Military ranks of Estonia

Present Estonian system of rank insignia is a direct descendant of various systems used in the past in the Estonia Defence Forces. Some of the grades trace their name back to period of World Wars, for instance the rank of aspirant literally means an officers in training in military academies or voluntaries, serving as temporary officers.

Most of the Estonian Army ranks were in most cases established during the Estonian War of Independence and in 1920s. These include the rank of kapral, which is a derivate of Italian caporale - much like the English equivalent of corporal. After World War II and the end of the Soviet occupation in 1991, a new rank was established, creating for the first time a brigadier general rank in the armed forces of Estonia. In Estonia rank insignia is worn on chest. Estonian Junior NCOs are considered as a rank of a coscript NCO or NCO in reserve. In full-time service Junior Sergeants and Petty Officers 3rd Class are filling in various Soldier positions and naval ratings and are not taken as NCOs.

Estonian Air Force ranks and insignia

	Generals				Senior officers			Junior officers
Estonian: Auastmed	Kindral	Kindralleitnant	Kindralmajor	Brigaadikindral	Kolonel	Kolonelleitnant	Major	Kapten	Leitnant	Nooremleitnant	Lipnik
English: Ranks	General	Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigadier General	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain	First Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant	Ensign

	Senior NCOs					Junior NCOs			Soldiers[1][2]
Estonian: Auastmed	Ülemveebel	Staabiveebel	Vanemveebel	Veebel	Nooremveebel	Vanemseersant	Seersant	Nooremseersant	Kapral	Reamees
English: Ranks	Chief Master Sergeant of Air Force	Chief Master Sergeant	Senior Master Sergeant	Master Sergeant	Technical Sergeant	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant	Junior Sergeant	Senior Airman	Airman

Estonian Ground Force ranks and insignia

	Generals				Senior officers			Junior officers
Estonian: Auastmed	Kindral	Kindralleitnant	Kindralmajor	Brigaadikindral	Kolonel	Kolonelleitnant	Major	Kapten	Leitnant	Nooremleitnant	Lipnik
English: Ranks	General	Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigadier General	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant	Ensign

	Senior NCOs					Junior NCOs			Soldiers[3][4]
Estonian: Auastmed	Ülemveebel	Staabiveebel	Vanemveebel	Veebel	Nooremveebel	Vanemseersant	Seersant	Nooremseersant	Kapral	Reamees
English: Ranks	Sergeant Major of the Land Forces	Sergeant Major	First Sergeant	Master Sergeant	Sergeant First Class	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant	Junior Sergeant	Corporal	Private

Officer candidates

Pagunid
Auaste	3. õppeaasta kadett-veebel	2. õppeaasta kadett-veebel	3. õppeaasta kadett-seersant	2. õppeaasta kadett-seersant	1. õppeaasta kadett-seersant	3. õppeaasta kadett	2. õppeaasta kadett	1. õppeaasta kadett	1. semestri noorkadett
Rank	3rd year Cadet Sergeant	2nd year Cadet Sergeant	3rd year Cadet Junior Sergeant	2nd year Cadet Junior Sergeant	1st year Cadet Junior Sergeant	3rd year Cadet	2nd year Cadet	1st year Cadet	1st semester Junior Cadet
NATO	No Equivalent	No Equivalent	No Equivalent	No Equivalent	No Equivalent	No Equivalent	No Equivalent	No Equivalent	No Equivalent

Aspirants

Pagunid
Auaste	Ajateenijate reservrühmaülema kursuse lõpetanu	Ajateenijate reservrühmaülema kursusel õppija
Rank	Reserve platoon leader course Graduate	Reserve platoon leader course Student
NATO	No Equivalent	No Equivalent

Estonian Naval Force ranks and insignia

	Admirals				Senior officers			Junior officers
Estonian: Auastmed	Admiral	Viitseadmiral	Kontradmiral	Kommodoor	Mereväekapten	Kaptenleitnant	Kaptenmajor	Vanemleitnant	Leitnant	Nooremleitnant	Lipnik
English: Ranks	Admiral	Vice Admiral	Rear Admiral	Commodore	Captain (Navy)	Commander	Lieutenant Commander	Lieutenant Senior Grade	Lieutenant (Navy)	Lieutenant Junior Grade	Ensign

	Senior NCOs					Junior NCOs			Sailors
Estonian: Auastmed	Ülemveebel	Staabiveebel	Vanemveebel	Veebel	Nooremveebel	Vanemmaat	Maat	Nooremmaat	Vanemmadrus	Madrus
English: Ranks	Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy	Master Chief Petty Officer	Senior Chief Petty Officer	Chief Petty Officer 1st Class	Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class	Petty Officer 1st class	Petty Officer 2nd class	Petty Officer 3rd class	Leading Seaman	Seaman

	Conscript junior non-commissioned officers			Conscript sailors[5][6]
Estonian: Auastmed	Vanemmaat	Maat	Nooremmaat	Vanemmadrus	Madrus
English: Ranks	Petty Officer 1st class	Petty Officer 2nd class	Petty Officer 3rd class	Leading Seaman	Seaman

See also

• Estonia Defence Forces

References

1. "Õhuväe auastmed" (in Estonian). Estonian Defence Forces. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
2. "Air Force Insignia". Estonian Defence Forces. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
3. "Maaväe auastmed" (in Estonian). Estonian Defence Forces. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
4. "Land Forces Insignia". Estonian Defence Forces. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
5. "Mereväe auastmed" (in Estonian). Estonian Defence Forces. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
6. "Navy Insignia". Estonian Defence Forces. Retrieved 14 June 2014.

External links

• Estonian Defence Forces
• Estonian Ministry of Defence