Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Army

The Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Army follows the NATO system of ranks and insignia, as does the rest of the Danish Defence. The ranks are based around German and French military terms.^[1]

Current ranks

The current insignia for the Royal Danish Army was introduced along with the introduction of the MultiCam uniform. This sand coloured insignia replaced the older standard green slip-on and all other special slip-ons.^[2]

Officers

The highest officer's rank is OF-9 (General) which is reserved for the Chief of Defence (only when this seat is occupied by an army officer). Similarly, OF-8 (Lieutenant general) is reserved for the Vice Chief of Defence). OF-7 (Major general) is used by the Chief of the Royal Danish Army and OF-6 (Brigadegeneral) by the chief of a brigade as well as keepers of high-office positions.

NATO code	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF(D)	Student officer
Group^[3]	Leadership level (Chefniveau)						Management level (Lederniveau)
Royal Danish Army^[4] v t e
Royal Danish Army^[4] v t e	General	Generalløjtnant	Generalmajor	Brigadegeneral	Oberst	Oberstløjtnant	Major	Kaptajn	Premierløjtnant	Løjtnant	Sekondløjtnant	Sergent (Officerselev)
Danish Pay Grade^[5]	M406	M405	M404	M403	M402	M401	M332 M331 M322	M321	M312	M311	M310

Medical personnel

Insignia used by physicians, dentists and veterinarians.^[6]

NATO code	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3		OF-2	OF-1
Shoulder straps
Position	Surgeon general	Staff physician 1st class Staff veterinarian	Staff physician 2nd class Staff veterinarian	Chief Physician	Staff Specialist	Resident 1st class	Resident 2nd class	Resident 3rd class
Rank designation	Brigadegeneral	Oberst	Oberstløjtnant	Major		Kaptajn	Premierløjtnant	Løjtnant

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

NATO code	OR-9		OR-8	OR-7	OR-5		OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
Group^[3]	Middle management level (Mellemlederniveau)						Manual level (Manuelt niveau)
Service uniform
Royal Danish Army^[4] v t e
Royal Danish Army^[4] v t e	Hærchefsergenten	Chefsergent	Seniorsergent	Oversergent	Sergent	Sergent (Officerselev)	Korporal	Overkonstabel af 1. grad	Overkonstabel	Konstabel
Danish Pay Grade^[5]	M232		M231	M221	M212	M211	M113	M112

Additional ranks

NATO Code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-5	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
Service uniform
Shoulder board^[4]
Danish	Regiments-, brigade- og skole chefsergent	Regiments- og brigade-, seniorsergent	Sergentelev	Overkonstabel 1. grad, meniggruppefører	Overkonstabel, meniggruppefører	Konstabel, meniggruppefører	Konstabelelev	Meniggruppefører

English	Command sergeant major	Command sergeant major	Sergeant trainee	Lance corporal, section commander	Private first class, section commander	Private, section commander	Private recruit	Conscript, section commander

Clerical personnel

Clerical personnel
Army Dean
Army Chaplain
Army Conscript Chaplain

Types of rank insignia

Rank	NATO	Rank insignia
		M/58	M/69	TAN499	M/06		M/11
		M/58	M/69	TAN499	Woodland	Desert	M/11
Chefsergent	OR-9

Historical ranks

Officer ranks

In 1801, new uniforms were introduced for the whole army. Along with the new uniforms, epaulette ranks were introduced for officers.^[7]^[8] Following the defeat in the English Wars in 1812, Denmark was on the brink of financial bankruptcy, resulting in drastic reductions in the military.^[9] Therefore, only generals were allowed to wear epaulettes, with other ranks reverting to cuff insignia.^[9] In 1822, epaulettes were introduced to all ranks.^[10]

