Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank Group	General / Flag Officers										Senior Officers						Junior Officers
NATO code[lower-alpha 1]	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1
Field uniform[3][4][5]
Finnish Army[3][4][5]
			Kenraali		Kenraaliluutnantti		Kenraalimajuri		Prikaatikenraali		Eversti		Everstiluutnantti		Majuri		Kapteeni		Yliluutnantti		Luutnantti		Vänrikki
			General		Generallöjtnant		Generalmajor		Brigadgeneral		Överste		Överstelöjtnant		Major		Kapten		Premiärlöjtnant		Löjtnant		Fänrik
			'General'		'Lieutenant General'		'Major General'		'Brigadier General'		'Colonel'		'Lieutenant Colonel'		'Major'		'Captain'		'First Lieutenant'		'Lieutenant'		'Second Lieutenant'
Finnish Navy[3][4][5]
			Amiraali		Vara-amiraali		Kontra-amiraali		Lippueamiraali		Kommodori		Komentaja		Komentajakapteeni		Kapteeniluutnantti		Yliluutnantti		Luutnantti		Aliluutnantti
			Amiral		Viceamiral		Konteramiral		Flottiljamiral		Kommodor		Kommendör		Kommendörkapten		Kaptenlöjtnant		Premiärlöjtnant		Löjtnant		Underlöjtnant
			'Admiral'		'Vice Admiral'		'Rear Admiral'		'Commodore'		'Captain'		'Commander'		'Lieutenant Commander'		'Lieutenant, Senior Grade'		'Lieutenant'		'Lieutenant, Junior Grade'		'Ensign'
Finnish Air Force[3][4][5]
			Kenraali		Kenraaliluutnantti		Kenraalimajuri		Prikaatikenraali		Eversti		Everstiluutnantti		Majuri		Kapteeni		Yliluutnantti		Luutnantti		Vänrikki
			General		Generallöjtnant		Generalmajor		Brigadgeneral		Överste		Överstelöjtnant		Major		Kapten		Premiärlöjtnant		Löjtnant		Fänrik
			'General'		'Lieutenant General'		'Major General'		'Brigadier General'		'Colonel'		'Lieutenant Colonel'		'Major'		'Captain'		'First Lieutenant'		'Lieutenant'		'Second Lieutenant'
Finnish Border Guard[6]
					Kenraaliluutnantti Vara-amiraali		Kenraalimajuri Kontra-amiraali		Prikaatikenraali Lippueamiraali		Eversti Kommodori		Everstiluutnantti Komentaja		Majuri Komentajakapteeni		Kapteeni Kapteeniluutnantti		Yliluutnantti		Luutnantti		Vänrikki Aliluutnantti
					Generallöjtnant Viceamiral		Generalmajor Konteramiral		Brigadgeneral Flottiljamiral		Överste Kommodor		Överstelöjtnant Kommendör		Major Kommendörkapten		Kapten Kaptenlöjtnant		Premiärlöjtnant		Löjtnant		Fänrik Underlöjtnant
					'Lieutenant General' 'Vice Admiral'		'Major General' 'Rear Admiral'		'Brigadier General' 'Commodore'		'Colonel' 'Captain'		'Lieutenant Colonel' 'Commander'		'Major' 'Lieutenant Commander'		'Captain' 'Lieutenant, Senior Grade'		'First Lieutenant' 'Lieutenant'		'Lieutenant' 'Lieutenant, Junior Grade'		'Second Lieutenant' 'Ensign'
NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank Group	NCOs												Rank-and-file
NATO code[lower-alpha 1]	OR-9		OR-8		OR-7		OR-6		OR-5		OR-4		OR-3		OR-2		OR-1
Field uniform[3][4][5]
Finnish Army[3][4][5]
	Sotilasmestari		Ylivääpeli		Vääpeli		Ylikersantti		Kersantti		Alikersantti		Korpraali		Sotamies
	Militärmästare		Överfältväbel		Fältväbel		Översergeant		Sergeant		Undersergeant		Korpral		Soldat
	'Sergeant Major'		'Master Sergeant'		'Sergeant First Class'		'Staff Sergeant'		'Sergeant'		'Corporal'		'Private First Class'		'Private'
Finnish Navy[3][4][5]
	Sotilasmestari		Ylipursimies		Pursimies		Ylikersantti		Kersantti		Alikersantti		Ylimatruusi		Matruusi
	Militärmästare		Överbåtsman		Båtsman		Översergeant		Sergeant		Undersergeant		Övermatros		Matros
	'Master Chief Petty Officer'		'Senior Chief Petty Officer'		'Chief Petty Officer'		'Petty Officer First Class'		'Petty Officer Second Class'		'Petty Officer Third Class'		'Seaman'		'Seaman Apprentice'
Finnish Air Force[3][4][5]
	Sotilasmestari		Ylivääpeli		Vääpeli		Ylikersantti		Kersantti		Alikersantti		Korpraali		Lentosotamies
	Militärmästare		Överfältväbel		Fältväbel		Översergeant		Sergeant		Undersergeant		Korpral		Soldat
	'Chief Master Sergeant'		'Senior Master Sergeant'		'Master Sergeant'		'Technical Sergeant'		'Staff Sergeant'		'Senior Airman'		'Airman First Class'		'Airman'
Finnish Border Guard[6]
	Sotilasmestari		Ylivääpeli Ylipursimies		Vääpeli Pursimies		Ylikersantti		Kersantti		Alikersantti		Korpraali Ylimatruusi		Sotamies
	Militärmästare		Överfältväbel Överbåtsman		Fältväbel Båtsman		Översergeant		Sergeant		Undersergeant		Korpral Övermatros		Soldat
	'Sergeant Major' 'Master Chief Petty Officer'		'Master Sergeant' 'Senior Chief Petty Officer'		'Sergeant First Class' 'Chief Petty Officer'		'Staff Sergeant' 'Petty Officer First Class'		'Sergeant' 'Petty Officer Second Class'		'Corporal' 'Petty Officer Third Class'		'Private First Class' 'Seaman'		'Private'
NATO code	OR-9		OR-8		OR-7		OR-6		OR-5		OR-4		OR-3		OR-2		OR-1

