Hauptfeldwebel (rank)

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Hauptfeldwebel
Heer and Luftwaffe shoulder insignia
Country	Germany
Service branch	German Army  German Air Force
Abbreviation	HptFw
Rank	Unteroffiziere mit Portepee grade
NATO rank code	OR-7 / OR-8
Non-NATO rank	E-7
Formation	1957
Next higher rank	Stabsfeldwebel
Next lower rank	Oberfeldwebel
Equivalent ranks	Hauptbootsmann

Hauptfeldwebel (HptFw or HF; lit. 'Head Field Bailiff') is the third highest Non-commissioned officer (NCO) grade in German Army and German Air Force.^[1] It is grouped as OR-7 / OR-8 in NATO, equivalent to US Army Sergeant 1st Class and Master Sergeant.^[2] In army/ air force context NCOs of this rank were formally addressed as Herr Hauptfeldwebel also informally / short Hauptfeld.