Main changes:
1. The appearance of shoulder straps has changed. They became the same form for all ranks. 6-sided, officer type.
2. Canceled the rank of "marshal of the armed forces"
3. Army General got 4 stars back instead of one big one.
4. The rank of "marshal of the armed forces" has become just an honorary title.
5. Metal corners were introduced to the lower ranks instead of transverse stripes.
6. Ensigns on shoulder straps were given a piping.
7. The piping has only 2 colors: red and blue (for the Airborne Forces, Air Force and Military Space Forces).
Generals and marshals.
General's zigzag and stars with a diameter of 40 mm for the marshal and 22 mm for the generals:
Marshal of the Russian Federation: State Emblem and 1 star in "radiance"
- Army General: 4 stars
- Colonel General: 3
- Lieutenant General: 2
- Major General: 1
senior officers.
2 gaps and faceted metal stars, 20 mm in diameter:
junior officers.
1 clearance and faceted metal stars with a diameter of 13mm:
Captain: 4
-Senior Lieutenant: 3
- Lieutenant: 2
-Second lieutenant: 1
Ensigns.
Shoulder strap like privates, with edging. Stars are metal, faceted like those of junior officers, but are attached to the length of the shoulder strap:
Senior warrant officer: 3
- Ensign: 2
Sergeants and foremen, as well as corporals and privates.
The shoulder straps of the sample established for the lower ranks have an edging; at the bottom of the shoulder strap are the metal letters "BC". The specific rank is determined by the number and type of metal corners.
Petty Officer: 1 wide and 1 narrow corners
- Senior sergeant: 1 wide
- Sergeant: 3 narrow
- Junior sergeant: 2 narrow
- Corporal: 1 narrow
- Private: without corners.
On everyday shoulder straps, stars of yellow metal (for generals from a yellow thread with a red edging), on field ones - white. In addition, there are couplings for field shoulder straps, where the stars are embroidered with green thread or stamped in gray.
On the shoulder strap, worn on a shirt, a tunic with a zipper or a raincoat under a button, the emblem of the branch of the yellow metal is attached.
At present, the emblems of the military branches have also changed. And lapel and sleeves.
Lapel emblems attached to the collar of the tunic are also attached to shoulder straps worn on a shirt, tunic with a zipper and a raincoat. They are made of yellow metal. They have now been changed once again. They became larger and devoid of absolutely unnecessary wreaths.
It looks like this:
1 - Ground Forces (in the Motorized Rifle Forces project); 2 - tank troops; 3 - RHBZ troops; 4 - Air Force aviation; 5 - ZRV Air Force; 6 - RTV Air Force; 7 - Airborne Forces; 8 - Strategic Missile Forces; 9 - KV; 10 - R&A; 11 - military air defense; 12 - communications troops; 13 - road troops; 14 - railway troops; 15 - automobile troops; 16 - engineering troops; 17 - pipeline troops; 18 - topographic service; 19 - VOSO service; 20 - medical service; 21 - veterinary and sanitary service; 22 - Military band service; 23 - legal service; 24 - environmental service.
Also, some NATO system is currently being introduced. The emblem of the military branch is located on a leather tag attached to the button of the breast pocket. Worn with a service shirt.
The badge in the form of a medium emblem is worn on a leather lining. On the reverse side of the badge there is a device for attaching to a leather lining. The black lining is pointed at the bottom and has a loop at the top for attaching to the breast pocket button.
Shoulder straps as a symbol of honor
"... Honor the sign placed on the shoulders"
A. Nesmelov (Miropolsky)
Russian poet, officer of the Russian Imperial Army, after 1920 in exile
With this item of uniform, which distinguishes a civil servant from an ordinary citizen, we often encounter. They have become so familiar that sometimes we don’t even notice. Especially today, when they can be seen on the shoulders of not only military personnel, but also, sometimes, on people who have nothing to do with law enforcement agencies and the state.
Shoulder straps have a great history and now we will try to tell about it.
First, let's try to understand that ranks, ranks, awards, their corresponding insignia and distinctions regulate social relations in the military formations of any state. Insignia are traditionally understood as conditional distinguishing marks on the uniform of military personnel, designed to designate personal military ranks, belonging to a military specialty or service. These, as a rule, include shoulder straps, as well as buttonholes, various kinds of chest and sleeve insignia, cockades, stars, gaps, piping, stripes, etc.
The appearance of shoulder straps in the Russian army
There is a widespread misconception that epaulettes as an element of military uniform come from knightly armor, or rather metal shoulder plates that protected the warrior's shoulders from saber blows. It is a myth.
Shoulder straps in the Russian army have a long history. For the first time they were introduced by Emperor Peter the Great back in 1696, when he began to build his army according to the European type. But in those days, shoulder straps served only as a strap that kept the belt of a gun, satchel or cartridge bag from slipping off the shoulder. The shoulder strap was most often an attribute of the uniform of the lower ranks: officers were not armed with guns, and therefore they did not need shoulder straps.
In 1762, an attempt was made to use epaulettes as a means of separating servicemen from different regiments and separating soldiers and officers. To solve this problem, each regiment was given shoulder straps of different weaving from a garus cord, and to separate the soldiers and officers, the weaving of shoulder straps in the same regiment was different. However, since there was no single sample, the shoulder straps performed the task of the insignia poorly.
Under Emperor Paul I, only soldiers began to wear shoulder straps, and again only for a practical purpose: to keep ammunition on their shoulders.
As insignia, they began to be used again with the accession to the throne of Alexander I. However, now they denoted not ranks, but belonging to one or another regiment. On shoulder straps, a number indicating the number of the regiment was depicted, and the color of the shoulder strap indicated the number of the regiment in the division: red denoted the first regiment, blue - the second, white - the third, and dark green - the fourth.
To distinguish a soldier from an officer, officer shoulder straps were first sheathed with galloon, and since 1807 officers' shoulder straps were replaced with epaulettes. Since 1827, officer and general ranks began to be denoted by the number of stars on epaulettes: ensigns - 1, second lieutenant, major and major general - 2; lieutenant, lieutenant colonel and lieutenant general - 3; staff captain - 4; captains, colonels and full generals did not have stars on their epaulettes. One asterisk was retained for retired brigadiers and retired second majors - these ranks no longer existed by 1827, but retirees with the right to wear uniforms who retired in these ranks remained.
Why was a star chosen as a sign of distinction? And why five-pointed?
Stars in heraldry and emblems differ both in the number of rays forming them and in color. The combination of both gives different semantic and national meanings for each star. The five-pointed star is the oldest symbol of protection, protection, and security. In ancient Greece, it could be found on coins, on the doors of houses, stables and even on cradles. Among the Druids of Gaul, Britain, Ireland, the five-pointed star (druidic cross) was a symbol of protection from external evil forces. And until now it can be seen on the window panes of medieval Gothic buildings.
The French Revolution revived the five-pointed stars as a symbol of the ancient god of war Mars. They denoted the rank of the commanders of the French army - on hats, epaulettes, scarves, on the tails of the uniform. The military reforms of Nicholas I largely contained the imitation of the French army - so the stars "rolled down" from the French sky to the Russian one.
On April 8, 1843, insignia also appeared on the shoulder straps of the lower ranks: one ribbon went to the corporal, two to the junior non-commissioned officer, and three to the senior non-commissioned officer. The sergeant-major received a transverse ribbon of 2.5 cm thickness on the shoulder strap, and the ensign - exactly the same, but located longitudinally from a golden galloon, and for non-commissioned officers - from white (silver) braided braid.
The presence of epaulettes, sewing and buttonholes among the officers sharply distinguished them from the mass of soldiers, which created a special danger for officers during the period of combat operations. This was especially evident during the Crimean War of 1853-1856. There is a version that Admiral P.S. Nakhimov in 1855 in Sevastopol was killed by a bullet from a French sniper, who was guided by brightly distinguished epaulettes, which the general did not take off his uniform in principle.
The Crimean War revealed the inconsistency of some, especially the ceremonial items of officer uniforms, with the new, positional nature of the conduct of hostilities. Instead of uniforms, helmets and shakos, officers preferred to wear frock coats and caps in positions. On April 29, 1854, Nicholas I ordered by personal decree instead of overcoats with a cape "in wartime, all generals, headquarters and chief officers of the infantry, cavalry, pioneers, artillery and gendarmes to have marching overcoats" of a soldier's type. Like the lower ranks, marching officer overcoats were sewn from coarse thick cloth and had a standing collar in the color of the military branches and colored cloth shoulder straps assigned to the lower ranks of the unit.
To distinguish the categories of officers, gaps appeared on the shoulder straps: the chief officer shoulder straps had one clearance, the headquarters officers had two, the general shoulder straps were made of solid galloon with a special weave and had no gaps.
The ranks were distinguished by forged stars, as on epaulettes. On the shoulder straps of adjutant generals and aide-de-camp wing, it was supposed to have imperial monograms.
Speaking of terminology. For many, names such as clearance and edging are incomprehensible. But all this is simple. The edging is a cloth edging along the edge of the shoulder strap. Clearance - a longitudinal strip of fabric that divides the shoulder strap into two or three parts. Junior officers have one clearance. Seniors have two. True, before the revolution, the younger ones were called, in the German manner, "chief officers", and the older ones - "headquarters officers."
The reign of Alexander II opened a period of special love of the people for their army. The unprecedented rise of patriotism in those years made service to the Fatherland the ultimate dream for many. Brilliant officers enjoyed great success at all kinds of balls, the cut of military uniforms confidently entered secular fashion. The feelings of his subjects were also shared by Alexander II, who not only dressed the troops in luxurious uniforms, but also introduced new shoulder straps. The usual officer epaulettes and epaulets of the lower ranks acquired an oblong pentagonal shape. The general's epaulette was hexagonal in shape, that is, the one that is used today. And in general, today's shoulder strap is not much different from the shoulder strap of that time - the same gaps, the same stars. The only difference is that initially the stars were attached next to the gaps.
Since 1874, in accordance with the order of the military department No. 137 of May 4, 1874, the shoulder straps of both the first and second regiments of the division became red, and the color of the buttonholes and cap bands of the second regiment became blue. The shoulder straps of the third and fourth regiments became blue, but the buttonholes and bands of the third regiment were white, and those of the fourth regiment were green.
Army grenadiers had yellow shoulder straps. The epaulettes of the Akhtyrsky and Mitavsky hussars, Finland, Primorsky, Arkhangelsk, Astrakhan and Kinburn dragoon regiments were also yellow.
With the advent of rifle regiments, crimson epaulettes were assigned to the latter.
1. Shooter of the 10th Novoingermanland Infantry Regiment. Number encryption.
2. Gunner of the 23rd cavalry artillery battery. Encryption number and special sign of artillery.
3. Grenadier of the 5th Grenadier Kyiv Heir to the Tsesarevich Regiment. Encryption in the form of the Tsesarevich's monogram. On yellow shoulder straps, the encryption is red. Blue edging n- assigned to this regiment.
4. Hussar of the 6th Hussar Klyastitsky Regiment. The epaulette of the color of the instrument cloth is light blue. The button of the color of the instrumental metal of the regiment is silver.
5. Cossack of the 14th Don Cossack Army Ataman Efremov Regiment.
6. Sapper company of His Majesty's Life Guards Sapper Battalion. The monogram is a metal consignment note, which is laid in the companies of His Majesty in all branches of the armed forces.
Shoulder straps had military officials and officials of some civilian departments, as well as the police.
In their appearance, the everyday shoulder straps of the pre-revolutionary Russian army were similar to the so-called "everyday" gold and silver shoulder straps of the Soviet Army, but with the following differences:
1. The colors of the edges and gaps did not mean the type of troops (as now), but one or another regiment.
2. The stars were not metal, but embroidered: on gold shoulder straps - silver, on silver - gold.
3. The size of the stars was the same for all ranks, from ensign to general.
4. Numbered regiments of the army had embroidered numbers on shoulder straps.
5. Regiments with chiefs (mainly in the guards) had on their shoulder straps the so-called "encryption" (an embroidered monogram with a crown above it).
Everyday officer epaulettes were of two types: tight straps - they were worn on tunics, uniforms, frock coats; sewn - soft, which were worn on overcoats, and then began to be worn on tunics and jackets.
The style of shoulder straps worn on tunics was the same as on shoulder straps (with a running button and a trapezoid cut of the upper edge). In fact, these were shoulder straps taken from a hard lining and sewn on.
Until 1917, the system of shoulder insignia did not change significantly, but the events of the war with Japan in the early twentieth century. and heavy losses from massive small arms fire led to the emergence of the so-called field shoulder straps.
Field epaulettes on overcoats were made of overcoat cloth, the gaps on them were embroidered with golden yellow silk. The stars on the shoulder straps were metallic black-green (oxidized); they were attached on top of the shoulder strap. The shape of the stars was thinner and flatter than the stars worn later in the Soviet Army. There was a circle in the middle of the star. The rays of the sprocket had horizontal stamped stripes.
1.6th sapper Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich Senior Battalion.
2. Fortress telegraph of the Brest-Litovsk fortress.
3. 8th railway battalion.
4. 5th convoy company.
5. 8th Dragoon Regiment.
6. 3rd Lancers Regiment.
7.4th Hussars.
8. 25th artillery brigade.
9. 5th Kyiv Grenadier Regiment of the Heir to the Tsesarevich.
10. 7th Grenadier Samogitsky Adjutant General of Count Totleben Regiment.
11.37th Yekaterinburg Infantry Regiment.
12. 5th East Siberian Rifle Regiment.
From the site http://army.armor.kiev.ua/
There was another type of field epaulettes - made of light green silk galloon with woven colored gaps and piping from instrument cloth. Shoulder straps, these were worn mainly on tunics, tunics and jackets.
The stars on them were exactly the same as on overcoat, field shoulder straps, but they also wore gold and silver, and sometimes even embroidered ones. In addition to the stars on shoulder straps - both everyday and field - they wore emblems denoting the type of troops. The emblems were both embroidered and metal attached. The color of the emblem was always the same as that of the stars.
Infantry, cavalry, Cossacks had no emblems. The artillery had an emblem that has survived to our time in the Soviet Army - two crossed cannons, machine-gun parts - the silhouette of a machine gun of the Colt system (on a tripod). Armored units had an emblem (also preserved to our time) - an axle with two wheels and a steering wheel in the middle, between two wings. The railway troops had a crossed ax and an anchor as their emblem, sapper troops had a crossed pick and shovel, military doctors had a snake wrapping around a bowl (this emblem has also survived to our time).
Aviation had the emblem of a double-headed eagle with outstretched wings, holding a propeller and a sword in its paws (after the February Revolution, the eagle was deprived of the crown). The emblems were placed above the stars.
The junior officers (in the Russian army it was called "chief officer") included ranks from ensign to captain (in cavalry - captain, in Cossack units - captain), had shoulder straps with one clearance.
Field epaulettes in 1914 were disciplinedly put on by everyone who ended up on the fronts of the First World War. However, over time, this dullness began to annoy, inspire melancholy in the officers. And for the most part, those who were not constantly in the infantry trenches and were not exposed to the immediate danger of rifle and machine-gun fire, tried to wear galloon shoulder straps.
But, as is usually the case, the farther from the front, the more militant a person becomes. Since marching shoulder straps were an external sign of a front-line officer, they were, so to speak, fanned with powder smoke, they became very popular among officers "entrenched in the rear", especially in the capital's garrisons. To such an extent that the commander of the Moscow District in February 1916 was forced to issue an order prohibiting the wearing of marching epaulettes "... gentlemen officers in Moscow and on the territory of the entire district."
Ensign of rifle units. 1914-1918
The abolition of shoulder straps by the revolution of 1917: the army without shoulder straps
However, after the October Revolution, shoulder straps were abolished along with military and civilian ranks.
After the Civil War, shoulder straps could drastically shorten the life of their owner. The insignia of the tsarist army, together with the officer's bearing, served as an indicator of the "unfinished counter-revolution" - that is, they were the basis for reprisal.
“... Oh, the spring of the seventeenth year,
The rumble of July, October buckshot! ..
Ripped off red freedom
All epaulettes from officer's shoulders.
So in 1945, in the poem "Old epaulettes", the Russian émigré poet Arseniy Nesmelov (Mitropolsky), a former officer of the Russian Imperial Army, wrote about the abolition of epaulettes. Further in the text, the author calls the epaulettes both "a sign of honor placed on the shoulders" and "a tested lever of valor."
Then class hatred for shoulder straps subsided, and in 1936 one of the first Soviet marshals Mikhail Tukhachevsky raised the question of returning shoulder straps at a meeting. “The uniform is comfortable and beautiful, it obliges the commander to behave accordingly, to remember that the “honor of the uniform” is not empty words,” he said to I.V. Stalin, when the leader demanded an explanation.
Stalin did not support the proposal, but over time, the leader’s opinion changed: in March 1940, the proposal to introduce insignia in the form of “longitudinal shoulder pads made of fabric” was already made at the official level. Three years later, these shoulder pads were transformed into shoulder straps.
But the first insignia in the Red Army appeared earlier. January 16, 1919 They were triangles, cubes and rhombuses sewn onto sleeves. In 1922, these triangles, cubes and rhombuses were transferred to sleeve flaps. At the same time, a certain color of the valve corresponded to one or another type of troops. But these valves did not last long - already in 1924 the insignia moved to the buttonholes. In addition, in addition to these geometric figures, another one appeared - a rectangle (it was called a "sleeper", intended for those service categories that corresponded to pre-revolutionary headquarters officers.
In 1935 personal military ranks were introduced in the Red Army. Some corresponded to pre-revolutionary ones - colonel, lieutenant colonel, captain. Some were taken from the ranks of the former Imperial Navy - lieutenant and senior lieutenant. The ranks corresponding to the generals remained from the previous service categories - brigade commander, division commander, commander, army commander of the 2nd and 1st rank. The rank of major, abolished under Alexander III, was restored. In addition, the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union was introduced, which was no longer indicated by rhombuses, but by one large star on the collar flap.
On August 5, 1937, the rank of junior lieutenant was introduced, and on September 1, 1939, the rank of lieutenant colonel.
On May 7, 1940, general ranks were introduced. The major general, as before the revolution, had two stars, but they were located not on shoulder straps, but on collar valves. The lieutenant general had three stars. This is where the similarities with pre-revolutionary generals ended - instead of a full general, a lieutenant general was followed by the rank of colonel general (it was adopted from the German system of general ranks of that time). The colonel general had four stars, and the general of the army following him, whose rank was borrowed from the French army, had five stars. In this form, the insignia remained until January 6, 1943, when shoulder straps were introduced in the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA).
triumphant return
In the autumn of 1941, in fierce battles near Yelnya, units of the Red Army showed the whole world that they were worthy of the glory of their ancestors. Immediately four rifle divisions for courage and heroism shown in battles were awarded the honorary title of guards.
It was for them that shoulder straps began to be developed as a distinctive sign. But for some reason, these developments were late. Then I.V. Stalin was asked to approve shoulder straps as insignia for the entire army. Realizing that this would help to strengthen morale, he agreed.
Observing the continuity of traditions, shoulder straps began to be developed according to samples from the time of Alexander II, as then, stars on shoulder straps were attached not to the gaps, but next to them, however, for a very short time, and narrow shoulder straps were provided for military doctors and military lawyers. On the field of shoulder straps there were insignia (asterisks, gaps, stripes) and emblems, thanks to which it was easy to determine the military rank of a serviceman, his belonging to the military branch. Interestingly, the infantry emblem, unlike other branches of the military, appeared only in the mid-1950s. Basically, shoulder straps were an almost complete copy of what modern soldiers and officers now wear on their shoulders.
It was an important symbol returned to the victorious army. Golden epaulettes, which back in the 1920s were the symbol of the White Guards (“gold chasers” - the Red Army soldiers contemptuously called them), suddenly become the symbol of the Red Army. Following the shoulder straps for the army, the National Anthem is introduced in the country, instead of the party "International".
But it turned out that the interrupted tradition is not so easy to restore. Throughout the Soviet Union, they searched for old masters who once wove galloon ribbons, looked for machines, and revived technologies. It was required to switch to shoulder straps, according to the order, from February 1 to February 15 - for half a month. But even on the Kursk Bulge in July 1943, as photographs show, some pilots and tankers did not wear shoulder straps, but old buttonholes. And most of the infantry put on epaulettes on tunics with a turn-down collar, and not with a new "stand". Only when stocks of old uniforms ran out did the Red Army completely switch to a new uniform.
No matter how difficult it was, following the order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, from January 13, Soviet shoulder straps of the 1943 model began to enter the troops. Soviet shoulder straps had much in common with pre-revolutionary ones, but there were also differences: officer shoulder straps of the Red Army (but not the Navy) in 1943 were pentagonal, not hexagonal; the colors of the gaps denoted the branch of service, not the regiment; the clearance was a single unit with the epaulette field; there were colored edges according to the type of troops; stars were metal, gold or silver, and differed in size between junior and senior officers; ranks were designated by a different number of stars than before 1917, and epaulettes without stars were not restored.
In the strict sense of the word, Stalin's shoulder straps were not a copy of the royal ones. Somewhat different weaving galloon. A little more rough work. Another naming system. Yes, the titles are different. Instead of a second lieutenant - a lieutenant. Instead of a staff captain - a captain. Major instead of captain. Instead of a field marshal - a marshal of the Soviet Union. On the royal shoulder straps, the ranks were indicated only by small asterisks. Stalin introduced big stars for senior officers, starting from the major, and generals. The rank of field marshal before the revolution was designated by two crossed wands on a galloon zigzag. The ranks of the Marshal of the Soviet Union were symbolized by a large star and the coat of arms of the USSR.
So, rifle troops had a crimson epaulette background and black edging, cavalry - dark blue with black edging, aviation - blue epaulets with black edging, tankmen and gunners - black with red edging, but sappers and other technical troops - black, but with black edging. The border troops and the medical service had green epaulettes with a red border, and the internal troops got a cherry shoulder strap with a blue border. On field epaulettes of a protective color, the type of troops was determined only by a border, the color of which was the same as the color of the epaulette field on everyday uniforms.
In the army, the introduction of shoulder straps was received with enthusiasm, especially since it happened on the eve of the greatest victory in the Battle of Stalingrad.
Ashot Amatuni, lieutenant general, Hero of the Soviet Union, tank officer during the Great Patriotic War: “It was happiness! We took the return of shoulder straps with great enthusiasm. After all, they have been in the army for centuries, they were worn on the shoulders in battles by our ancestors. I received my first shoulder straps in Saratov.”
Boris Ershov, colonel: “At that time I was a senior lieutenant, a company commander. I liked the old uniform, because I had three stripes on the sleeve, three stripes, they looked good. It was very comfortable to wear under an overcoat, under a jacket. And shoulder straps were uncomfortable at first. The cardboard base was fragile, and the stars were fastened not with screws, but with paper clips. You put on an overcoat on a tunic, then you take it off - and the stars fly in all directions! I had to sew them on with thread.
But in a battle with shoulder straps it was better. Under the padded jacket, under the overcoat, the buttonholes are not visible, and you can’t immediately figure out who is in front of you. And with shoulder straps it’s immediately clear.
We had old people, participants in the Civil War, who did not immediately agree to wear shoulder straps. They said: “I have a grandfather, my father was hacked to death by gold miners” - and they refused. But the youth wore shoulder straps with pleasure.
But there were other opinions as well. There are pictures where some soldiers and officers are still with buttonholes, while others are already with shoulder straps. One of the most famous of them is a 1943 photograph of the future writer Alexander Isaevich Solzhenitsyn and his friend Nikolai Vitkevich. On Vitkevich - already shoulder straps. On Solzhenitsyn there are also buttonholes with two cubes and artillery cannons. By the way, the young Solzhenitsyn did not like the return of shoulder straps. He saw this as a departure from revolutionary traditions.
At the same time, the word “officer”, which seemed to have disappeared, returned to the official military lexicon, although before the war the cumbersome phrase “commander of the Red Army” remained the legally correct term.
But the words "officer", "officers", the phrase "officers" sounded more and more often - first in informal use, and then gradually began to appear in official documents. For the first time, the term "officer" officially appeared in the holiday order of the People's Commissar of Defense dated November 7, 1942. Since the spring of 1943, along with the appearance of shoulder straps, the word "officer" began to be used so widely and everywhere that in the post-war period, the front-line soldiers themselves very quickly forgot the term "commander" Red Army". Although formally the term "officer" was fixed in military use only with the publication of the first post-war Charter of internal service in 1946, when the Red Army was renamed the Soviet Army.
The return of shoulder straps became one of the stages in the revival of the imperial spirit. The Soviet Union recognized itself as the heir to the Russian Empire, which will be especially pronounced after the war - in the imperial pomposity of architecture, including dressing in military uniforms of people of civilian professions, and even schoolchildren.
From the end of 1943, shoulder straps were introduced for employees of railways, the USSR prosecutor's office, and foreign affairs employees. The wave of dressing all workers or students in state institutions in uniform is growing especially after the war. Uniform uniforms began to be worn by officials of the Ministry of Finance, Geology and the Oil Industry, the Customs Service, the Civil Air Fleet - more than 20 departments in total. The so-called "counter-epaulettes" began to be worn by students of mining faculties of all universities in the country. Schoolchildren had to put on uniforms with uniform buttons, a badge on the belt and a cockade on the uniform cap. Lifetime badges are being introduced for reserve officers, employees of all “uniformed” departments, and speeches are heard everywhere about preserving the honor of the new uniform.
Postwar fate
N.S. Khrushchev was going to abolish shoulder straps. First, they were taken away from civilians - they started with railway workers, diplomats and representatives of other peaceful professions. In 1962, the government of the Soviet Union adopted a resolution on the return of military uniforms to the norms of the first years of Soviet power: with buttonholes instead of shoulder straps. But the military delayed the implementation of this project, and then, after the removal of Nikita Sergeevich, they abandoned it.
In the post-war period, there were some changes in shoulder straps. So, in October 1946, another form of shoulder straps for officers of the Soviet Army was established - they became hexagonal. In 1963, the shoulder straps of the foreman of the 1943 model with the "foreman's hammer" were abolished. Instead, a wide longitudinal braid is introduced, like a pre-revolutionary ensign.
In 1969, gold stars were introduced on the gold chase, and silver stars on the silver ones. Silver generals' epaulettes are abolished. All of them became gold, framed by edging according to the type of troops, with gold stars.
In 1974, new shoulder straps of the general of the army were introduced to replace the shoulder straps of the 1943 model. Instead of four stars, a marshal's star appeared on them, above which was placed the emblem of motorized rifle troops.
Shoulder straps of the army of revived Russia
In the Russian Federation, in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 23, 1994, subsequent Decrees and the Decree of March 11, 2010, epaulettes remain insignia for military ranks of the military personnel of the Armed Forces of Russia. According to the change in the essence of the socio-political system, characteristic changes were made to them. All Soviet symbols on shoulder straps have been replaced by Russian ones. This refers to buttons with the image of a star, hammer and sickle or the color coat of arms of the USSR. As amended by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of February 22, 2013 No. 165, a specific description of the insignia for military ranks is given.
Modern epaulettes of Russian military personnel generally remain rectangular, with a button in the upper part, with a trapezoid upper edge, with a field of galoon of a special weave of golden color or the color of the clothing fabric, without piping or with red piping.
In aviation, the Airborne Forces (VDV) and the Space Forces, a blue piping is provided, in the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation and the Special Objects Service under the President of the Russian Federation - a cornflower blue piping or none.
On the pursuit of the Marshal of the Russian Federation, on the longitudinal center line, there is a star with a red edging, above the star is the image of the State Emblem of the Russian Federation without a heraldic shield.
On the pursuit of the general of the army - one star (larger than other generals), the colonel general - three stars, the lieutenant general - two, the major general - one star. The color of the edging on the shoulder straps of all generals is set according to the type of troops and type of services.
On the pursuit of the admiral of the fleet there is one star (larger than other admirals), the admiral has three, the vice admiral has two, and the rear admiral has one. On all admiral's epaulettes, the stars are superimposed on rays of gray or black, with golden anchors located on black pentagons in the center of the stars. Shoulder straps of senior officers - colonels, lieutenant colonels, majors, captains of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd ranks in the fleet - with two gaps; junior officers - captains, lieutenant commanders, senior lieutenants, lieutenants and junior lieutenants - with one clearance.
The number of stars is an indicator of the military rank of an officer. Senior officers have three, two and one stars, respectively, while junior officers have four, three, two, one, starting from a higher level. The stars on the shoulder straps of senior officers are larger than the stars on the shoulder straps of junior officers. Their sizes have a ratio of 3:2.
Shoulder straps of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation were established taking into account the improvement of military uniforms in general over the centuries-old history of the Russian and Russian troops. Their modern appearance testifies to the desire to improve the quality and practicality of the uniform as a whole, to bring it into line with the changed conditions of military service.
But in modern Russia, the fate of shoulder straps was not entirely simple, sometimes they had to endure trials that were almost comparable to those after the 1917 revolution.
The rejection of the traditional arrangement of shoulder straps has become one of the main features of the new field uniform, introduced in 2010 at the initiative of the “reformist minister” A. Serdyukov. In the old “Soviet-style” uniform, the straps of backpacks, other equipment and weapons quickly wore out shoulder straps. It was assumed that the new military uniform would meet the most modern requirements of the army, in particular, the mandatory dressing of infantry in light body armor.
The decision to switch to a new uniform was made in 2007, and it was planned to completely transfer the army to it in 2011. It is known that specialists from fashion houses Igor Chapurin and Valentin Yudashkin, the Central Research Institute of the Textile Industry, the Central Scientific - Research Institute of Leather and Footwear, Heraldic Department of the Ministry of Defense and Logistics of the Armed Forces.
For the first time, participants in the Victory Parade on Red Square in Moscow went public in a new uniform in 2008. In total, 100 million rubles were allocated from the budget for the creation of new uniforms. The military estimates the cost of switching military personnel to a new uniform at 25 billion rubles.
It was in the form “from Valentin Yudashkin” that shoulder straps were moved to the chest and sleeves. The left shoulder strap is located just above the elbow, and the right shoulder strap is on the chest, on the lapel of the tunic. When the bulletproof vest is put on, the right shoulder strap becomes invisible, and the soldier can be identified only by the sign on the elbow. At the same time, in the form of the old model, insignia were attached to false shoulder straps, and shoulder straps were attached to the everyday uniform with buttons.
The "salvation" of shoulder straps came in the person of the new Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, S.K. Shoigu. On his initiative, the Ministry of Defense decided to return the traditional arrangement of shoulder straps on the field uniform of military personnel who, after Serdyukov’s reform, “migrated” from shoulders to chest.
The main argument for the return of the shoulder straps of the field uniform to its original place was that on the chest and on the sleeve they did not justify themselves.
Symbol of Honor
Currently, shoulder straps continue to serve the Fatherland. Covered with unfading glory, Soviet epaulettes were called upon to preserve the continuity of valiant traditions in the Armed Forces of Russia. That is why, having undergone minor changes, they have become a true decoration of the form of the Russian defender of the Fatherland.
“To wear shoulder straps with dignity” - these words became a matter of honor for a Russian officer. And the tradition has been preserved for more than two centuries, since the first shoulder straps were introduced almost 250 years ago.
They do not remain unchanged, some ministers who accidentally became chiefs even tried to remove them from the shoulders of military personnel. Finally, their purpose in modern conditions was scientifically substantiated, and now it is believed that shoulder straps are designed for quick visual identification in combat conditions of a person who has the right to give orders.
Unfortunately, the long years of lack of spirituality that our country went through in the difficult 90s affected the attitude of people towards shoulder straps. Today we can see them not only among those who are entitled to them by "law and honor", but also among representatives of the creative craft, whose human qualities cannot always be called moral. Depressing is the presence of epaulettes, identical to the military, among employees of the prosecutor's office, police and other services. This is one of the strongest blows to the image of the military profession and its prestige.
At the same time, many officers of the Russian army, in the most difficult time for the country of collapse and lack of spirituality, managed to keep traditions, including those associated with shoulder straps. their educational institutions.
I would like to believe that over time this will pass and the concept of “honor of shoulder straps” will become as familiar as it has always been.
The history of Russian shoulder straps ends here for now. Passing through the centuries, they often changed their appearance, but never their content. Shoulder straps have always been and will be a sacred thing and a symbol of honor for a Russian officer devoted to his Motherland.
Shoulder straps of military branches, shoulder straps of the Ministry of Defense and shoulder straps of the Ministry of Internal Affairs can be purchased or ordered at the Patriot store.
Military and ship military ranks of military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and insignia
Military and ship military ranks of military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Each soldier is assigned a corresponding military rank. Military ranks are divided into military and naval.
From Art. 6 of the Charter of the Internal Service of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation approved by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of November 10, 2007 N 1495
1. In the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, other troops, military formations and bodies, the following compositions of military personnel and military ranks are established:
LIST OF MILITARY RANKS
SERVICEMEN OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
|
Compound |
Military ranks |
|
|
military |
shipborne |
|
|
Soldiers, sailors, sergeants, foremen |
Private (cadet) corporal Lance Sergeant Staff Sergeant foreman |
Sailor (cadet) Senior sailor Petty officer 2 articles Petty officer 1st article chief sergeant major Chief ship sergeant major |
|
Ensigns and midshipmen |
Ensign Senior Warrant Officer |
Senior midshipman |
|
junior officers |
Ensign Lieutenant Senior Lieutenant |
Ensign Lieutenant Senior Lieutenant Captain - lieutenant |
|
senior officers |
Lieutenant colonel Colonel |
Captain 3rd rank Captain 2nd rank Captain 1st rank |
|
senior officers |
Major General Lieutenant General General - Colonel Army General |
Rear Admiral Vice Admiral Fleet Admiral |
|
Marshal of the Russian Federation |
||
2. Before the military rank of a serviceman serving in a guards military unit, on a guards ship, the word "guards" is added.
