Seekadett

This article is about the German Navy “Seekadett” OR5. For the equivalent US and UK naval ranks, see Midshipman.

Seekadett (en: Naval (officer) cadet / literal: sea cadet) is a military rank of the Bundeswehr and of former German speaking naval forces.

Bundeswehr

Fähnrich zur See
shoulder board / cuff title / mounting loop
Rank insignia	German NCO rank
Introduction	1966
Rank group	Non-commissioned officers
Navy	Seekadett
Army / Air Force	Fahnenjunker
NATO equivalent	OR-5

Seekadett (short SKad or SK) is a military rank of the Deutsche Bundeswehr to persons in uniform of the German Navy. Legal basis is the Presidential order of the Federal president (de: Bundespräsident) on rank insignia and uniforms of soldiers

Rank

Seekadett is the entrance rank to the Officer Aspirant (OA – de: Offizieranwärter) career. According to the salary class it is equivalent to the Unteroffizier ohne Portepee ranks Maat (rank) (Marine) and Unteroffizier of Heer or Luftwaffe.

It is also grouped as OR-5 in NATO, equivalent to Technical Sergeant, Sergeant or Petty Officer Second Class in the US Armed forces.

In navy context NCOs of this rank were formally addressed as Herr/ Frau Seekadett also informally / short Seekadett.

The name to the rank-equivalent persons in uniform of Heer or Luftwaffe are Fahnenjunker. Pertaining authority of command, promotion, and payment level, Seekadett compares with Fahnenjunker as well.

The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group is as follows:
Unteroffizier ohne Portepee

• OR-5a: Obermaat / Heer and Luftwaffe Stabsunteroffizier
• OR-5b: Seekadett / Fahnenjunker
• OR-5c: Maat / Unteroffizier

Remark

The abbreviation "OR" stands for "Other Ranks / fr: sous-officiers et militaires du rang / ru:другие ранги, кроме офицероф"!

junior Rank Oberstabsgefreiter	Seekadett	senior Rank Obermaat
	Bootsmann

See also

Main articles: Ranks of the German Bundeswehr and Rank insignia of the German Bundeswehr

Main article: Ranks and insignia of NATO navies enlisted

Rank insignia

Matrose OA (OR/1) / with nautical star

An officer candidate's career is indicated by the enlisted rank with the golden nautical star on the shoulder strap and sleeve in the Deutsche Marine, and a thin silver cord on the shoulder strap in Heer and Luftwaffe.

The rank insignia of Seekadett consist of sleeve badge and shoulder straps. Sleeve insignia are on upper arms, and form two open opposite faced angles, showing (by points) upwards and downwards. The shoulder straps are bordered by a golden braid that is open to the sleeve seam.

Already below the lowest officer designated rank "Seekadett" any military person, assigned to an officer career, has to wear additionally to the particular rank the two capital letters “OA”, indicating to the “Officer Aspirant” career. The "nautical star" symbolises the "OA" career.

from 1956
Distinction	Oberfähnrich (Senior cadet sergeant)	Fähnrich (Cadet sergeant)	Fahnenjunker (Officer cadet senior grade)	Oberfähnrich (Senior aviation cadet)	Fähnrich (Aviation cadet)	Fahnenjunker (Officer cadet senior grade)	Oberfähnrich zur See (Senior midshipman)	Fähnrich zur See (Midshipman)	Seekadett (Naval cadet)
Rangcode	(OR-7)	(OR-6)	(OR-5)	(OR-7)	(OR-6)	(OR-5)	(OR-7)	(OR-6)	(OR-5)
NATO	Cadet sergeant						Midshipman
USAF				Aviation cadet auch Warrant Officer
RAF				Acting pilot officer

Training and career

Officer cadets in the Deutsche Marine begin their training at the Naval Academy Mürwik (German: Marineschule Mürwik) in Flensburg-Mürwik holding enlisted ranks with the qualifier officer candidate (German: Offizieranwärter), abbreviated as OA. After about a year, they are promoted to Seekadetten, equivalent to the non-commissioned officer (NCO) rank Mate (German: Maat), and move to the University of the German Federal Armed Forces. About nine months later, they are promoted to Fähnrich zur See rank, equivalent to the NCO rank Boatswain (German: Bootsmann). After 30 months of total training they are promoted to the final officer candidate rank, Oberfähnrich zur See, equivalent to the NCO rank Hauptbootsmann, and after about 4 years of total training graduate with a bachelor's degree.