Conscript ranks during the obligatory national service

The rank insignia of the conscripts during the obligatory national service. During the service period these are junior to all career personnel.

Rank Group	NCOs																Rank-and-file
NATO code[lower-alpha 1]	OR-9		OR-8		OR-7		OR-6		OR-5				OR-4				OR-3				OR-2				OR-1
Field uniform[3][4][5]
Finnish Army[3][4][5]
									Upseerikokelas		Kersantti		Upseerioppilas		Alikersantti		Aliupseerioppilas		Korpraali		Aliupseerioppilas		Sotamies
									Officersaspirant		Sergeant		Officerselev		Undersergeant		Underofficerselev		Korpral		Underofficerselev		Soldat
									'Officer Candidate'		'Sergeant'		'Officer Student'		'Corporal'		'NCO Student'		'Private First Class'		'NCO Student'		'Private'
Finnish Navy[3][4][5]
									Upseerikokelas		Kersantti		Upseerioppilas		Alikersantti		Aliupseerioppilas		Ylimatruusi		Aliupseerioppilas		Matruusi
									Officersaspirant		Sergeant		Officerselev		Undersergeant		Underofficerselev		Övermatros		Underofficerselev		Matros
									'Officer Candidate'		'Petty Officer Second Class'		'Officer Student'		'Petty Officer Third Class'		'NCO Student'		'Seaman'		'NCO Student'		'Seaman Apprentice'
Finnish Air Force[3][4][5]
									Upseerikokelas		Kersantti		Upseerioppilas		Alikersantti		Aliupseerioppilas		Korpraali		Aliupseerioppilas		Lentosotamies
									Officersaspirant		Sergeant		Officerselev		Undersergeant		Underofficerselev		Korpral		Underofficerselev		Flygsoldat
									'Officer Candidate'		'Staff Sergeant'		'Officer Student'		'Senior Airman'		'NCO Student'		'Airman First Class'		'NCO Student'		'Airman'
Finnish Border Guard[6]
									Upseerikokelas		Kersantti		Upseerioppilas		Alikersantti		Aliupseerioppilas		Ylirajajääkäri		Aliupseerioppilas		Rajajääkäri
									Officersaspirant		Sergeant		Officerselev		Undersergeant		Underofficerselev		Övergränsjägare		Underofficerselev		Gränsjägare
									'Officer Candidate'		'Sergeant'		'Officer Student'		'Corporal'		'NCO Student'		'Border Jaeger First Class'		'NCO Student'		'Border Jaeger'
NATO code	OR-9		OR-8		OR-7		OR-6		OR-5				OR-4				OR-3				OR-2				OR-1