Timeline

Rank group	General/flag officers					Field/senior officers			Junior officers						Officer cadet
1801–1812 ^[7]	No insignia
1801–1812 ^[7]	Feltmarskal	General	Generallieutenant	Generalmajor		Oberst	Oberstlieutenant	Major	Captain		Premierlieutenant		Secondlieutenant		Cadet
1812–1816 ^[11]	No insignia
1812–1816 ^[11]	Feltmarskal	General	Generallieutenant	Generalmajor		Oberst	Oberstlieutenant	Major	Captain		Premierlieutenant		Secondlieutenant		Cadet
1816–1821 ^[12]	No insignia
1816–1821 ^[12]	Feltmarskal	General	Generallieutenant	Generalmajor		Oberst	Oberstlieutenant	Major	Captain		Premierlieutenant		Secondlieutenant		Cadet
1821–1842 ^[13]	No insignia
1821–1842 ^[13]	Feltmarskal	General	Generallieutenant	Generalmajor		Oberst	Oberstlieutenant	Major	Captain		Premierlieutenant		Secondlieutenant		Cadet
1842–1848 ^[14]^[15]	No insignia
1842–1848 ^[14]^[15]	Feltmarskal	General	Generallieutenant	Generalmajor		Oberst	Oberstlieutenant	Major	Captain		Premierlieutenant		Secondlieutenant		Cadet
1849–1858 ^[16]
1849–1858 ^[16]		General	Generallieutenant	Generalmajor		Oberst	Oberstlieutenant	Major	Captain		Premierlieutenant		Secondlieutenant		Cadet
1858–1869 ^[17]^[18]
1858–1869 ^[17]^[18]		General	Generallieutenant	Generalmajor		Oberst	Oberstlieutenant	Major	Captain		Premierlieutenant		Secondlieutenant		Cadet
1869–1889 ^[19]^[17]^[20]
1869–1889 ^[19]^[17]^[20]		General^[a]	Generallieutenant	Generalmajor		Oberst			Captain		Premierlieutenant	Lieutenant af Forstærkningen		Sekondlieutenant	Cadet
1889–1903 ^[17]^[21]
1889–1903 ^[17]^[21]		General	Generallieutenant	Generalmajor		Oberst	Oberstlieutenant		Captain		Premierlieutenant	Lieutenant af Forstærkningen		Sekondlieutenant
1903–1910 ^[22]
1903–1910 ^[22]		General	Generalløjtnant	Generalmajor		Oberst	Oberstløjtnant		Kaptajn		Premierløjtnant	Løjtnant		Sekondløjtnant
1910–1915 ^[23]^[24]
1910–1915 ^[23]^[24]		General	Generalløjtnant	Generalmajor		Oberst	Oberstløjtnant		Kaptajn	Intendant	Premierløjtnant	Løjtnant		Sekondløjtnant
1915–1923 ^[25]^[26]
1915–1923 ^[25]^[26]		General	Generalløjtnant	Generalmajor		Oberst	Oberstløjtnant		Kaptajn		Premierløjtnant	Løjtnant af Reserven		Sekondløjtnant
1923–1958 ^[27]
1923–1958 ^[27]		General	Generalløjtnant	Generalmajor		Oberst	Oberstløjtnant		Kaptajn	Kaptajnløjtnant	Premierløjtnant	Løjtnant af Reserven		Sekondløjtnant
1958–1962 ^[28]
1958–1962 ^[28]		General	Generalløjtnant	Generalmajor		Oberst	Oberstløjtnant		Kaptajn	Kaptajnløjtnant	Premierløjtnant	Løjtnant af Reserven		Sekondløjtnant
1962–1983 ^[29]
1962–1983 ^[29]		General	Generalløjtnant	Generalmajor		Oberst	Oberstløjtnant	Major	Kaptajn		Premierløjtnant	Løjtnant af Reserven		Sekondløjtnant
1983–1986 ^[8]
1983–1986 ^[8]		General	Generalløjtnant	Generalmajor	Brigadegeneral	Oberst	Oberstløjtnant	Major	Kaptajn		Premierløjtnant	Løjtnant af Reserven		Sekondløjtnant
1986–1989 ^[30]^[31]
1989–2009
2009–2018
2018–present
2018–present		General	Generalløjtnant	Generalmajor	Brigadegeneral	Oberst	Oberstløjtnant	Major	Kaptajn		Premierløjtnant		Løjtnant		Sekondløjtnant
NATO code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2		OF-1				OF(D)	Student officer

