Löjtnant Luutnantti |
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Swedish Army, Airforce |
Swedish Navy |
Finnish Army |
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Fänrik (Swedish: [ˈfɛnrɪk]) and vänrikki (Finnish: [ˈʋænrikːi]), both from the German Fähnrich, are a Swedish and Finnish military rank. A typical assignment for a professional Fänrik is as junior instructor of recruits. In Finland, the rank vänrikki is used in active service by reserve officers who remain in service as for 6-to-12-months-long additional term to serve as sopimussotilas. In addition, it is the lowest reserve officer rank. Finnish Defence Forces rank of Vänrikki is comparable to Ranks of NATO armies officers as OF-1.
A minimum of 11 months of basic military training or 6 months as an aspirant followed by a three-year programme at the Swedish National Defence College or Försvarshögskolan (FHS). (See Kadett for details)
Prior 2007 it was possible to obtain the rank through 15 months of compulsory military service training at level 6. Level 6 means that the holder has received basic training to act in platoon leader roles except in the cavalry where Fänrik is a squad leader rank (team = 5-8 men).
The rank has been mainly a reserve rank. The future conscript officers are selected from the whole pool of conscripts. After a basic training of two months, a portion of the conscripts are selected for NCO training. After 2 months of NCO training, the most suitable are selected for reserve officer training and promoted to officer students. The 3½-month-long reserve officers training usually takes place in the Reserve Officer School, and afterwards, the candidates are promoted to officer cadets (Finnish: upseerikokelas). They serve the remaining 5½ months of their conscription practicing as platoon commanders as well as training other conscripts. Finally, successful officer cadets are discharged with the rank of vänrikki. In the reserve, reserve officers may be promoted up to majuri (Major), although there have been extraordinarily promotions to everstiluutnantti (Lieutenant Colonel). The Navy equivalent rank is aliluutnantti (Sub-Lieutenant).