The army is a special world with its own laws and customs, a strict hierarchy and a clear division of duties. And always, starting from the ancient Roman legions, he was the main link between ordinary soldiers and the highest commanding staff. Today we will talk about non-commissioned officers. Who are they and what functions did they perform in the army?

The history of the term

Let's figure out who the non-commissioned officer is. The system of military ranks began to take shape in Russia at the beginning of the 18th century with the advent of the first regular army. Over time, only minor changes occurred in it - and for more than two hundred years it remained virtually unchanged. After a year, great changes took place in the Russian system of military ranks, but even now most of the old ranks are still used in the army.

Initially, there was no strict division into ranks among the lower ranks. The role of junior commanders was played by sergeants. Then, with the advent of the regular army, a new category of lower army ranks appeared - non-commissioned officers. The word is of German origin. And this is no coincidence, since at that time much was borrowed from foreign states, especially during the reign of Peter the Great. It was he who created the first Russian army on a regular basis. Translated from German, unter means "lower".

Since the 18th century, in the Russian army, the first degree of military ranks was divided into two groups: privates and non-commissioned officers. It should be remembered that in the artillery and the Cossack troops, the lower military ranks were called fireworkers and constables, respectively.

Ways to get a title

So, a non-commissioned officer is the lowest level of military ranks. There were two ways to get this rank. The nobles entered the military service in the lowest rank immediately, without vacancies. Then they were promoted and received their first officer rank. In the 18th century, this circumstance led to a huge surplus of non-commissioned officers, especially in the guard, where the majority preferred to serve.

All others had to serve four years before being promoted to lieutenant or sergeant major. In addition, non-nobles could receive an officer rank for special military merits.

What ranks belonged to non-commissioned officers

Over the past 200 years, changes have taken place in this lower rung of the military ranks. At various times, the following ranks belonged to non-commissioned officers:

1. Sub-ensign and warrant officer are the highest non-commissioned officer ranks.
2. Feldwebel (in the cavalry he held the rank of Wahmister) - a non-commissioned officer who occupied a middle position in the ranks between a corporal and a lieutenant. He performed the duties of assistant company commander for economic affairs and internal order.
3. The senior non-commissioned officer is the assistant to the platoon commander, the direct head of the soldiers. He had relative freedom and independence in the education and training of privates. He kept order in the unit, assigned soldiers to the outfit and to work.
4. The junior non-commissioned officer is the immediate superior of the privates. It was with him that the upbringing and training of soldiers began, he helped his wards in military training and led them into battle. In the 17th century, in the Russian army, instead of a junior non-commissioned officer, there was the rank of corporal. He belonged to the lowest military rank. A corporal in the modern Russian army is a junior sergeant. The rank of lance corporal still exists in the US Army.

Non-commissioned officer of the tsarist army

In the period after the Russian-Japanese war and during the First World War, the formation of non-commissioned officers of the tsarist army was given special importance. For the instantly increased number in the army, there were not enough officers, and military schools could not cope with this task. The short period of compulsory service did not allow training a professional military man. The Ministry of War tried with all its might to keep non-commissioned officers in the army, on whom great hopes were placed for the education and training of privates. They gradually began to be singled out as a special layer of professionals. It was decided to leave up to a third of the number of lower military ranks on extended service.

Overtimers began to increase their salaries, they received non-commissioned officers who served over the term of 15 years, upon dismissal they received the right to a pension.

In the tsarist army, non-commissioned officers played a huge role in the training and education of privates. They were responsible for order in the units, appointed soldiers to outfits, had the right to dismiss the private from the unit, were engaged in

Abolition of lower military ranks

After the revolution of 1917, all military ranks were abolished. They were introduced again in 1935. The ranks of sergeant major, senior and junior non-commissioned officers were replaced by junior ones and the ensign began to correspond to the foreman, and the ordinary ensign to the modern ensign. Many famous personalities of the 20th century began their service in the army with the rank of non-commissioned officer: G.K. Zhukov, K.K. Rokossovsky, V.K. Blucher, G. Kulik, the poet Nikolai Gumilyov.

The article is devoted to the study of the emergence, formation and significance of the non-commissioned officer corps in the army in the mid-19th - early 20th centuries. The relevance of the work is determined by the importance of the role of the army in the history of Russia, the modern challenges facing our country, which determines the need to refer to the historical experience of organizing army life. The purpose of the work is to consider the formation, functioning and significance of the non-commissioned officer corps in the Russian army in the pre-revolutionary period.