Other ranks

Timeline

Rank group	NCO								Enlisted
1812–1843 ^[32]^[33]
1812–1843 ^[32]^[33]					Kommandersergent	Sergent		Korporal		Vicekorporal		Menig
1843–1848 ^[34]
1843–1848 ^[34]				Overkommandersergent	Kommandersergent	Sergeant		Korporal		Underkorporal		Menig
1848–1867 ^[35]
1848–1867 ^[35]				Overkommandersergent	Kommandersergent	Sergeant		Korporal		Underkorporal		Menig
1867–1903 ^[34]
1867–1903 ^[34]				Stabssergent	Oversergent	Sergent		Korporal		Underkorporal		Menig
1903–1910 ^[36]
1903–1910 ^[36]				Stabssergent	Oversergent	Sergent		Korporal		Underkorporal		Menig
1910–1915 ^[37]
1910–1915 ^[37]				Stabssergent	Oversergent	Sergent	Kornet	Korporal		Underkorporal		Menig
1915–1923
1915–1923				Stabssergent	Oversergent	Sergent	Kornet	Korporal		Underkorporal		Menig
1923–1951
1923–1951	Korpsofficiant	Stabsofficiant	Overofficiant	Officiant	Oversergent	Sergent	Kornet	Korporal		Underkorporal		Menig
1951–1962 ^[38]^[39]
1951–1962 ^[38]^[39]			Overfenrik	Fenrik	Oversergent	Sergent		Korporal		Befalingsmandselev		Math	Mathelev
1962–? ^[40]
1962–? ^[40]			Overfenrik	Fenrik	Oversergent	Sergent		Korporal			Overkonstabel	Konstable	Konstabelelev
1965–1970 ^[41]
1965–1970 ^[41]			Seniorsergent af 1. grad	Seniorsergent af 2. grad	Oversergent	Sergent		Korporal			Overkonstabel	Konstable	Konstabelelev
1970–1982 ^[42]
1970–1982 ^[42]			Seniorsergent af 1. grad	Seniorsergent af 2. grad	Oversergent	Sergent		Korporal		Overkonstabel af 1. grad	Overkonstabel af 2. grad	Konstable	Konstabelelev
1982–2008
1982–2008			Chefsergent	Seniorsergent	Oversergent	Sergent		Korporal		Overkonstabel af 1. grad	Overkonstabel	Konstable	Konstabelelev
2008–2018
2008–2018			Chefsergent	Seniorsergent	Oversergent	Sergent			Korporal	Overkonstabel af 1. grad	Overkonstabel	Konstable	Konstabelelev
NATO code	OR-9			OR-8	OR-7	OR-5		OR-4		OR-3	OR-2	OR-1

Notes

^ Between 1867 and 1880, only a single "general" rank existed. Generals wore one–star. However, the King still wore three–stars, while former Generallieutenants were allowed to keep their two–stars.^[18]

References

Citations

^ Editors 1935, p. 3.
^ Hærchefsergent 2018.
^ ^a ^b "Bekendtgørelse om militære grader mv. for personel i det militære forsvar". retsinformation.dk (in Danish). 24 March 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Hærens Gradstegn" (PDF). forsvaret.dk (in Danish). Danish Defence. 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Historik". forpers.dk (in Danish). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
^ Hærchefsergent 2018, p. 17.
^ ^a ^b Petersen 2014, p. 42.
^ ^a ^b Hedegaard 1986.
^ ^a ^b Petersen 2014, p. 47.
^ Borg 1974, p. 41.
^ Petersen 2014, p. 113.
^ Petersen 2021, p. 874.
^ Petersen 2021, p. 875.
^ Borg 1974, pp. 51–52.
^ Petersen 2021, pp. 877–878.
^ Petersen 2021, pp. 881–882.
^ ^a ^b ^c Hansen, Løvschall & Nilsson 1997, p. 196.
^ ^a ^b Petersen 2021, p. 883.
^ Klint 1965, p. 8.
^ Petersen 2021, p. 886.
^ Petersen 2021, p. 887.
^ Hansen & Løvschall 2006, pp. 122–124.
^ Hansen 2010, pp. 124, 133–134.
^ "Hærens Gradstegn 1914 — 1923". chakoten.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 29 March 2021.
^ Finsted.
^ "Royal Danish Army - 1915 field uniform". Retrieved 1 November 2018.
^ Hillmos.
^ "Kaptajn". Den Danske Ordbog (in Danish). Det Danske Sprog- og Litteraturselskab. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
^ L132 1962, §30.
^ Davis 1988, pp. 68–69.
^ "Sekondløjtnant". Den Danske Ordbog. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
^ Petersen 2014, p. 106.
^ 1812
^ ^a ^b Hansen, Løvschall & Nilsson 1997, pp. 201–202.
^ Kannik 1964, pp. 167–168.
^ Hansen & Løvschall 2006, p. 123-124.
^ Hansen 2010, pp. 124, 135.
^ Ministry of Defence 1954, p. 249.
^ Nørholtz 2019.
^ Hærkommandoen 1962, p. 281.
^ Hærkommandoen 1965, p. 297.
^ Hærkommandoen 1970, p. 254.

