 | You can helpexpand this article with text translated fromthe corresponding article in German. (January 2021)Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Stabsfeldwebel" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(January 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Stabsfeldwebel | |
|---|---|
  Heer andLuftwaffe shoulder insignia | |
| Country |  Germany |
| Service branch | |
| Abbreviation | StFw |
| Rank group | Unteroffiziere mit Portepee |
| NATOrank code | OR-8 |
| Pay grade | A 9 |
| Formation | 1938 |
| Next higher rank | Oberstabsfeldwebel |
| Next lower rank | Hauptfeldwebel |
| Equivalent ranks | Stabsbootsmann |
Stabsfeldwebel (StFw orSF;lit. 'Staff field usher') is the second highestNon-commissioned officer (NCO) rank inGerman Army andGerman Air Force. It is grouped as OR-8 inNATO, equivalent to aFirst Sergeant in theUnited States Army, and toWarrant Officer Class 2 in theBritish Army. Promotion to the rank requires at least twelve years total active duty, of which at least eleven years have elapsed since promotion tounteroffizier, with at least ten years since promotion tostabsunteroffizier, and nine years since promotion tofeldwebel.[1]In army/ air force context NCOs of this rank were formally addressed asHerr Stabsfeldwebel also informally / shortStaber.
The ranksStabsfeldwebel,Stabsoberjäger,Stabsfeuerwerker andStabswachtmeister were introduced to theAustro-Hungarian Army in 1913.
The rank was introduced in 1938 by theGerman Army as the highest NCO rank, and was equivalent to theKriegsmarine'sStabsoberfeldwebel grades (Stabsoberbootsmann,Stabsobersteuermann andStabsobersteuwermann).
The rank was only namedStabsfeldwebel within the infantry, as other services had other traditions and names. In the cavalry and artillery the rank was calledStabswachtmeister, and in theWaffen-SS it was called SS-Sturmscharführer.
The rank was also used in the GDRLand Forces of the National People's Army and was equivalent toStabsobermeister in theVolksmarine.
The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group (Senior NCOs with portepee) is as follows:
