English: Metal bars were produced from 1972 until the very end in 1990 to replace the ribbon bars that had been stitched onto shoulder boards. It is difficult to determine exactly when production of the stitched version ceased, as both versions were used simultaneously until the late 1970s or early 1980s.

During the 1980s, the stitched version was still in use, but as stock gradually depleted, most soldiers and sailors transitioned to metal bars in the final decade. Additionally, cloth stripes could be mounted on shoulder boards (as seen in the photograph on the left). A small cloth bar indicated that a soldier was attending an NCO school. These cloth bars were available in the colors of all military branches.

The thicker green bar shown in the photograph on the left signifies that a border guard soldier was the leader of a two-man patrol at the border, a position known as Postenführer. A soldier could only serve as a Postenführer if they held the rank of Gefreiter.

Although the rank of Stabsgefreiter officially still existed in the 1980s, it was rarely used. If someone held this rank, they were likely a demoted NCO.

English: As mentioned earlier, before 1983, only Meister ranks wore Metalauflagen. After 1983, these insignia were worn by all career navy ranks, from Matrose up to and including Meister ranks. One of the reasons for introducing Metalauflagen was the discontinuation of the double chevron on NVA uniforms, which made it more difficult to distinguish between career and non-career soldiers.

In the army and air force, this distinction was easily made based on the fabric of their uniforms. However, in the navy, this was not always possible since both career and non-career soldiers wore the same type of uniform.

There were eight types of Metalauflagen, each representing a different branch:

• Seemännische Laufbahn (Seafaring) – Anchor with rope (not displayed)

• Technische Laufbahn (Technical) – Chainring (c.)

• Verwaltungs Laufbahn (Administrative) – Caduceus (d.)

• Juristische Laufbahn (Legal) – Shield and swords (a.)

• Musikdienst Laufbahn (Music Service) – Lyre (e.)

• Marineflieger Laufbahn (Naval Aviation) – Propeller (f.)

• Küstendienst Laufbahn (Coastal Service) – Anchor without rope (b.)

• Medizinische Laufbahn (Medical) – Esculape (g.)

The only two types of Metalauflagen worn by both officers and enlisted personnel were the lyre and the Esculape. These were worn by bandsmen and medical officers across the navy, air force, and army. For lower-ranking bandsmen in the air force and army, a silver-colored lyre made of aluminum was available.

The light blue-piped navy shoulder boards (#7) were introduced in 1986, following the formation of the Naval Air Force in 1985. A similar type of shoulder board was also designed for sailors (#1).

Since 1956, Meister ranks in the Volksmarine had worn their Laufbahnabzeichen (career symbol) on their shoulder boards (#11). However, in 1983, new regulations required all career soldiers to wear their Laufbahnabzeichen on their shoulder boards.

Mounting the pips on the shoulder boards is relatively simple, but it must be done correctly. According to the 1980 regulations, the center of the lowest pip(s) should be placed 2.5 cm from the bottom of the shoulder board, while the center of the upper pip should be positioned 2 cm above the lower pip(s). If a career symbol was required for navy career soldiers or bandsmen, this distance was adjusted accordingly (#11).

Offiziersschüler 

Soldiers attending a military academy wore this type of shoulder board during their period of education. The number of stripes on the shoulder board indicates the year of study for the Offizierschüler. Normally, the educational period at a military academy would last four years. However, for example, medical students at the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Military Medical Academy in Greifswald had a six-year course, and as such, their dark green-piped shoulder boards could feature up to six stripes. Shoulder boards with one to four stripes were produced with white, pink, red (for artillery), yellow, black, dark green, light green (for border troops), and orange piping.

The orange paratrooper Offizierschüler shoulder boards were only issued in 1986 (for the 3rd and 4th educational years) and in 1987 (for the 2nd educational year). Prior to 1986, all paratrooper Offizierschüler wore shoulder boards with white piping. Shoulder boards with five stripes were produced and issued only with yellow piping (1985–1990), dark green piping (1975–1990), or, of course, without piping for the field uniform. Shoulder boards with six stripes were produced only with dark green piping and without piping for the field uniform. Shoulder boards featuring five or six stripes with any other type of piping were never officially produced or issued.

Fähnriche

In the NVA and the border troops of the GDR, the rank of Fähnrich was introduced in 1973 in accordance with Ministerial Decree No. 168/73. It was positioned between professional non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and officers. At the end of 1979, three new categories of Fähnrich ranks were established: Oberfähnrich, Stabsfähnrich, and Stabsoberfähnrich. With the introduction of the Fähnrich rank, a patch was introduced on the left sleeve: grey/silver for the Army and Air Force, and blue/gold for the Navy.

From 1973 to 1979, there were three types of arm patches, distinguished by the number of stars: one star for 10 years of service, two stars for 15 years, and three stars for 20 years of service. At the end of 1979, a new patch was introduced, which no longer featured stars. From this point onwards, all Fähnriche wore the same patch. The underlying fabric of these shoulder boards sometimes differed, much like the shoulder boards of junior officers (see 'junior officers' below).