There are variations on Feldwebel, such as Oberstabsfeldwebel ('Superior Staff Field Usher'), which is the highest non-commissioned rank in the German army and air force.

Austro-Hungarian Army Feldwebel was equivalent to: The rank insignia was a gorget patch on the stand-up collar of the so-called Waffenrock (tunic), and consisted of three white stars on 13 mm ragged yellow silk galloon.

[6] The company's vääpeli is the lowest-ranking FDF position that can conduct a preliminary investigation into suspected service-related crimes.

[7] In the modern German Bundeswehr, Feldwebel is considered a senior NCO, due in part to the large number of corporal positions which exist as junior grades.

The modern Bundeswehr NCO grades are as follows: The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group (NCOs with portepee or Senior NCOs with portepee) is as follows: Feldwebel gained its widest usage under the German military beginning from the early 19th century.

The highest-ranking non-commissioned officer until 1918, the Feldwebel acted as Company Sergeant Major.

By contrast with some other countries, the position and duty of Regimental Sergeant Major never existed in Germany.

The Gefreiter was not an NCO as he had no powers of authority, and was a higher grade of private soldier.

NCOs of a lower rank (Feldwebel, Unterfeldwebel, Unteroffizier) holding this position were titled Hauptfeldwebeldiensttuer (i.e. acting Hauptfeldwebel).

The cavalry equivalent of this rank was the vakhtmistr or vakhmistr (вахмистр, derived from German Wachtmeister), also OR-6.

Until the Reform XXI agenda, there were two branches of Feldweibels: technical and company level.