''Stabsunteroffizier'' is a military rank of the German
Bundeswehr. It was preceded by the rank ''
Unterfeldwebel'' that was used between 1935 and 1945 in the armed forces of
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German Reich, German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a Totalit ...
, the
Wehrmacht
The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the German Army (1935–1945), ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmac ...
. The
East German National People's Army
The National People's Army (, ; NVA ) were the armed forces of the East Germany, German Democratic Republic (DDR) from 1956 until 1990.
The NVA was organized into four branches: the (Ground Forces), the (Navy), the (Air Force) and the (Bord ...
used the rank ''Unterfeldwebel'' from 1956 to 1990. In the
Austrian Armed Forces ''Stabsunteroffizier'' is the collective name to all higher
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is an enlisted rank, enlisted leader, petty officer, or in some cases warrant officer, who does not hold a Commission (document), commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority b ...
s.
Bundeswehr
''Stabsunteroffizier'' (short StUffz or SU) is a military rank of the ''Deutsche Bundeswehr'' to persons in uniform of the
Heer and
Luftwaffe
The Luftwaffe () was the aerial warfare, aerial-warfare branch of the before and during World War II. German Empire, Germany's military air arms during World War I, the of the Imperial German Army, Imperial Army and the of the Imperial Ge ...
. Legal basis is the ''Presidential order of the Federal president (de: Bundespräsident) 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), ishued July 14, 1978.]
Rank
''Stabsunteroffizier'' is the highest NCO-grade of the rank group
Unteroffizier ohne Portepee.
According to the salary class (A 6-7) it is equivalent to the
Obermaat of
Deutsche Marine.
It is also grouped as OR-5 in
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO ; , OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental Transnationalism, transnational military alliance of 32 Member states of NATO, member s ...
, equivalent to
Sergeant
Sergeant (Sgt) is a Military rank, rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and in other units that draw their heritage f ...
,
Staff Sergeant
Staff sergeant is a Military rank, rank of non-commissioned officer used in the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services.
History of title
In origin, certain senior sergeants were assigned to administr ...
in the US Armed forces.
In army context NCOs of this rank were formally addressed as ''Herr/ Frau Stabsunteroffizier'' also informally / short ''StUffz''.
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
The abbreviation "OR" stands for ''"Other Ranks"''.
Austria
''Stabsunteroffizier(e)'', also ''Stabsunteroffizier corps'' (en: Staff non-commissioned officer), is the collective name to all senior NCO-ranks in the modern day´s ''Austrian Bundesheer''. It comprises the ranks of the assignment group M ZUO 1 (longer-serving NCO 1; de: Unteroffiziere auf Zeit 1) with the ranks
Stabswachtmeister,
Oberstabswachtmeister, and
Offiziersstellvertreter. The assignment group M BUO 1 (professional NCOs 1; de: Berufsunteroffiziere 1) comprises additionally the highest NCO-rank
Vizeleutnant.
Training and education of the ''Stabsunteroffizier corps'' was reformed in 1995 and until 2000 finally introduced to the armed forces. First effected were professional NCOs of the assignment group M BUO 1. The number of trainees was limited to 150 persons in uniform, with a service time of at least four years, with the rank Wachtmeister upward and very good level at English language.
In the result of a positive entrance examination aspirants attended the Staff-NCO trainings course (new) on the
Heeresunteroffiziersakademie (HUAk) in
Enns. The one year study is divided in two semesters. The first semester (six (6) month duration) is provided by the ''HUAk'', and the second semester (six (6) month duration) has to be offered by the appropriate service branch (de: ''Waffengattung'') or technical college (de: ''Fachschule''). After positive HUAk-graduation regular assignments to a ''Stabsunteroffizier'' might be
platoon commander (de: ''Zugführer''), or service in a military staff or
headquarters
Headquarters (often referred to as HQ) notes the location where most or all of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. The term is used in a wide variety of situations, including private sector corporations, non-profits, mil ...
.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stabsunteroffizier
Military ranks of Germany
Military ranks of Austria