Ranks of the Cadets of the National Defence University

Cadets of the National Defence university have their own rank, senior to vänrikki, and in addition are distinguished between each other by the class year seniority, and also internal ranks given from success in studies and general leadership qualities. All of the cadets share the same collar insignia, but the epaulettes or the field uniform insignia reflect the class year seniority and internal rank.

Rank Group	Cadet Leaders								Cadets
NATO code	OF-1
Field uniform
Finnish Army
	Kadettivääpeli		Kadettiylikersantti		Kadettikersantti		Kadettialikersantti		Kadetti
	Kadettfältväbel		Kadettöversergeant		Kadettsergeant		Kadettundersergeant		Kadett
	'Cadet Sergeant First Class'		'Cadet Staff Sergeant'		'Cadet Sergeant'		'Cadet Corporal'		'Cadet'
Finnish Navy
	Kadettipursimies		Kadettiylikersantti		Kadettikersantti		Kadettialikersantti		Kadetti
	Kadettbåtsman		Kadettöversergeant		Kadettsergeant		Kadettundersergeant		Kadett
	'Cadet Chief Petty Officer'		'Cadet Petty Officer First Class'		'Cadet Petty Officer Second Class'		'Cadet Petty Officer Third Class'		'Cadet'
Finnish Air Force
	Kadettivääpeli		Kadettiylikersantti		Kadettikersantti		Kadettialikersantti		Kadetti
	Kadettfältväbel		Kadettöversergeant		Kadettsergeant		Kadettundersergeant		Kadett
	'Cadet Sergeant First Class'		'Cadet Staff Sergeant'		'Cadet Sergeant'		'Cadet Corporal'		'Cadet'
Finnish Border Guard
	Kadettivääpeli		Kadettiylikersantti		Kadettikersantti		Kadettialikersantti		Kadetti
	Kadettfältväbel		Kadettöversergeant		Kadettsergeant		Kadettundersergeant		Kadett
	'Cadet Sergeant First Class'		'Cadet Staff Sergeant'		'Cadet Sergeant'		'Cadet Corporal'		'Cadet'
NATO code	OF-1

Military chaplains

Rank	Translation	Equivalent rank	Collar insignia	Shoulder insignia
Kenttäpiispa Fältbiskopen	Field Bishop	Brigadier General (OF-6)
Kenttärovasti Fältprost	Senior Chaplain	Lieutenant Colonel (OF-4)
Sotilaspastori Militärpastor	Chaplain	Captain (OF-2)

Border Guard service ranks

Rank Group	NCOs												Rank-and-file
NATO code[lower-alpha 1]	OR-9		OR-8		OR-7		OR-6		OR-5		OR-4		OR-3		OR-2		OR-1
Finnish Border Guard[6]
	Rajavartiomestari		Ylirajavartija				Vanhempi rajavartija		Nuorempi rajavartija
	Bevakningsmästare		Överbevakare				Äldrebevakare		Yngrebevakare
NATO code	OR-9		OR-8		OR-7		OR-6		OR-5		OR-4		OR-3		OR-2		OR-1

Branch Colors

• 
  General Staff
• 
  Infantry
• 
  Jaeger (units with jaeger traditions)
• 
  Guard Jaeger
• 
  Finnish Border Guard
• 
  Dragoon
• 
  Cavalryman (-2014)
• 
  Army Academy
• 
  Reserve Officer School
• 
  Cadet School
• 
  Finnish Air Force
• 
  Armour
• 
  Army Aviation
• 
  Logistics
• 
  Military Band
• 
  Field Artillery
• 
  Anti-Air
• 
  Electronic Warfare Centre
• 
  Pioneers
• 
  Signals
• 
  Military medicine

Personnel groups

The military personnel of the Finnish Defence Forces is divided into three groups:^[7][8]

• command personnel (päällystö)
• junior command personnel (alipäällystö)
• rank and file (miehistö)

The rank-and-file (miehistö) consists of personnel with the rank of sotamies or korpraali; personnel which haven't completed NCO training during their conscript service may be promoted up to NCO ranks of alikersantti or kersantti in the reserves, and their status changes accordingly;^[9] further promotions past kersantti aren't possible.^[10] Soldiers in the rank of a private always have a branch or service specific title such as tykkimies "gunner" or matruusi, "seaman"; the non-specific rank of sotamies is no longer in use (see below). The NCO students rank as privates until they are promoted to the rank of Corporal.