Training, education and education of personnel in the army has always been a difficult task in military development. Non-commissioned officers from the moment of their appearance played an important role in training the lower ranks in military affairs, maintaining order and discipline, education, moral and cultural education. The significance of the non-commissioned corps in the Russian army in the period of the mid-19th - early 20th centuries is revealed, when it had to solve a dual task - an assistant officer and the role of the closest commander for the lower ranks, especially during the years of severe military trials. The historical experience of creating, functioning and improving the institute of the non-commissioned officer corps is of great importance in military construction and deserves further study. Key words: Russia, army, 19th century, early 20th century, non-commissioned officers, everyday life.

In recent decades, the class system of the Russian Empire of the 19th - early 20th centuries has been intensively studied. At the same time, some significant segments of the population did not attract the attention of researchers. This applies in particular to the military. Various categories of the military had their own specific legal status and often made up a significant part of the population.

The historical literature contains only a few notes concerning the military estate of the second half of the 19th century, mainly in works devoted to the size and composition of the population. Considerable attention is paid to the soldier class in his numerous works by the modern Russian historian B.N. Mironov. Among the few works of foreign authors, one can note R.L. Garthoff. Interest in the study of the soldier class, which has emerged in recent years, is precisely dictated by the fact that historical science has so far paid insufficient attention to this stratum. It is obvious that a comprehensive study of soldiers as a special social group is necessary, and the identification of their role and place in the social and economic system of society.

The relevance of the work is determined by the importance of the army in the history of Russia, the modern challenges facing our country, which determines the need to refer to the historical experience of organizing army life. The purpose of the work is to consider the formation, functioning and significance of the non-commissioned officer corps in the Russian army in the pre-revolutionary period. The methodological basis of the work is the theory of modernization. The work used a variety of scientific principles (historical-comparative, historical-systemic, analysis, synthesis) and special methods for analyzing historical sources: methods for analyzing legislative acts, quantitative methods, methods for analyzing narrative documents, etc. In the period of the mid-19th - early 20th centuries, despite the abolition of serfdom, Russia remained a predominantly illiterate peasant country, the recruitment of whose army fell primarily on the shoulders of the village community.

After the introduction in 1874 of universal military service, the lower ranks of the army were also presented mainly as peasants. And this meant the need for initial training of a recruit in primary literacy, training him in general education, and only then only direct training in military affairs. In turn, this required trained non-commissioned officers in the army, who needed appropriate training. The first non-commissioned officers in Russia appeared under Peter I. The military regulations of 1716 referred to non-commissioned officers as a sergeant in the infantry, a sergeant major in the cavalry, a captain, a lieutenant, a corporal, a company clerk, a batman and a corporal. According to the charter, they were entrusted with the initial training of soldiers, as well as monitoring compliance with the lower ranks of the internal order in the company. Since 1764, legislation has assigned to the non-commissioned officer the obligation not only to train the lower ranks, but also to educate them.

However, it is impossible to talk about full-fledged military education at that time, since for the most part representatives of the non-commissioned officer corps were poorly trained and mostly illiterate. In addition, drill was the basis of the educational process in the army of that period. Disciplinary practice was based on cruelty, and corporal punishment was often used. Among the non-commissioned officers of the Russian army, a sergeant major stood out. This is the highest non-commissioned officer rank and position in infantry artillery and engineering units. The duties and rights of a sergeant major in the Russian army at that time were much broader than in European armies. The instruction issued in 1883 determined him to be the head of all the lower ranks of the company.

He was subordinate to the company commander, was his first assistant and support, was responsible for order in the platoon, morality and behavior of the lower ranks, for the success of training subordinates, and in the absence of the company commander, he replaced him. The second most important was the senior non-commissioned officer - the head of all the lower ranks of his platoon. The non-commissioned officer corps was recruited from soldiers who expressed a desire to remain in the army for hire after the expiration of their military service, i.e. overtime employees. The category of extra-conscripts, according to the plan of the military command, was to solve the problem of reducing the shortage of rank and file and the formation of a reserve of non-commissioned officers. The leadership of the War Ministry strove to keep as many soldiers (corporals) as possible in the army, as well as urgent non-commissioned officers for extended service, provided that, in terms of their service and moral qualities, they would be useful for the army.

At that time, the military department noted the need to create a stratum of experienced instructors in the troops, necessary for those short service lives and high demands made on the lower ranks in the army after the military reform. “... from a good non-commissioned officer, the troops will require a certain amount of development: good service knowledge, both practical and theoretical; necessary morality and good behavior; and most importantly, a well-known temperament and ability to manage people subordinate to him and the ability to inspire complete confidence and respect in them, - this is how army officers who were interested in the problem of training non-commissioned officers wrote on the pages of the Military Digest ... ". The selection of long-term non-commissioned officers was carried out very seriously.

