Rekrut

This article is about the Austrian Armed Forces / German Bundeswehr, and the Swiss army Rekrut. For meanings in Anglophone armed forces, see Recruit (disambiguation).

Seeing off a Rekrut (Russian: Рекрут), by Ilya Repin (1879)

German Rekruts on outpost

Rekrut (German for 'recruit') is a military designation in German-speaking countries. It was also used historically in the 18th- and 19th-century Russian Empire (see Conscription in the Russian Empire). In Germany, it characterizes newly recruited or sought personnel during an initial period of basic military training. However, in Austria, Switzerland, and some other countries, Rekrut is the lowest rank of enlisted soldier.

Etymology

Rekrut was derived from the French recruter (to seek new soldiers), and recrue (recruit). The noun entered the German language in the 17th century.

Austria

Main article: Ranks of the Austrian Bundesheer

Rekrut
Peaked cap
Field uniform | service uniform
Country	Austria
Service branch	Austrian Armed Forces
Abbreviation	Rekr
Rank group	Personnel without charges (Enlisted rank)
Non-NATO rank	OR-1
Formation	1998
Next higher rank	Gefreiter

In the Austrian Bundesheer, Rekrut (known as Wehrmann, 'defense man', until 1998) is the lowest rank in the Heer and Luftwaffe. It belongs to the so-called Rekruten rank group.

Germany

In the German Bundeswehr, Rekrut is the generic term for military personnel during basic training. In most cases it refers to the lowest rank of enlisted men, e.g. a Soldat of the German Army, Flieger of the German Air Force, or Matrose of the German Navy.

Switzerland

Rekrut in Switzerland
No rank insignia
Rank insignia	Swiss army
Rank group	Enlisted men (de: Mannschaften)
Army / Air Force	Rekrut
Salary bracket	CHF 4.-/Day
Lower: Higher:	Not established
	Soldat

Main article: Military ranks of the Swiss Armed Forces

In the Swiss Armed Forces, Rekrut (abbreviated Rek) is the lowest rank in the Heer and Luftwaffe. However, it is also the generic term for newly recruited military personnel during basic training.

References

• BROCKHAUS, The encyclopedia in 24 volumes (1796–2001), Volume 18: 3-7653-3678-5, page 231; definition «Rerkrut».