''Fahnenjunker'' (short Fhj or FJ, en, officer cadet; ) is a military rank of the Bundeswehr and of some former German armed forces. In earlier German armed forces it was also the collective name for many officer aspirant ranks. It was established by the ''Presidential order of the Federal president on rank insignia and uniforms of soldiers''.The Federal president (publisher): Order of the Federal president (de: Bundespräsident) on rank insignia and uniform of soldiers (short title: BPräsUnifAnO), issued July 14, 1978.

Rank

''Fahnenjunker'' is the entrance rank to an Officer candidate, officer aspirant career. According to the salary class, it is equivalent to the Unteroffizier ohne Portepee ranks Unteroffizier of the army or air force, and Maat (rank), Maat of the Deutsche Marine. It is also grouped as OR-5 in Ranks and insignia of NATO armies enlisted, NATO, equivalent to Sergeant, Staff Sergeant in the US Armed forces. In the army context, NCOs of this rank were formally addressed as ''Herr/ Frau Fahnenjunker'' also informally / short ''Fahnenjunker''. The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group is as follows:
Unteroffizier ohne Portepee *OR-5a: Stabsunteroffizier / (Marine) Obermaat *OR-5b: Fahnenjunker / Seekadett *OR-5c: Unteroffizier / Maat (rank), Maat

Rank insignia

Bundeswehr

An officer candidate's career is indicated by the enlisted rank with a thin silver cord on the shoulder strap in the army and the air force, and with the golden nautical star on the shoulder strap and sleeve in the ''Deutsche Marine''. The rank insignia of ''Fahnenjunker'' consists of shoulder straps, bordered by a golden braid that is open to the sleeve seam. ''Fahnenjunker'' of the air force wear an additional Air Force wing on the open end of the braid. The rank insignia on field and battle dress are in black colour. Below the lowest officer designated rank of "Fahnenjunker," any military person who is assigned to be a career officer has to wear the two capital letters “OA” in addition to the particular rank, indicating the “Officer Aspirant” career.

Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fahnenjunker Military ranks of Germany

Rank

Rank insignia

Bundeswehr

Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS

See also

References