Special attention was paid to the soldier designated as a candidate, he was tested in all positions of future activity. “In order for the lower ranks to receive practical training in a team, for this it is necessary that it has its own separate household, of course, at the same time it is necessary to add one non-commissioned officer to the permanent staff, correcting the position of captain, and four privates for the positions of clerk, groom, baker and cook; all the lower ranks of the variable composition are seconded to these persons in turn and correct their positions, under the supervision and responsibility of personnel officials. Until the middle of the XIX century. there were no special schools or courses for non-commissioned officers, so there was nowhere to train them specially. From the end of the 1860s non-commissioned officers for the Russian army were trained in regimental training teams with a training period of 7.5 months. The lower ranks were sent to these training units, who showed the ability to serve, did not have disciplinary offenses and, if possible, were literate, and also "received distinction in battles."

Teaching was predominantly practical. The main role in the educational process of the non-commissioned officer was played by the officer. M.I. Dragomirov, a military theorist and educator of the second half of the 19th century, who successfully applied in the army the principles of training and education of troops developed by him, wrote about this: “An officer needs to work hard; first, in order to form a non-commissioned officer, and then in order to tirelessly monitor the activities of these inexperienced and constantly changing assistants ... What he himself will not do, will not explain, will not indicate, no one will do for him. At the end of their studies, the lower ranks returned to their units. It was primarily about non-commissioned officers who had undoubted advantages in comparison with non-commissioned officers of military service: “The shortened terms of service are of great importance in this matter, that the training time of a non-commissioned officer should be possibly short ... more long service, of course, is also necessary for the non-commissioned officers themselves, since service experience, of course, significantly contributes to their improvement. The financial resources allocated by the military department for the creation of a stratum of extra-urgent non-commissioned officers were relatively small. Therefore, the lag in the training of such personnel was very noticeable. Thus, in 1898, there were 65,000 non-commissioned officers on duty in the field: in Germany, 65,000; in France, 24,000; in Russia, 8,500. .

At the same time, the army was interested in long-term servicemen, so it took care of them with the help of sufficient provision from the state treasury. For example, the Regulations on the extended service of the lower ranks in the border guards of 1881 ordered the lower ranks of the border guards to increase the official authority of the non-commissioned officers of the senior ranks to ensure their higher material life and social status. According to him, the extra-term lower ranks of the border guards of the non-commissioned officer rank, including senior and junior sergeant majors (sergeant majors) in detachments and training teams, and non-commissioned officers holding the positions of other junior commanders, received a monetary reward and additional salary to the regular content. In particular, in the first year after entering the long-term service, the senior sergeant was entitled to 84 rubles, the junior sergeant - 60 rubles; in the third year - for the senior sergeant 138 rubles, for the junior sergeant - 96 rubles; in the fifth year - 174 rubles for the senior sergeant, 120 rubles for the junior sergeant.

In general, the living conditions of the non-commissioned officers, although they differed for the better from those of the rank and file, were rather modest. In addition to the additional salary established above, each senior and junior sergeant-major who had been in the above positions continuously for two years was given a lump-sum allowance of 150 rubles at the end of the second year of extended service, as well as 60 rubles each. annually. After the defeat of the Russian army in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. the issue of staffing the army with non-commissioned officers from among the extra-enlisted personnel became even more urgent. The annual additional salary increased to 400 rubles. depending on the rank and duration of service, other material advantages were provided; housing money in the amount of half of the norms for officers; pension for 15 years of service in the amount of 96 rubles. in year . In 1911, military schools were introduced for non-commissioned officers, in which they prepared for the rank of ensign.

There they were trained to fulfill the position of squad and platoon commander, in order to replace juniors in the war, command a platoon in a combat situation, and, if necessary, a company. According to the regulation on the lower ranks of 1911, they were divided into two categories. The first is ensigns promoted to this rank from combat non-commissioned officers. They had significant rights and benefits. Lance corporals were promoted to junior non-commissioned officers and were appointed squad leaders. Super-enlisted non-commissioned officers were promoted to ensigns under two conditions: serving as a platoon officer for two years and successfully completing a course in a military school for non-commissioned officers. Volunteers could also become non-commissioned officers in the Russian army. However, the real test for the corps of the Unter-Russian army was the First World War. The problem arose already by the end of 1914, when the command, unfortunately, had not yet thought about saving personnel.

