Charges (military)
Charge(s) (German: Charge(n); literal: rank(s)) used to be the generic term to the military ranks[1] above the rank group of enlisted personnel in German speaking armies. In the today's Austrian Armed Forces (Österreichisches Bundesheer) it is the designation to the rank group OR2[2] to OR4, which comprises the ranks Gefreiter, Korporal and Zugsführer.
In English speaking armed forces, however, charge characterizes a particular manoeuvre, where soldiers rush towards the enemy to engage in close combat.
- Charges in the Austrian Bundesheer
| Designation | Ranks (de: Chargen) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Suit (de: Anzug) 75 / 03 | 
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| Jacket gorget (Rockkragen) | 
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| Corps colour (Waffenfarbe) | Engineers | Skirmishing patrol, Army sports | NBC-Defence |
| Peaked cap (Tellerkappe) | 
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| Rank | Zugsführer (Zgf) | Korporal (Kpl) | Gefreiter (Gfr) |
| NATO equivalent | Master Corporal | Corporal | Private |
 rank |
OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 |
The sequence of rank groups (top-down approach) in the Austrian Bundesheer is as follows:
- Personen ohne Chargengrad OR-1 (= Persons without charge grade)
- Chargen OR2-OR4 (= Charges)
- Unteroffiziere OR5-OR6 (= NCOs)
- Stabsunteroffiziere OR7-OR9 (= Staff NCOs)
- Offiziere OF1-OF5 (= Officers)
- Generale OF6-OF9 (= General officers)
- See also