Fähnrich zur See
Fähnrich zur See (Fähnr zS or FRZS) designates in the German Navy of the Bundeswehr a military person or member of the armed forces with the second highest Officer Aspirant (OA – German: Offizieranwärter) rank. According to the salary class it is equivalent to the Portepeeunteroffizier ranks Bootsmann (Marine) and Feldwebel of Heer or Luftwaffe.
| Fähnrich zur See | |
|---|---|
| shoulder board / cuff title / mounting loop | |
| Country | Germany |
| Service branch | German Navy |
| Abbreviation | Fähnr zS |
| Rank group | Non-commissioned officers |
| Rank | German NCO rank |
| NATO rank code | OR-6 |
| Next higher rank | Oberfähnrich zur See |
| Next lower rank | Seekadett |
| Equivalent ranks | Fähnrich |
It is also grouped as OR-6 in NATO, equivalent to Technical Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, or Petty Officer First Class in the US Armed forces, and to Petty officer in the British Army and Royal Navy.
In navy context NCOs of this rank were formally addressed as Herr/ Frau Fähnrich zur See also informally / short Fähnrich.
The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group is as follows:
Portepeeunteroffiziere
- OR-9: Oberstabsbootsmann / Oberstabsfeldwebel
- OR-8: Stabsbootsmann / Stabsfeldwebel
- OR-7: Oberfähnrich zur See and Hauptbootsmann / Oberfähnrich and Hauptfeldwebel
- OR-6a: Oberbootsmann / Oberfeldwebel
- OR-6b: Fähnrich zur See and Bootsmann / Fähnrich and Feldwebel
| Preceded by junior Rank Obermaat |
Fähnrich zur See Bootsmann |
Succeeded by 'senior Rank Hauptbootsmann' |