Fänrik Fänrik ( " vänrikki " in Finnish ) ( from German language " Fähnrich " ) is a Swedish and Finnish military rank . A typical assignment for a professional Fänrik is as junior instructor of recruits . In Finland , the rank " vänrikki " is used in active service by reserve officers who remain in service as for 6 - to - 12 - months - long additional term to serve as " sopimussotilas " . In addition , it is the lowest reserve officer rank . Finnish Defence Forces rank of Vänrikki is comparable to Ranks of NATO armies officers as OF - 1 . Obtaining the rank in Sweden . Professional officer . A minimum of 11 months of basic military training or 6 months as an aspirant followed by a three year programme at the Swedish National Defence College or " Försvarshögskolan " ( FHS ) . ( See Kadett for details ) Conscript officer . Prior 2007 it was possible to obtain the rank through 15 months of compulsory military service training at level 6 . Level 6 means that the holder has received basic training to act in platoon leader roles except in the cavalry where Fänrik is a squad leader rank ( team = 5 - 8 men ) . Obtaining the rank in Finland . Conscipt officer . The rank has been mainly a reserve rank . The future conscript officers are selected from the whole pool of conscripts . After a basic training of two months , a portion of the conscripts are selected for NCO training . After 2 months of NCO training , the most suitable are selected for reserve officer training and promoted to officer students . The 3½ - month - long reserve officers training usually takes place in the Reserve Officer School , and afterwards , the candidates are promoted to officer cadets ( ) . They serve the remaining 5½ months of their conscription practicing as platoon commanders as well as training other conscripts . Finally , successful officer cadets are discharged with the rank of " vänrikki " . In the reserve , reserve officers may be promoted up to majuri ( Major ) , although there have been extraordinarily promotions to everstiluutnantti ( Lieutenant Colonel ) . If mobilization is effected , officers in the reserve fill most junior officer duties of the war - time Finnish army . Especially , most platoon and company commander positions and junior staff officer duties are filled with reservists . Professional officer . The National Defence College accepts both reserve officers and reserve NCOs . Those cadets who did not receive reserve officer training during their conscription are usually promoted to the personal rank of " vänrikki " during their studies . However , upon graduation , professional officers are promoted to luutnantti . During the early 21st century , the National Defence College also had a one - year program to commission professional officers with the rank of " vänrikki " and a fixed service term of five years . The rank is the lowest commissioned officer rank . Formerly a school called " Maanpuolustusopisto " ( MpO ) had " vänrikki " as the rank given to new graduates . These officers were known as " opistoupseeri " ( usually translated " Warrant Officer " ) , and could be promoted up to " yliluutnantti " , senior lieutenant , ( company vice - commander ) , and later , to " kapteeni " ( company commander ) . The " opisto " level ceased to exist in Finland ( other schools were redefined as ammattikorkeakoulu ) in the end of 1990 ' s . However , in the military , the MpO was decommissioned . All officers are now trained by the National Defence College . Any existing MpO graduates may obtain further education to upgrade their degree to a university degree . Extraordinary . Simo Häyhä , the deadliest sniper in history , was extraordinarily promoted to " vänrikki " , from alikersantti ( Corporal ) , personally by Marshal C . G . E . Mannerheim . History and related ranks . Origin . The name of the rank means " company flag bearer " . The flag was usually maintained by a soldier " förare " and handed over to the fänrik just before the inception of a battle . His role was to align the company and the flag was an important tool in achieving that . This duty was highly prestigious , and as such , could not be trusted to other than an officer , but required no particular officer training . The fänrik together with his assistant the förare were responsible for the medical care within the company . The term fänika was used as a battalion sized military unit during the Middle Ages and Renaissance . Kornett . Corresponding rank in the cavalry . 1835 . Fänrik and Kornett were replaced with the rank Underlöjtnant . 1914 . Reintroduction of the rank with the same status as Underlöjtnant . 1926 . Rank set to be junior in status to Underlöjtnant . 1937 . The rank Underlöjtnant was removed . Reform 1972 . Holder of the rank Fänrik were elevated to Löjtnant . Holders of the following ranks were elevated to Fänrik Reform 1983 . The meaning of the term officer broadened to include all professional and reserve military personnel . Fänrik was subsequently set to be the lowest rank for professional and reserve military personnel . To be employed as an officer in the Armed Forces , the candidate was required to complete two years of officers school ( OHS ) and successfully graduate as Fänrik . Reform 2008 two career path system . The objective of the reform is to produce officers who are specialized at commanding troops at platoon , company and higher level as well as providing officers academic status . See officer training how to obtain the rank through the new system .