During the first mobilization, 97% of the trained military men were called up to the ranks of the active army, preference was given to non-commissioned officers in the reserve, who, as a rule, had better training than ordinary reserve officers. Therefore, a maximum of non-commissioned officers was poured into the rank and file of the first strategic echelon. As a result, it turned out that the entire valuable junior command staff was almost completely destroyed in the first military operations. Another measure with which they tried to deal with the shortage of junior commanding staff was the increase in the institution of volunteers, the so-called volunteer hunters began to be recruited into the army.

According to the imperial decree of December 25, 1914, retired ensigns and non-commissioned officers were accepted into the service by hunters. The military retreat of the Russian army in 1915 and the consequent loss of non-commissioned officers in battle further exacerbated the problem of a shortage of junior commanders in combat units. The state of military discipline in units and divisions of the Russian army in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries. rated as satisfactory. The result of this was not only the work of the officer, but also the efforts of the non-commissioned officer corps.

The main violations of military discipline in the army during this period by the lower ranks were escapes, thefts, embezzlement of state property and violations of military decency. There were insults to non-commissioned officers, in rare cases insults. In order to impose disciplinary sanctions, non-commissioned officers had the same rights as ober officers, they were admitted to officer meetings. The deprivation of this title was carried out by the head of the division or a person of equal authority with him in compliance with the necessary legal norms for the crimes committed.

For the same reason and by the verdict of the court, the production of non-commissioned officers could also be suspended. Here is an excerpt from the verdict of the regimental court of the 9th Siberian Grenadier Regiment about the private of the 78th reserve infantry battalion: “... therefore, the court sentenced the defendant Private Alekseev to arrest on bread and water for three weeks with an increase in the mandatory stay in the category of fined for one year and six months and with deprivation, on the basis of 598 Art. Book I II part of S. V. P. 1859, the right to be promoted to officer or non-commissioned officer, except in the case of a special military feat ... ".

For better performance by non-commissioned officers of their duties, the War Ministry published a lot of different literature for them in the form of methods, instructions, and instructions. In the recommendations, non-commissioned officers were urged to “show subordinates not only strictness, but also a caring attitude”, “to prevent irritation, irascibility and shouting in dealing with subordinates, and also to keep themselves at a certain distance from subordinates”, urged “to remember that the Russian soldier in dealing with him, he loves the boss whom he considers his father.

Mastering knowledge and gaining experience, non-commissioned officers became good helpers in solving the tasks facing companies and squadrons, in particular, strengthening military discipline, conducting chores, teaching soldiers to read and write, and recruits from national outskirts - knowledge of the Russian language. Efforts bore fruit - the percentage of illiterate soldiers in the army was reduced. If in 1881 there were 75.9% of them, then in 1901 - 40.3%. Another area of ​​activity of the non-commissioned officers, where the non-commissioned officers especially succeeded, was chores, or, as they were also called, “free work”. The advantages were that the money earned by the soldiers went to the regimental treasury, and part - to officers, non-commissioned officers and lower ranks. Earned money improved the food of the soldiers. However, the negative side of economic work was significant.

It turned out that the entire service of many soldiers took place in arsenals, bakeries, and workshops. Soldiers from many units, such as the East Siberian Military District, loaded and unloaded ships with heavy commissary and engineering cargo, fixed telegraph lines, repaired and built buildings, and performed work for the parties of topographers. Be that as it may, the non-commissioned officers of the Russian army played a positive role in the preparation, training and combat effectiveness of troops in the period of the mid-nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Thus, the preparation, training and education of personnel in the army has always been a difficult task in military development.

Non-commissioned officers from the moment of their appearance played an important role in training the lower ranks in military affairs, maintaining order and discipline, education, moral and cultural education of soldiers. In our opinion, it is difficult to overestimate the importance of the non-commissioned corps in the Russian army in the middle of the 19th - early 20th centuries, when it had to solve a dual task - an assistant officer and the closest commander for the lower ranks, especially during the years of severe military trials. The historical experience of creating, functioning and improving the institute of the non-commissioned officer corps shows its great importance in military development and deserves further study.

Bibliographic list

1. Goncharov Yu.M. Class composition of the urban population of Western Siberia in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries. // Cities of Siberia XVIII - early XX centuries. : Digest of articles. - Barnaul, 2001.

2. Garthoff R.L. The Military as a Social Force // The Transformation of Russian Society: Aspects of Social Change since 1861. - Cambridge, 1960.

3. Military collection. - St. Petersburg, 1887. - T. CLХХVIII.

4. Sushchinsky F. Non-commissioned officer question in our army // Military collection. - St. Petersburg, 1881. No. 8.

5. Nikulchenko A. On the means to get good non-commissioned officers // Landmark. - 2013. - No. 7.

6. Chinenny S. Non-commissioned officers of the Russian army // Landmark. - 2003. - No. 12.

7. Goncharov Yu.M. Everyday life of citizens of Siberia in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries. : tutorial. - Barnaul, 2012. 8. Military collection. - SPb., 1892. - T. CCV.