References

Borg, E. (1974). Den danske Marines uniformer gennem tre århundre [The Danish Navy's uniforms through three centuries] (in Danish). Strubes Forlag. ISBN 87-7508-164-4.
Davis, Brian L. (1988). NATO Forces: An Illustrated Reference to Their Organization and Insignia. Blandford Press. ISBN 0-7137-1737-8. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
Editors (12 February 1935). "Grads-Betegnelserne i Hæren". Danske Soldater (in Danish). 2 (2). {{cite journal}}: |author1= has generic name (help)
Finsted, Per. "Supplement til Danske Uniformer for Hær og Flaade, 1916" [Supplement to Danish Uniforms for Army and Navy, 1916]. chakoten.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 24 October 2018.
Hansen, Bert; Løvschall, Frans; Nilsson, Birger (1997). Skøtt, Ole (ed.). "Den Danske Hær og Flådes Uniformer 1886" [Uniforms of the Danish Army and Navy 1886]. Vaabenhistoriske Aarsbøger (in Danish). Devantier. 42. ISSN 0108-707X.
Hansen, Bert; Løvschall, Frans (2006). Skøtt, Ole (ed.). "Den danske enhedsuniform M 1903 og dens videre skæbne i det danske forsvar" [The Danish unit uniform M 1903 and its further fate in the Danish defense]. Vaabenhistoriske Aarsbøger (in Danish). 51: 99–167. ISSN 0108-707X.
Hansen, Bert (2010). Skøtt, Ole (ed.). "Danske Uniformer 1910–1920 del 1" [Danish Uniforms 1910–1920 part 1]. Vaabenhistoriske Aarsbøger (in Danish). Devantier. 55. ISSN 0108-707X.
Hedegaard, Ole A. (1 January 1986). "Nyt militært gradstegn - en ny/gammel tradition!" [New military insignia - a new/old tradition!]. Krigsvidenskab.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 28 August 2018.
Hillmos, Finn. "Hærens gradstegn 1923" [Army insignia 1923] (PDF). chakoten.dk. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
Hærchefsergent (July 2018). "Gradstegn og anden distinktionering". Uniformsbestemmelser for hæren (UBH) Jul 2018 [Uniform regulations for the army (UBH) Jul 2018] (in Danish).
Hærkommandoen (November 1962). Lærebog for hærens menige [Textbook for Army privates] (in Danish). Copenhagen: N. Olaf Møller.
Hærkommandoen (March 1965). Lærebog for hærens menige [Textbook for Army privates] (in Danish). Copenhagen: N. Olaf Møller.
Hærkommandoen (1970). Lærebog for hærens menige [Textbook for Army privates] (in Danish). Copenhagen: S. L. Møllers Bogtrykkeri.
Kannik, Preben (1964). "Uniformer og udrusting". In Askgaard, Finn; Hoff, Arne; Kannik, Preben (eds.). Tøjhusmuseets bog om 1864: Våben og uniformer [Tøjhusmuseet's book about 1864: Weapons and uniforms] (in Danish). Copenhagen: Nordlundes bogtrykkeri. pp. 159–215.
Klint, Helge (1965). "Træk af Hærstabens historie" [Features of Army Staff History]. Hærkommandoens Årsskrift (in Danish). Nyt Nordisk Forlag: 5–11.
Ministry of Defence (November 1954). Lærebog for hærens menige [Textbook for Army privates] (in Danish). Copenhagen: N. Olaf Møller.
Nørholtz, Tine (2019). "HKKF: 60 år" [HKKF: 60 years] (PDF). Fagligt Forsvar (in Danish). Hærens Konstabel- og Korporalforening. 3: 19–22.
Petersen, Karsten Skjold (2014). Kongens klæder - Hærens uniformer og udrustning i Danmark-Norge [The king's clothes - Army uniforms and equipment in Denmark-Norway] (in Danish) (1st ed.). Slovenia: Historika. ISBN 978-87-932-2900-6.
Petersen, Karsten Skjold (2021). Kongens klæder 2 – Uniformer og udrustning i den danske hær 1816-1903 [The King's Clothes 2 - Uniforms and equipment in the Danish army 1816-1903] (in Danish). Syddansk Universitetsforlag. ISBN 978-87-408-3338-6.
"Forslag til Lov om forsvarets personel" [Proposal for an Act on Defense Personnel]. No. 132 of 10 May 1962 (PDF) (in Danish). Folketinget. Retrieved 27 March 2022.

