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

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Oberwachtmeister
   
Country  Austria
Service branchAustrian Armed Forces
Rank groupUnteroffiziere
Non-NATO rankOR-6[1]
Formation1965
Next higher rankStabswachtmeister
Next lower rankWachtmeister

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.[1]

Germany

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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)
 
World War II German Army rank
Oberwachtmeister
(Oberfeldwebel)
Senior Rank
Stabswachtmeister
(Stabsfeldwebel)
See also

Nationale People’s Army

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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)
 
National People's Army rank
Oberwachtmeister
(Oberfeldwebel)
Senior Rank
Stabswachtmeister
(Stabsfeldwebel)
See also

«Oberwachtmeister» was also a German police and justice rank.

Netherlands

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Switzerland

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Oberwachtmeister
 
Swiss insignia
Country   Switzerland
Service branchSwiss Armed Forces
AbbreviationObwm
Rank groupNon-commissioned officer
Next higher rankFeldweibel
Next lower rankWachtmeister

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

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  1. ^ a b "Rank Insignias". bundesheer.at. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  • Die Streitkräfte der Republik Österreich, 1918-1968, Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, Militärwissenschaftliches Institut, 1968.