3. The words “justice” or “medical service” are added to the military rank of a serviceman or citizen who is in the reserve, having a military registration specialty of a legal or medical profile, respectively.
(as amended by Federal Law No. 3-FZ of 06.01.2007)
4. To the military rank of a citizen who is in the reserve or retired, the words "reserve" or "retired" are added, respectively.
5. For persons who are not military personnel, it is prohibited to introduce special ranks or class ranks similar to military ranks.
Art. 46 Federal Law"On military duty and military service"dated 03/28/1998 N 53-FZ
Insignia
73. Military uniforms and insignia are established for servicemen. The military uniform is worn strictly in accordance with the rules for wearing military uniforms and insignia, determined by the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation.
From the draft order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation On the Rules for wearing military uniforms by military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation:
When military personnel wear field uniforms as everyday wear, all insignia are worn.
When military personnel wear field uniforms, only khaki cockades, lapel pins, stars and stripes on shoulder straps are worn.
On items of special clothing, insignia are not worn, except for those established by separate orders.
The insignia for military ranks are stars on the shoulder straps of officers, ensigns (midshipmen), stripes on the shoulder straps (epaulettes) of sergeants and foremen.
Insignia for functional purpose (labeled insignia) of the military branches, special troops (services) - on uniform items are placed metal of golden color; on camouflage field jackets - khaki. Servicemen of military units (subdivisions) who are not related to the branches of the armed forces, special troops (services), for which lapel pins are not installed, wear uniforms with combined arms lapel pins.
Lapel signs are located:
- on shoulder straps to shirts;
- in the corners of the collars of winter coats, tunics, camouflage jackets.
They are located:
- on shoulder straps - on the longitudinal center line of the shoulder strap, at a distance of 5 mm from the edge of the button;
- on collars (lapels) - along the bisector, at a distance of 35 mm from the corner of the collar to the center of the emblem, while the vertical axis of symmetry of the emblem should be parallel to the departure of the collar (lapel).
Servicemen's insignia are sleeve patches and metal breastplates.
Patches belonging to the Ministry of Defense, the General Staff, the Logistics of the Armed Forces, the types, branches of the Armed Forces and their equals are placed on the outside of the right sleeve of uniforms.
Patch insignia belonging to military districts (navies), special troops (services), specific military formations are located on the outside of the left sleeve of uniform items, but not more than one badge.
Servicemen of military units who do not have insignia for belonging to specific military formations wear insignia in the form of a sleeve insignia for belonging to military districts (fleets) or an insignia for belonging to the Armed Forces.
Sleeve insignia are placed: on winter coats, tunics, jackets (except for summer), woolen jackets and flannels (uniforms) - at a distance of 80 mm from the top point of the sleeve to the top point of the sign, on field jackets of camouflage colors (when worn as a daily uniform ) - on the sleeve pocket, 10 mm below the pocket flap.
The insignia of the military on duty services and forces (operational duty officer, duty officer: for the unit, park, military educational institution of vocational education, management, military echelon, headquarters, company, checkpoint, canteen; paramedic, signal drummer, VAI, patrol and others) are worn with everyday and field uniforms on the left side of the chest 10 mm below the ribbons of orders and medals, and in their absence - in their place.
Other insignia and distinctions are worn in accordance with the orders for their establishment.
17. Badges of distinction must be sewn (attached) correctly and neatly. Shoulder straps - clean, not crumpled, without inserts. Metal signs should not be deformed, have no enamel chips or abrasions.
Extract from the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 8, 2005 No. 531 On military uniforms, insignia of servicemen and departmental insignia
Published on May 12, 2005. Effective from the moment of signing.
Annex No. 2. Rank insignia of military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, other troops, military formations and bodies
1. The insignia for military ranks are multicolor or camouflage embroidered images of the State Emblem of the Russian Federation without a heraldic shield, embroidered and metal five-pointed stars of golden or camouflage color, stripes of golden or camouflage color, as well as galloons and embroidered golden stars placed horizontally on the sleeves of jackets colors (sleeve insignia for military ranks of ship officers).
2. The sizes of insignia for military ranks, placed on shoulder straps, are:
Table 2. Placement of stars on the shoulder straps of officers and ensigns
|
Military rank |
Star diameter |
Number of stars on the chase |
Distance from the lower edge of the shoulder strap to the center of the first star (mm.) |
Distance between the centers of the stars along the shoulder strap (mm.) |
|
|
Marshal of the Russian Federation |
|||||
|
General of the Army, Admiral of the Navy |
|||||
|
Colonel General, Admiral |
|||||
|
lieutenant general, |
|||||
|
Major General, Rear Admiral |
|||||
|
Colonel, captain 1st rank |
|||||
|
Lieutenant Colonel, Captain 2nd Rank |
|||||
|
Major, captain 3rd rank |
|||||
|
Captain, Lieutenant Commander |
|||||
|
Senior Lieutenant |
|||||
|
Lieutenant |
|||||
|
Ensign |
|||||
|
Senior Warrant Officer, |
|||||
|
Ensign, midshipman |
Table 3. Placement of stripes on shoulder straps (epaulettes)
|
Military rank |
The number of wide (30 mm) stripes on the shoulder strap (epaulette) |
The number of narrow (10 mm) stripes on the shoulder strap (epaulette) |
Distance from the bottom edge of the shoulder strap to the first stripe (mm) |
Distance from the bottom edge of the shoulder strap to the first patch (mm) |
|
|
foreman, |
|||||
|
Staff Sergeant, |
|||||
|
Sergeant, |
|||||
|
Lance Sergeant, |
|||||
|
corporal, |
WARNING: Table 3 has not taken effect. For the time being, Table 4 must be followed.
Table 4 Placement of metal squares on shoulder straps (epaulettes) of foremen, sergeants and corporals
|
Military rank |
The number of wide (15 mm) squares on the chase (chauffeur) |
The number of narrow (5 mm) squares on the pursuit (epaulette) |
Distance from the bottom edge of the shoulder strap to the first square (mm) |
Distance from the bottom edge of the shoulder strap to the first square (mm) |
|
|
foreman, |
|||||
|
Staff Sergeant, |
|||||
|
Sergeant, |
|||||
|
Lance Sergeant, |
|||||
|
corporal, |
Even if at the lessons of military training a mustachioed military instructor forced you to cram ranks in the Russian army, we are sure that nothing has been deposited in your head, except for the unrestrained "neighing" in the classroom, the pigtails of classmates and the first cigarettes smoked around the corner of the school.
It's time to fill this gap in order to distinguish the "real colonel" from the "ensign Shmatko" at a glance.
Ranks in the Russian army? Where are they "distributed"?
In the Russian army, all military ranks are divided into 2 large categories:
- ship (those that brave sailors receive);
- military (assigned to "land rats").
