Soldier ranks of Sweden Soldier ranks of Sweden comprise the contracted ordinary ranks in the Swedish Armed Forces . The length of contract is currently restricted to two years due to the employment protection law ( LAS ) . Menig . Rank for recruits undertaking training . Menig 1 : a klass . Menig 1 : a klass is a new rank introduced 2009 for soldiers who have spent at least one year in training and service . Bars will increase by one after each year in service , up to a maximum of four bars . Vicekorpral . Vicekorpral was introduced in 2009 . How to obtain the rank and what it represents have not yet been clearly defined . History . Prior to 1972 . The rank existed until 1972 as a trainee rank for conscripts who were undertaking training to become deputy squad leaders or squad leaders . Korpral . Korpral used to be a trainee rank for conscripts prior the rank reform 2009 and the change to a pure professional armed forces in 2010 . The rank was obtained by conscript commanders after serving a certain time ( usually 4 months ) and passing the mandatory tests ( such as physical , weapons , enemy identification and tactics etc . ) . 1600 - 1700 . A korpral of the infantry was in charge of a 24 men strong formation called korpralskap during the Swedish allotment system . The korpralskap consisted of four rote ( teams ) of 6 men each . Each rote was led by a rote master . Reform 1833 / 37 . Korpral was considered an under - officer rank in the Cavalry before the reorganization 1833 / 37 that elevated holders of the rank Korpral to Sergeants and lowered the status of the rank . Konstapel . A corresponding artillery and air - defense rank that was established in 1500 . The rank was discontinued in 1972 . Distinktionskorpral . Established 1858 as a rank above Korpral . In 1912 the rank was discontinued and holders of the rank were elevated to " Furir " . Sergeant . Sergeant is a rank for soldiers in the cavalry , deputy squanders in regular units and is being used as a rank for deputy squad leaders in the home defense organization ( Hemvarnet ) . The rank was obtained by conscript platoon - commanders ( PB , plutonsbefäl ) when finishing their conscript service ( usually after 12 months ) . How to obtain the rank in the newly formed professional armed forces is not yet clearly defined . History . 2009 Furir changes name to Sergeant . The rank " Sergeant " changed name to " First Sergeant " and " Furir " to " Sergeant " . Furir . Furir ( from French fourrier means the person responsible for the feeding ) was a Swedish military rank above Korpral and Sergeant ( now First Sergeant ) awarded after completing the training for company commander ( KB , kompanibefäl ) , level 8 conscript training ( usually after 15 months ) . Level 8 means that the holder has received some basic leadership training at team leader level . Riflemen , MP men and deputy team - leaders ( 5 men ) of cavalry and riflemen at the Nordic Battle Group typically have this rank [ ref : K3 , K3 , K1 , NBG ] . Other holders of the rank are the deputy team - leaders of the Home Guard . History and related ranks . Origin 1600 . The responsibility of a furir was to arrange for housing as well as the distribution of food in a Company . 1833 / 37 . The rank becomes the lowest underofficers rank . 1875 . Holders of the rank Furir were elevated to Sergeant and the rank was removed . 1914 . The rank was reintroduced , not categorized as underofficer , but as a rank for senior squad leaders and instructors . 1944 . Establishment of the rank Överfurir above Furir . The rank corresponds to the newly introduced rank Swedish rank " First Sergeant " . Removed 1983 as a professional rank . 2009 . The rank changes name to Sergeant Rank inflation . Reform 1972 - Rank inflation phase I . Prior to 1972 , military personnel were divided into three categories " Underbefäl " ( 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 Överstelöjtnant . The " Underbefäl " category was split into two categories The " Underofficer " category was renamed kompaniofficerare to include The " Officer " category was renamed regementsofficerare to include Reform 1983 - Rank inflation phase II . All categories were merged into one professional officer category with the lowest rank set to fänrik . Furir , överfurir , sergeant and fanjunkare were removed as a professional ranks . Holders of the rank fanjunkare were promoted to löjtnant and the rest to fänrik .