| Fahnenjunker | |
|---|---|
  Heer andLuftwaffe shoulder insignia | |
| Country |  Germany |
| Service branch |  German Army German Air Force |
| Abbreviation | Fhj |
| Rank | German NCO rank |
| NATOrank code | OR-5 |
| Non-NATO rank | E-5 |
| Formation | 1966 |
| Next higher rank | Stabsunteroffizier |
| Next lower rank | Oberstabsgefreiter |
| Equivalent ranks | Seekadett |
Fahnenjunker (shortFhj orFJ, English:officer cadet;lit. 'flagjunker') is a military rank of theBundeswehr and of some former German armed forces. In earlier German armed forces it was also the collective name for manyofficer aspirant ranks. It was established by thePresidential order of the Federal president on rank insignia and uniforms of soldiers.[1]
Fahnenjunker is the entrance rank to anofficer aspirant career. According to the salary class, it is equivalent to theUnteroffizier ohne Portepee ranksUnteroffizier of the army or air force, andMaat of theDeutsche Marine. It is also grouped as OR-5 inNATO, equivalent toSergeant,Staff Sergeant in the US Armed forces.
In the army context, NCOs of this rank were formally addressed asHerr/ Frau Fahnenjunker also informally / shortFahnenjunker.
The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group is as follows:
Unteroffizier ohne Portepee
| Preceded by junior Rank Oberstabsgefreiter | '  Fahnenjunker' | Succeeded by senior Rank Stabsunteroffizier Unteroffizier |
An officer candidate's career is indicated by the enlisted rank with a thin silver cord on the shoulder strap in the army and the air force, and with the golden nautical star on the shoulder strap and sleeve in theDeutsche Marine.
The rank insignia ofFahnenjunker consists of shoulder straps, bordered by a golden braid that is open to the sleeve seam.Fahnenjunker of the air force wear an additional Air Force wing on the open end of the braid. The rank insignia on field and battle dress are in black colour.
Below the lowest officer designated rank of "Fahnenjunker," any military person who is assigned to be a career officer has to wear the two capital letters “OA” in addition to the particular rank, indicating the “Officer Aspirant” career.
| from 1956 |  |  |  | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|  |  | |  |  | |   |   |   | ||
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||
| Distinction | Oberfähnrich (Senior cadet sergeant) | Fähnrich (Cadet sergeant) | Fahnenjunker (Officer cadet senior grade) | Oberfähnrich (Senior aviation cadet) | Fähnrich (Aviation cadet) | Fahnenjunker' (Officer cadet senior grade) | Oberfähnrich zur See (Senior midshipman) | Fähnrich zur See (Midshipman) | Seekadett[2] (Naval cadet) | ||
| Rangcode | (OR-7) | (OR-6) | (OR-5) | (OR-7) | (OR-6) | (OR-5) | (OR-7) | (OR-6) | (OR-5) | ||
| NATO | Cadet sergeant | Midshipman | |||||||||
| USAF | Aviation cadet andWarrant Officer | ||||||||||
| RAF | Acting pilot officer | ||||||||||
| Fahnenjunker/Junker | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 German Army &Luftwaffe |  |  |  |  |  |
| Fahnenjunker- stabsfeldwebel | Fahnenjunker- oberfeldwebel | Fahnenjunker- feldwebel | Fahnenjunker- unterfeldwebel | Fahnenjunker- unteroffizier | |
 Waffen-SS |  |  |  |  | |
| SS-Standarten- oberjunker | SS-Standarten- junker | SS-Oberjunker | SS-Junker | ||
