Brigadgeneral Prikaatikenraali |
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Swedish Army |
Swedish Air Force |
Finnish Army |
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Överstelöjtnant
Everstiluutnantti
Överste (eversti in Finnish) is an officer rank in Finland and Sweden, immediately above överstelöjtnant (everstiluutnantti) and below brigadgeneral (prikaatikenraali). It literally means "the highest" and has originally been a rank for regiment commanders. In Finland, brigades are also commanded by holders of this rank. It is the highest rank below general officers.
Finnish Defense Forces rank of Eversti is comparable to Ranks of NATO armies officers as OF-5
Commander of a regiment that consisted of 1200 troops split into eight companies held this rank. One of the companies was called lifeguard company and was commanded by the överste himself with a kaptenlöjtnant as his deputy. However, the command of the lifeguard company was mostly delegated to the kaptenlöjtnant during battle. The regiment was split into two battalions during battle where the överste was in command of the first battalion. The holder was not paid by his rank but by his line of command. Thus, he received three salaries: salary for being the head of the regiment, the head of a battalion as well as being the head of a company.
The holder of the rank who served as a commander of a regiment was also assigned a wartime position as commander of the corresponding brigade. A regiment is a pure training institution and produced about one battalion a year to populate the brigade.