The junior command personnel are formed from the professional or reserve NCOs and conscripts serving in ranks of corporal, officer student, sergeant or officer candidate or their naval equivalents. However, by regulation, all professional servicemen outrank conscripts.

The command personnel is formed of commissioned officers, commissioned officer specialists, warrant officers (opistoupseeri) and cadets.

Reservists belong to the personnel group determined by their military rank, but hold the position in the chain of command only from the moment they report to duty (or should have reported to duty) to the moment they have been discharged and have left the military installation. Unlike conscripts, the reservists rank with the professional military personnel without prejudice. The highest rank available to reserve officers is lieutenant colonel, but it is only awarded for special service or accomplishments.

Historic rank insignia

Rank insignia from the 1920s

General officers

Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, Marshal of Finland

Field marshal insignia consisting of the three heraldic lions of a full general and crossed marshal's batons

The ranks of field marshal (sotamarsalkka) and Marshal of Finland (Suomen marsalkka) were bestowed on Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim in 1933 and 1942, respectively. These are officially not military ranks but honorific titles, but were used like military ranks senior to the rank of general. The insignia used was a general's insignia with crossed marshal's batons.

All generals from brigadier general to general are addressed as "Mr./Mrs. General"("herra/rouva kenraali"), and similarly for admirals.

Historical honorary titles

The rank of general may, as a sign of special recognition, include a service branch: those historically used were general of infantry (jalkaväenkenraali), general of cavalry (ratsuväenkenraali) and general of artillery (tykistökenraali). These additions do not affect seniority. There are no living general officers with such recognition, the last one being General of Infantry Adolf Ehrnrooth (1905–2004).

Personnel who fought in the Finnish Jaegers of the German Army during World War I are often referred to as such, e.g. jääkärieversti "Jaeger colonel".

Military civil servants and specialist officers

Personnel serving in technical duties that hasn't completed any leadership training holds the position of Specialist (sotilasvirkamies i.e. military civil servant) at a class equal to their civilian education level. Their rank is equivalent to Staff Sergeant (Specialist 1st class - trade school), Lieutenant (Specialist 2nd class - Bachelor's degree) or First Lieutenant (Specialist 3rd class - Master's degree or above). Typical specialties include engineering, medicine and interpreters hired for UN peace keeping missions abroad. Military civil servants are rather rare as their position is likely to be filled by specialist officers i.e. personnel that has completed leadership training, has been commissioned and has the required civilian academic degree for the position.

Reservists may be promoted up to the rank of major both in special and normal officer ranks, if they show extraordinary commitment to national defence. In rare cases, reservists have been promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Chaplains serve in the ranks of chaplain (sotilaspastori), senior chaplain (kenttärovasti, literally, "field dean"), and chaplain general (kenttäpiispa, literally, "field bishop"), corresponding to the ranks of captain, lieutenant colonel, and brigadier general, respectively. In addition, they have a personal rank into which they revert at the end of their clerical service in the Finnish Defence Force. Conscript chaplains and deacons serve in their personal rank.^[11]

Officer training

Conscripts who have passed a reserve officer course, serve as officer candidates (upseerikokelas) and are considered NCOs ranking always above conscript sergeants but below any career personnel.^[12] They are addressed rouva/herra kokelas or rouva/herra upseerikokelas. At the end of their service period, they are promoted to second lieutenants.

Cadets (kadetti) are career military who have already passed their conscription and obtained the reserve officer's training and are now attending their professional officer education in the National Defence University. Cadets are senior to second lieutenants. In addition, the cadets may hold a cadet NCO rank which pertains to the seniority inside the Cadet Corps but does not affect their ranks in relation to other military personnel.

