Oberwachtmeister is in the Austrian Bundesheer the second lowest NCO-rank (assignment group M BUO 2 / professional NCO; respectively M ZUO 2 / longer-serving volunteer).

During United Nations missions and in NATO Partnership for Peace the rank Oberwachtmeister will be designated in English with Master sergeant.

In the GDR National People's Army (NPA) the OR6-rank «Oberwachtmeister» was replaced by the universal rank designation Oberfeldwebel.

Until the so-called Army reform XXI (with effect from January 1, 2004) the rank was regular assigned to the Zugführer-Stellvertreter (en: deputy platoon leader).

In United Nations missions and in NATO Partnership for Peace the rank Oberwachtmeister will be designated in English with Sergeant First Class (SFC).