Kapten (Kapteeni in Finnish) (From the Latin word capitaneus meaning head man or chief) is a professional and conscripted military rank in Sweden obtained by employed military personnel after one year as l jtnannt and completing a 40-week course (Note. It is no longer possible for conscripts to obtain the rank); Finland and Estonia, immediately above L jtnant in Sweden and Yliluutnantti in Finland and just below Major in the Army ranks. In the Navy, the rank is immediately above L jtnant and just below rlogskapten.

Finnish Defence Forces rank of Kapteeni is comparable to Ranks of NATO armies officers as OF-2.

Obtaining the rank in Sweden

One year as L jtnant and a 40-week course.

History and related ranks

Origin

The basic military unit during the Middle Ages was the company raised by a vassal lord on behalf of his lord usually the King. The lord was commissioned by the king as Kapten to lead the unit. As the number of companies grew, one captain was granted overall (general) authority and named captain general, which was shortened to general.

Kaptenl jtnant

Until 1750, a rank above L jtnant and below Kapten to command the life guard company on behalf of its formal commander - a verste.

Stabskapten

The rank Kaptenl jtnant changed to Stabskapten (Staff Captain) in 1750.

Ryttm stare

An obsolete rank in the cavalry that corresponded to Kapten.

Reform 1972

Kapten with more than eleven years of service were elevated to Major.

Holders of the following ranks were elevated to Kapten

• L jtnant
• F rvaltare
• Fanjunkare (with a minimum of seven years' service)
• Sergeant (with a minimum of seven years' service)

Reform 1972 - Rank inflation phase I

Prior to 1972, military personnel were divided into three categories Underbef l (non-commissioned officers), Underofficerare (warrant officers) and Officerare (commissioned officers). The reform established a four-career-path system with four categories as described below and carried out major promotions of most personnel below the rank verstel jtnant.

The Underbef l category was split into two categories

• gruppbef l to include

korpral - former vicekorpral

furir - former korpral

verfurir - former furir

• plutonsofficerare to include

sergeant - former verfurir

fanjunkare - former elderly verfurir and rustm stare

The Underofficer category was renamed kompaniofficerare to include

f nrik - former sergeant and fanjunkare with less than 3 years of service

l jtnant - former sergeant and fanjunkare with 3-7 years of service

kapten - former sergeant, fanjunkare with a minimum of 7 years of serviceand and f rvaltare

The Officer category was renamed regementsofficerare to include

l jtnant - L jtnant with less than 3 years of service and former f nrik

kapten - kapten with less than 11 years of service and former L jtnant with 3-11 years of service

major - former kapten and l jtnant with a minimum of 11 years of service

verstel jtnant - verstel jtnant and former major

higher ranks

Reform 1983 - Rank inflation phase II

All categories were merged into one professional officer category with the lowest rank set to f nrik. Furir, verfurir, sergeant and fanjunkare were removed as a professional ranks. Holders of the rank fanjunkare were promoted to l jtnant and the rest to f nrik.

Finland

In peacetime training, a kapteeni is the commander of a company. (Majors can also be in this role, but usually majors work in command staff rather than in individual companies.) The rank requires additional training to obtain, in addition to the preexisting military university degree.

It is also possible for reservists to obtain the reserve rank of kapteeni.

See also

• Finnish military ranks
• Military ranks of the Swedish armed forces
• Swedish Armed Forces

References

External links

• Officer Training