Stabswachtmeister

Stabswachtmeister in Austria
Rank insignia	Austrian Bundesheer
Introduction	1913
Rank group	Stabsunteroffizier
Army / Air Force	Stabswachtmeister
Navy	no equivalent
Lower: Higher:	Oberwachtmeister
	Oberstabswachtmeister
NATO equivalent	OR-7[1]

Stabswachtmeister (short: StWm) is in the Austrian Bundesheer a NCO-rank. As lowest grade of the Staff-NCO rank group he is normally dedicated to command a platoon or to serve in a military staff appointment (assignment group M BUO 1 / professional NCO; respectively M ZUO 1 / longer-serving volunteer). However, he might also be assigned to command a military squad (assignment group M BUO 2 / longer-serving volunteer).

During United Nations missions and in NATO Partnership for Peace the rank Stabswachtmeister will be designated in English with Staff Sergeant (SSG) and is equivalent to NATO-Rang code OR-7.

Besides Austria today, the rank was also used for example in Germany and in the k.u.k. Army.

With the foundation of the Austrian Bundesheer in March 1920 the «Stabswachtmeister» was introduced to all army branches of service. The OR7-rank Stabsfeldwebel of the generic infantry (de: Fußtruppen) was abolished.

See also

Main article: Ranks of the Austrian Bundesheer