Category number 1. "Ship": "You are a sailor, I am a sailor ..."
Ship ranks can boast in the Russian army by those who serve in:
- Navy(his submarine and surface forces). Oh, these brave officers in naval uniform - how many girls' hearts they broke!;
- military naval units MIA. Yes, yes, there are also marine policemen!
protection (coastal) of the Border Service of the Russian FSB.
No, they do not catch poachers with two buckets of crucian carp, but protect water lines from illegal immigrants and other violators.
Category number 2. "Military": "And I love the military, beautiful, hefty ...".
Meeting a sea captain in a white tunic is a rather difficult task if you do not live somewhere near the gentle sea. But do not despair!
In the Russian army, ranks are also received in:
- armed forces;
- Ministry of Internal Affairs (district and other police "people");
- Intelligence Service (foreign) (yeah-ah, those very followers of Stirlitz!);
- Federal Security Service;
- other military units.
Ministry of Emergency Situations (brave "Malibu rescuers");
“If you think that the work of the Ministry of Emergency Situations is sheer heroism and a thriller, then I have to disappoint you: sometimes you just have to carry out explanatory work with priests so that the church does not burn with candles, and with them the old parishioners and cats from the trees shoot, and tell grandmothers how to heat the stove in winter and not suffocate from carbon monoxide. But rank, uniform, and social benefits make the job much more bearable.”, - Vadim from Khmelnitsky shares his impressions of the service.
All ranks of the Russian army in one table: dispelling the "darkness of ignorance"
So that you do not fall asleep on the third line of a simple listing of ranks in the Russian army, we offer you a simple cheat sheet (military and ship ranks placed on the same line correspond to each other):
| Ranks in the Russian army: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Military | ship |
| Non-officer | private, corporal, Lance Sergeant, sergeant, staff Sergeant, foreman, ensign, Senior Warrant Officer | sailor, senior sailor, foreman of the second article, foreman of the first article, chief sergeant, chief ship sergeant, midshipman, senior midshipman |
| junior officers | junior lieutenant, lieutenant, senior lieutenant, captain | junior lieutenant, lieutenant, senior lieutenant, lieutenant commander |
| Senior officers | major, lieutenant colonel, colonel | captain of the 1st rank, captain of the 2nd rank, captain of the 3rd rank |
| Senior officer corps | major general, lieutenant general, colonel general, army General, Marshal of the Russian Federation | rear admiral, vice admiral, admiral, fleet admiral |
As can be seen from the table, there are one more military ranks! But what!
Find 10 differences: shoulder straps for different ranks in the Russian army
To make it clear at a glance “who is who?” in the Russian troops, insignia were introduced - sleeve insignia (for sailors) shoulder straps and shoulder straps (for all soldiers).
1) Shoulder straps of non-officer ranks
2) Shoulder straps of officer ranks
Top 12 interesting facts about ranks in the Russian army
- The only one who can command the Marshal of the Russian Federation (even give him the command “Take a prone emphasis!”) Is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, who is also the President of the Russian Federation. Moreover, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief is a position, not a rank in the Russian troops.
- The current President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin left the FSB with the rank of colonel, but now the position allows him to "build" the holders of the highest military ranks.
- The Minister of Defense commands both the sailors and the ground forces. Therefore, there is no rank higher than the Admiral of the Fleet in the Naval Forces.
- Do not try to express your respect for the brave warriors by diligently writing out their ranks in the Russian armed forces with a capital letter. The fact is that all these words (from a sailor to a marshal) are written with a small letter;
- If you were lucky enough to serve in the guards, then the word “guards” is added to the rank, for example, “guards colonel”. Agree, it sounds!
Even if you retired or reserve and quietly grow cucumbers in the country, your title is assigned to you with the prefix “in reserve” or “retired”.
“The colonel, even if he is retired or in reserve, will still embarrass the traffic sergeant who stopped him for violating traffic rules. The poor guy scolds, scolds and lets go without a fine. So the title works for you!”- with a laugh says the military pensioner Alexander from Kharkov.
To the ranks of military doctors and lawyers, they add "justice" (for example, "captain of justice") or "medical service" (for example, "colonel of the medical service").
This, of course, is not George Clooney from ER, but it also sounds great!
- Those who entered a military university, but so far only in sweet dreams see their high ranks in the Russian troops, are called cadets, but those who have already managed to “sniff gunpowder” (has a military rank) are called listeners.
- For a whole year of service (urgent), the maximum that “shines” for you in the Russian army is the rank of sergeant.
- Since 2012, the ranks of chief ship foreman and foreman have not been assigned (they are simply “jumped”), but they remained on pieces of paper. Such is the "wonderland"!
- Although the rank of major is higher than that of a lieutenant, by some strange, inexplicable logic, a lieutenant general in the Russian Federation is higher in rank than a major general.
Then, in order to get another "asterisk" on shoulder straps, you will have to serve 5 years. A prerequisite is also the presence of a position suitable for your new rank:
Rank Position Private All newly drafted into the army, all lower positions (gunner, driver, gun crew number, driver, sapper, scout, radio operator, etc.) corporal There are no full-time corporal posts. The title is awarded to high-skilled soldiers in lower positions. junior sergeant, sergeant Squad, tank, gun commander Staff Sergeant Deputy Platoon Leader foreman Company foreman Ensign, Art. ensign The commander of a platoon of material support, the foreman of the company, the head of the warehouse, the head of the radio station and other non-commissioned officers positions that require high qualifications. Can occupy lower officer positions with a lack of officers Ensign Platoon commander. Usually this rank is awarded in conditions of an acute shortage of officers after passing an accelerated officer course. Lieutenant, Art. lieutenant Platoon commander, deputy company commander. Captain Company commander, training platoon commander Major Deputy battalion commander. Training company commander Lieutenant colonel Battalion commander, deputy regiment commander Colonel Regiment commander, deputy brigade commander, brigade commander, deputy division commander Major General Division Commander, Deputy Corps Commander Lieutenant General Corps Commander, Deputy Army Commander Colonel General Army Commander, Deputy District (Front) Commander Army General Commander of the district (front), deputy minister of defense, minister of defense, chief of the general staff, other senior positions Marshal of the Russian Federation Honorary title given for special merits
In the Russian army, the next rank is awarded for personal merit and length of service. If your commanders judge your bright moral character, high level of "combat and political training", then how much you need to "chip" from rank to rank, we will orient you:
| No. p / p | Rank in the Russian army | length of service |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Private, sailor | 5 months |
| 2 | Junior sergeant, foreman of the second article | 1 year |
| 3 | Sergeant, foreman of the first article | 2 years |
| 4 | Senior sergeant, chief foreman | 3 years |
| 5 | Ensign, midshipman | 3 years |
| 6 | Ensign | 2 years |
| 7 | Lieutenant | 3 years |
| 8 | Senior Lieutenant | 3 years |
| 9 | Captain, Lieutenant Commander | 4 years |
| 10 | Major, captain 3rd rank | 4 years |
| 11 | Lieutenant Colonel, Captain 2nd Rank | 5 years |
They do not live by the same ranks in the Russian army! 7 interesting military signs and customs
Ranks in the Russian army are, of course, a burning topic, but we also want to talk about interesting traditions, signs and customs in the army:
about the "washing" of the new rank with the ritual dipping of the "stars" in a glass of vodka and sabanting with colleagues, only the lazy one has not heard.
