
Fahnenjunker

Fahnenjunker (short Fhj or FJ, ; ) is a military rank of the Bundeswehr and of some former German armed forces. In earlier German armed forces it was also the collective name for many Officer aspirant ranks. It was established by the "Presidential order of the Federal president on rank insignia and uniforms of soldiers"
Rank.
"Fahnenjunker" is the entrance rank to the officer aspirant career. According to the salary class it is equivalent to the Unteroffizier ohne Portepee ranks Unteroffizier of the army or the air force, and Maat of Deutsche Marine. It is also grouped as OR-5 in NATO, equivalent to Sergeant, Staff Sergeant in the US Armed forces.
In army context NCOs of this rank were formally addressed as "Herr/ Frau Fahnenjunker" also informally / short "Fahnenjunker".
The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group is as follows:
Unteroffizier ohne Portepee
Rank insignia.
Bundeswehr.
An officer candidate's career is indicated by the enlisted rank with a thin silver cord on the shoulder strap in the army and the air force, and with the golden nautical star on the shoulder strap and sleeve in the "Deutsche Marine".
The rank insignia of "Fahnenjunker" consist of shoulder straps, bordered by a golden braid that is open to the sleeve seam. "Fahnenjunker" of the air force wear additional Air Force wing on the open end of the braid. The rank insignia on field- and battle dress are in black colour.
Already below the lowest officer designated rank "Fahnenjunker" 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.