External links

[21] Between 1867 and 1880, only a single "general" rank existed. Generals wore one–star. However, the King still wore three–stars, while former Generallieutenants were allowed to keep their two–stars.^[18]

[FOOTNOTEEditors19353-1] Editors 1935, p. 3.

[FOOTNOTEHærchefsergent2018-2] Hærchefsergent 2018.

[retsinformation-3] "Bekendtgørelse om militære grader mv. for personel i det militære forsvar". retsinformation.dk (in Danish). 24 March 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2021.

[Denmark_Army-4] "Hærens Gradstegn" (PDF). forsvaret.dk (in Danish). Danish Defence. 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2021.

[forpers-5] "Historik". forpers.dk (in Danish). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 26 September 2018.

[FOOTNOTEHærchefsergent201817-6] Hærchefsergent 2018, p. 17.

[FOOTNOTEPetersen201442-7] Petersen 2014, p. 42.

[FOOTNOTEHedegaard1986-8] Hedegaard 1986.

[FOOTNOTEPetersen201447-9] Petersen 2014, p. 47.

[FOOTNOTEBorg197441-10] Borg 1974, p. 41.

[FOOTNOTEPetersen2014113-11] Petersen 2014, p. 113.

[FOOTNOTEPetersen2021874-12] Petersen 2021, p. 874.

[FOOTNOTEPetersen2021875-13] Petersen 2021, p. 875.

[FOOTNOTEBorg197451–52-14] Borg 1974, pp. 51–52.

[FOOTNOTEPetersen2021877–878-15] Petersen 2021, pp. 877–878.

[FOOTNOTEPetersen2021881–882-16] Petersen 2021, pp. 881–882.

[FOOTNOTEHansenLøvschallNilsson1997196-17] Hansen, Løvschall & Nilsson 1997, p. 196.

[FOOTNOTEPetersen2021883-18] Petersen 2021, p. 883.

[FOOTNOTEKlint19658-19] Klint 1965, p. 8.

[FOOTNOTEPetersen2021886-20] Petersen 2021, p. 886.

[FOOTNOTEPetersen2021887-22] Petersen 2021, p. 887.

[FOOTNOTEHansenLøvschall2006122–124-23] Hansen & Løvschall 2006, pp. 122–124.

[FOOTNOTEHansen2010124,_133–134-24] Hansen 2010, pp. 124, 133–134.

[25] "Hærens Gradstegn 1914 — 1923". chakoten.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 29 March 2021.

[FOOTNOTEFinsted-26] Finsted.

[27] "Royal Danish Army - 1915 field uniform". Retrieved 1 November 2018.

[FOOTNOTEHillmos-28] Hillmos.

[29] "Kaptajn". Den Danske Ordbog (in Danish). Det Danske Sprog- og Litteraturselskab. Retrieved 28 August 2018.

[FOOTNOTEL1321962§30-30] L132 1962, §30.

[FOOTNOTEDavis198868–69-31] Davis 1988, pp. 68–69.

[32] "Sekondløjtnant". Den Danske Ordbog. Retrieved 26 September 2018.

[FOOTNOTEPetersen2014106-33] Petersen 2014, p. 106.

[34] 1812

[FOOTNOTEHansenLøvschallNilsson1997201–202-35] Hansen, Løvschall & Nilsson 1997, pp. 201–202.

[FOOTNOTEKannik1964167–168-36] Kannik 1964, pp. 167–168.

[FOOTNOTEHansenLøvschall2006123-124-37] Hansen & Løvschall 2006, p. 123-124.

[FOOTNOTEHansen2010124,_135-38] Hansen 2010, pp. 124, 135.

[FOOTNOTEMinistry_of_Defence1954249-39] Ministry of Defence 1954, p. 249.

[FOOTNOTENørholtz2019-40] Nørholtz 2019.

[FOOTNOTEHærkommandoen1962281-41] Hærkommandoen 1962, p. 281.

[FOOTNOTEHærkommandoen1965297-42] Hærkommandoen 1965, p. 297.

[FOOTNOTEHærkommandoen1970254-43] Hærkommandoen 1970, p. 254.

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Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Army

Contents

Current ranks

Officers

Medical personnel

Other ranks

Additional ranks

Clerical personnel

Types of rank insignia

Historical ranks

Officer ranks

Timeline

Other ranks

Timeline

Notes

References

External links

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