German rank Feldwebel and was used as a rank in the Landsknecht (15th and 16th century) for the one who was responsible for aligning troops during battle. ''Vääpeli''s were trained at the Maanpuolustusopisto, a military junior college, and were usually salaried staff NCOs, as opposed to conscripts or officers.

Yksikön vääpeli

Vääpeli may also refer to a position - rather than a rank - of ''yksikön vääpeli'' (''vääpeli of the unit''), commonly ''komppanian vääpeli'' or ''patterin vääpeli'' (''vääpeli of the company'', ''vääpeli of the battery''), which is a position similar to First Sergeant in the US Armed Forces or company sergeant major of the British and

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

Armed Forces with the exception that in the Finnish Defence Force this position may be held by either a commissioned or a non-commissioned officer while in the US, UK and Commonwealth militaries the equivalent position is always held by an NCO. In the chain of command of a company (or an artillery battery) the ''yksikön vääpeli'' is second only to the company commander and therefore may be in command of technically higher-ranking officers. Usually the position is held by a lieutenant or an ''yliluutnantti'' ('' senior lieutenant''), but it is not unheard of for it to be held by a sergeant. The tern ''yksikköupseeri'' (''officer of the unit''), although officially discontinued since July 2009, may regardless unofficially be used of the position. In the artillery, the equivalent was ''patteriupseeri'' (''officer of the battery'') which continues to be unofficially used in a similar fashion.

History and related ranks

1600 - 1700 (Finland and Sweden)

The rank was established as the highest non-commissioned officers rank.

1833 (Sweden)

Holders of the rank Fältväbel were promoted to Fanjunkare and the rank was removed.

Finland

''Vääpeli''s were traditionally responsible for much of the practical tasks in training conscripts and keeping them in line (often literally), in a manner similar to drill sergeant. They were the lowest rank of permanent salaried NCO and thus to a conscript, they were the first and most often encountered of career personnel. (In regular units, lower ranks were either conscripts or temporarily employed.) Obtaining the rank of ''vääpeli'' required completion of a degree from ''Päällystöopisto'', a military junior college. ''Vääpeli''s were career NCOs and could be promoted to ''ylivääpeli'' and ''sotilasmestari'', but not to commissioned officers; this would require attending the Finnish National Defence University.

References