Seekadett (short SKad or SK; ,Langenscheidt´s Encyclopaedic Dictionary of the English and German language: „Der Große Muret-Sander“, Part II German-English, Second Volume L–Z, 8th edition 1999, ; p. 1.381 ) is a military rank of the Bundeswehr and of former German-speaking naval forces.
The legal basis for the German Navy is the Presidential order of the Federal president () on rank insignia and uniforms of soldiers.The Federal president (publisher): Order of the Federal president on rank insignia and uniform of soldiers (short title: BPräsUnifAnO), issued July 14, 1978.
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 German Army 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
junior Rank Oberstabsgefreiter | Seekadett | senior Rank Obermaat |
Bootsmann |
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.
Oberfähnrich | Fähnrich | Fahnenjunker | Oberfähnrich | Fähnrich | Fahnenjunker | Oberfähnrich zur See | Fähnrich zur See | Seekadett | |||
(OR-7) | (OR-6) | (OR-5) | |||||||||
NATO | Cadet Sergeant | Midshipman | |||||||||
USAF | Aviation cadet auch Warrant Officer | ||||||||||
RAF | Acting pilot officer |
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