With the formation of standing armies in the second half of the 17th century, the term commonly came to designate the rank of the least senior commissioned officer.

Here the modular education comprises the so-called one-year volunteer year (de: Einjährig-Freiwilliger [EF][3]) as well as several courses, seminars, and exercises with a final aptitude test.

Until 1918 Leutnant (Hungarian: Hadnagy) was in the Austria-Hungarian Army the lowest CO-rank as well, equivalent to Assistenz-Arzt and Leutnant-Rechnungsführer.

However, the rank of Leutnant might also be held while a junior officer is studying at the University of the German Federal Armed Forces or at another training or education establishment.

This was in reference to Soviet military doctrine and in line with other armed forces of the Warsaw Pact.

In Nazi Germany, within the SS and Waffen-SS, the rank of SS-Untersturmführer was considered to be the equivalent of an Leutnant in the German Army.

Promotion to the next highest rank, Oberleutnant, occurs after three refresher courses (contingent upon good performance) or automatically after six years' service.