NCO ranks

The NCO ranks in the Finnish Defence Force are filled by conscripts, career NCOs and contractual military personnel at ranks from corporal to sergeant-major. Nowadays, career NCO sergeants wear a heraldic sword under their chevrons to distinguish them from conscript and contractual sergeants.

The contractual military personnel (sopimussotilaat) usually serves in their reserve ranks. Until 2007, reserve officers served in the rank of staff sergeant. This practice has now been abolished and nowadays reserve officers use their reserve rank. After discharge from the military, both career NCOs and contractual military personnel revert to their personal reserve ranks. The conscripts may hold the NCO rank of officer cadet, sergeant, officer student, or corporal. Reserve personnel may hold any NCO rank.

Special roles within units

There are some positions, which resemble military ranks in their name, but are not. The position of the company first sergeant (or other unit such as battery in artillery) is called komppanian vääpeli "company sergeant first class". In past times it was the position of the unit's most senior career NCO, but nowadays the post is held often by someone from sergeant up to senior lieutenant in training units, or by a conscript NCO (alikersantti, kersantti etc.) in mobilized units. Another example is komendantti, which is not a rank but a security/executive officer position in a brigade. While the rank of komentaja is found in the navy, in general use it refers to a commander of a battalion or a larger unit.

Career rank and file personnel

The rank of sotilasammattihenkilö "military professional" is reserved for non-combat trained professionals serving within the FDF in non-leadership roles such as those of social media assistant, photographer, or truck driver. Their rank insignia is a single heraldic sword and they rank above conscripts and below all other paid personnel.

Privates

Sotamies is the generic rank for private, however the rank of sotamies, as such, is no longer used in any service branch. The rank is always given the name specific to the service branch:

• Jaeger (jääkäri) in the infantry (including mortar personnel, who may be subordinated to infantry units)
• Signalman (viestimies) in the signals corps
• Armourman (panssarimies) in tank units
• Armoured Jaeger (panssarijääkäri) in mechanized infantry (including mechanized mortar unit's privates)
• Driver (autosotamies) in the transport corps
• Gunner (tykkimies) in the anti-aircraft corps, field artillery and coastal units of the navy
• NBC private (suojelumies) in NBC defence units
• Engineer (pioneeri) in the engineers
• Airman (lentosotamies) in the air force
• Seaman (matruusi) in the navy
• Coastal jaeger (rannikkojääkäri) in certain units of the Nyland Brigade (Uudenmaan prikaati)
• Dragoon (rakuuna) in the Dragoon Squadron of Army Warfare School (Rakuunaeskadroona/Maasotakoulu) - This squadron was disbanded in December 2016
• Cavalryman (ratsumies) in the Häme Regiment (Hämeen rykmentti) – This regiment was disbanded in December 2014.
• Guard jaeger (kaartinjääkäri) in Guard Jaeger Regiment (Kaartin jääkärirykmentti)
• Border jaeger (rajajääkäri) in the border guards (conscript rank, enlisted border guard personnel are NCOs in ranks of border guard (nuorempi rajavartija, sergeant), senior border guard (vanhempi rajavartija, between staff sergeant and sergeant first class), border guard sergeant (ylirajavartija, between sergeant first class and master sergeant) and border guard master sergeant (rajavartiomestari).)

Roughly 10 percent of all privates are promoted to the rank of lance corporal (Korpraali) during their service. In comparison, non-commissioned officer students (Aliupseerioppilas) hold either the permanent rank of private or lance corporal and rank accordingly. The rank of alokas is used to denote privates in basic training. The recruit, alokas is a new private, who has not been trained enough to have given a military oath or military guarantee. After giving an oath or such guarantee, the private soldier is no longer called alokas but will be promoted to their private-level military rank corresponding to their service branch, e.g. tykkimies.

Paratroop jaeger (laskuvarjojääkäri) and Special jaeger (erikoisjääkäri) in Utti Jaeger Regiment (Utin jääkärirykmentti) and Special border jaeger (erikoisrajajääkäri) in Special Border Jaeger Company of Border and Coast Guard School (Raja- ja merivartiokoulu) are not ranks, but specializations, where NCO training is given and thus each graduate is at minimum alikersantti.

Historically, the rank of sotamies was used in generic infantry units, while the rank of jaeger was used in specific jaeger battalions, which derived their traditions from the Jäger Movement.