There is a whole instruction for conducting this important, almost magical ritual - https://www.antik-war.lv/viewtopic.php?p=2140415
the paratrooper is unlikely to take someone else's parachute.
We suspect that this sign arose due to the fact that no matter how much you love brother Seryoga, who sleeps with you in the barracks on the next bed, you can’t be sure that he will prepare the parachute as carefully as you;
“Let me still feel with my bones every unsuccessful jump and grunt in bad weather, but the landing is what made me a real man. And it’s not about shoulder straps, benefits and a normal pension, but that it was there that I learned to do something through “I can’t”, learned what real male friendship is and traveled all over the world thanks to the service. I had a chic, rich youth without a mobile phone, the Internet and pretentious coffee shops., - Vladimir from Penza shares his memories.
one match cannot light three or more fighters.
Experienced say that during this time the sniper will have plenty of time to open aimed fire;
submariners do not shave during combat missions.
Well, what, you won’t find young ladies on a submarine during the day with fire, so there’s no one to show off in front of;
- submariners do not favor the number 9, since many accidents happened with boats, in the number of which this very “nine” was (K-9, K-129, K-159, etc.);
- bathing paratroopers on the day of the Airborne Forces in the fountains- this is from the series "Understand and forgive";
paratroopers make their first "jumps" from a stool, holding a box of matches between their knees.
Of course, you need to land softly, and the matches should not fall to the floor;
graduates of military universities after the official part of the prom hide several banknotes under each shoulder strap.
The junior cadet who is the first to salute the newly minted junior lieutenant and congratulate him on his promotion to the rank receives money.
All shoulder straps and titles of the Russian
Federations in one video:
We hope that the article helped you “discover America” of ranks in the Russian army and deal with this interesting issue once and for all.
Useful article? Don't miss out on new ones!
Enter your e-mail and receive new articles by mail
To figure out what ranks are, what they are issued for, or at least how they look, you need to serve in the army. At the OBZh school, boys are forced to learn them by heart, but it’s so easy to get confused in them that it’s better not to even suffer. In this article, we will try to explain in a simple way and help you understand all the ranks, how they look and what they give.
All ranks in the Russian army - from junior to senior
Knowing all the ranks in ascending order, you can easily understand who you are addressing or who is addressing you. In Russia there are only two types of military ranks, these are military and naval. Ship ranks usually include sailors:
- Coast security;
- naval military units;
- surface and submarine forces.
Military titles include all other people serving in military units:
- Military establishment;
- other military units and bodies.
Now let's decide what ranks are - from smallest to largest. There are only a few subspecies of titles:
- Non-commissioned title.
- Officer title.
Non-officer titles include privates, corporals, junior sergeants, "middle" sergeants, senior sergeants, foremen, warrant officers, and senior warrant officers. In the ship type: sailors, senior sailors, foremen in the second and first articles, chief foremen, chief ship foremen, warrant officers and senior warrant officers.
| Military ranks | Ship ranks | |
| junior officers | Ensign | Ensign |
| lieutenant | lieutenant | |
| senior lieutenant | senior lieutenant | |
| captain | captain | |
| senior officer corps | major | third level captain |
| lieutenant colonels | second level captain | |
| colonels | first class captain | |
| senior officers | major generals | rear admirals |
| lieutenant generals | vice admirals | |
| colonel generals | admirals | |
| army generals | fleet admirals | |
| Marshal of Russia | there is no analogue | |
All these titles are distinguished not only by their names, but also by the presence of shoulder straps. Each title has its own shoulder strap. Soldiers and sailors do not have any distinguishing marks. The sergeant and foreman have the so-called stripes - these are cloth galloons. In the army, they were nicknamed "snot". Ensign and midshipman wear vertical stars with piping, but without gaps, on shoulder straps. Officers differ in the number and size of stars.
In the first officer (junior) there is one strip, the so-called clearance, the stars must be made of metal and have a diameter of 13 mm. Senior officers have two stripes and stars 20 mm wide. The third officers, that is, the highest, have embroidered stars on shoulder straps of a rather large size (22 mm), they do not have stripes. Army generals and fleet admirals have one large embroidered star 40 mm wide on their shoulder straps. The marshal of the Russian Federation has one large embroidered star, like the generals of the army with a diameter of 40 mm, but silver rays diverging in different directions are added to it, which form a kind of pentagon. The coat of arms of the Russian Federation must be present in the background.
Now let's look at the faces of all the titles, that is, the people who lead the Russian army. It is worth noting that the Supreme Commander-in-Chief is the current President of the Russian Federation. It is generally accepted that the Supreme Commander-in-Chief is not a rank, but a position. It is this position that gives the right to be higher than the Marshal of the Russian Federation. The Minister of Defense has the right to be simultaneously commander-in-chief of the land and naval forces.
Interesting facts about the ranks in the army of the Russian Federation
The military ranks that are assigned to the military personnel of the guards units have the prefix "guards", that is, "guards lieutenant colonel".
- Depending on which service the soldier belongs to (it can be a legal or medical service), either the word "justice" or "medical service" in the required case is added to the title.
- For military personnel who are retired or in the reserve, the word “reserve” or “retired” is added to the rank, depending on the situation.
- People who entered the military service and who study at a military school are divided into two groups: those who do not have a military title - cadets, as well as students.
- Citizens who did not have a military title before entering a military school, or who had the title of a sailor or soldier when they enter an educational institution, have the rank of cadet. In other cases, all assigned titles upon admission are retained.
- People who do military service receive titles only for good services to the state. Also, based on the statute for serving in military units, a specific period of time is determined, that is, the title can be obtained by:
- sailors, soldiers - six months;
- junior sergeants, foremen of the second article - 365 days;
- sergeants and foremen of the first article, junior lieutenants - 2 years;
- senior sergeants, chief foremen, warrant officers, midshipmen, lieutenants and senior lieutenants - 3 years;
- captains, captain-lieutenants, majors and captains of the third level - 4 years;
- lieutenant colonels, captains of the second level and the remaining military personnel - 5 years.
It is worth remembering a very important detail, a serviceman has the right to receive a title if there is a corresponding position in his unit.
- Based on the new laws adopted in 2012, the titles of foreman and chief ship foreman are no longer assigned. However, they are still documented.
- All titles that are assigned to military personnel must be written with a small letter.
- The title of major is considered higher than the title of lieutenant, but major generals are lower in rank than lieutenant generals.
- At the moment, in 365 days, a soldier has the right to receive the highest title - sergeant.
