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Oberwachtmeister (OWm) (ge: for senior master-sentinel; senior watch-master) is in Austria and Switzerland a military rank of non-commissioned officers (NCO). Besides Austria and Switzerland today, the rank was also used for example in Germany and Russia.
Austria
See also: Ranks of the Bundesheer| Oberwachtmeister | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Country |  Austria |
| Service branch | Austrian Armed Forces |
| Rank group | Unteroffiziere |
| Non-NATO rank | OR-6 |
| Formation | 1965 |
| Next higher rank | Stabswachtmeister |
| Next lower rank | Wachtmeister |
Oberwachtmeister is in the Austrian Bundesheer the second lowest NCO-rank (assignment group M BUO 2 / professional NCO; respectively M ZUO 2 / longer-serving volunteer). The Oberwachtmeister will be normally deployed as leader (Austrian: Kommandant) of a squad (8 to 13 soldiers).
During United Nations missions and in NATO Partnership for Peace the rank Oberwachtmeister will be designated in English with Master sergeant.
Germany
In the German army ground forces the designation of the OR6-Oberfeldwebel rank of Cavalry and Artillery was the «Oberwachtmeister» until 1945.
| Junior Rank Wachtmeister (Feldwebel) |
.svg){kind=small} World War II German Army rank Oberwachtmeister (Oberfeldwebel) |
Senior Rank Stabswachtmeister (Stabsfeldwebel) |
- See also
Nationale People’s Army
In the GDR National People's Army (NPA) the OR6-rank «Oberwachtmeister» was replaced by the universal rank designation Oberfeldwebel. The equivalent rank of the Volksmarine (en: GDR Navy) was the Obermeister of the Volksmarine.
| Junior Rank Wachtmeister (Feldwebel) |
.svg){kind=small} National People's Army rank Oberwachtmeister (Oberfeldwebel) |
Senior Rank Stabswachtmeister (Stabsfeldwebel) |
- See also
«Oberwachtmeister» was also a German police and justice rank.
Netherlands
See also: Military ranks of the Netherlands armed forces | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (December 2022) |
Switzerland
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| Oberwachtmeister | |
|---|---|
 Swiss insignia | |
| Country |  Switzerland |
| Service branch | Swiss Armed Forces |
| Abbreviation | Obwm |
| Rank group | Non-commissioned officer |
| Next higher rank | Feldweibel |
| Next lower rank | Wachtmeister |
In the Military of Switzerland the Oberwachtmeister (Obwm, Sergent-chef, Sergente capo) is a NCO-rank. The rank is higher than the rank Wachtmeister, and lower than Feldweibel.
Until the so-called Army reform XXI (with effect from January 1, 2004) the rank was regular assigned to the Zugführer-Stellvertreter (en: deputy platoon leader).
However, the promotion to Oberwachtmeister might be possible after successfully having finished an additional trainings course. The level of that course succeeds the squad leader level. The Oberwachtmeister grade is in principle a transition rank to the lieutenant promotion.
In United Nations missions and in NATO Partnership for Peace the rank Oberwachtmeister will be designated in English with Sergeant First Class (SFC).
References
- ^ "Rank Insignias". bundesheer.at. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- Die Streitkräfte der Republik Österreich, 1918-1968, Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, Militärwissenschaftliches Institut, 1968.