9. Oskin M.V. Non-commissioned officers of the Russian army during the First World War // Military History Journal. - 2014. - No. 1.

Generality:
General chase and:

-Field Marshal General* - crossed wands.
-general of infantry, cavalry, etc.(the so-called "full general") - without asterisks,
- lieutenant general- 3 stars
- major general- 2 stars

Headquarters officers:
Two gaps and:


-colonel- without asterisks.
- lieutenant colonel(since 1884, the Cossacks have a military foreman) - 3 stars
-major** (until 1884 the Cossacks had a military foreman) - 2 stars

Ober-officers:
One light and:


-captain(captain, captain) - without stars.
- staff captain(headquarters captain, podesaul) - 4 stars
-lieutenant(sotnik) - 3 stars
- second lieutenant(cornet, cornet) - 2 stars
- Ensign*** - 1 star

Lower ranks


-zauryad-ensign- 1 galloon stripe along the length of the shoulder strap with the 1st star on the stripe
- Ensign- 1 galloon stripe in the length of the epaulette
- sergeant major(wahmistr) - 1 wide transverse stripe
-st. non-commissioned officer(st. fireworks, st. constable) - 3 narrow cross stripes
- ml. non-commissioned officer(ml. fireworks, ml. sergeant) - 2 narrow cross stripes
- corporal(bombardier, orderly) - 1 narrow transverse stripe
-private(gunner, cossack) - without stripes

*In 1912, the last Field Marshal Dmitry Aleksevich Milyutin, who held the post of Minister of War from 1861 to 1881, dies. This rank was not awarded to anyone else, but nominally this rank was preserved.
** The rank of major was abolished in 1884 and was no longer restored.
*** From 1884, the rank of warrant officer was left only for wartime (it is only assigned during the war, and with its end, all warrant officers are subject to either dismissal or they should be assigned the rank of second lieutenant).
P.S. Ciphers and monograms on shoulder straps are not conditionally placed.
Very often one hears the question "why does the junior rank in the category of staff officers and generals begin with two stars, and not with one like the chief officers?" When, in 1827, stars on epaulettes appeared in the Russian army as insignia, the major general received two stars on the epaulette at once.
There is a version that one star was supposed to be a foreman - this rank had not been assigned since the time of Paul I, but by 1827 they still existed
retired brigadiers who had the right to wear uniforms. True, epaulettes were not supposed to be retired military men. And it is unlikely that many of them survived until 1827 (passed
for about 30 years since the abolition of the brigadier rank). Most likely, the two general's stars were simply copied from the epaulette of a French brigadier general. There is nothing strange in this, because the epaulettes themselves came to Russia from France. Most likely, there was never a single general's star in the Russian imperial army. This version seems more plausible.

As for the major, he received two stars by analogy with the two stars of the Russian major general of that time.

The only exception was the insignia in the hussar regiments in the front and ordinary (everyday) form, in which shoulder cords were worn instead of shoulder straps.
Shoulder cords.
Instead of an epaulette of a cavalry type, the hussars on dolmans and mentics have
hussar shoulder cords. For all officers, the same from a gold or silver double soutache cord of the same color as the cords on the dolman for the lower ranks, shoulder cords from a double soutache cord in color -
orange for regiments having the color of the instrument metal - gold or white for regiments having the color of the instrument metal - silver.
These shoulder cords form a ring at the sleeve, and a loop at the collar, fastened with a uniform button sewn half an inch from the collar seam.
To distinguish the ranks, gombochki are put on the cords (a ring from the same cold cord covering the shoulder cord):
-y corporal- one, of the same color with a cord;
-y non-commissioned officers tricolor gombochkas (white with St. George's thread), in number, like stripes on shoulder straps;
-y sergeant major- gold or silver (as for officers) on an orange or white cord (as for lower ranks);
-y ensign- a shoulder cord of a smooth officer with a gombochka of a sergeant-major;
officers on officer cords have gombos with stars (metal, as on shoulder straps) - in accordance with the rank.

Volunteers wear twisted cords of Romanov colors (white-black-yellow) around the cords.

The shoulder cords of the ober and headquarters officers do not differ in any way.
Headquarters officers and generals have the following differences in uniform: on the collar of a dolman, generals have a wide or gold galloon up to 1 1/8 inches wide, and staff officers have a gold or silver galloon 5/8 inches wide, which has the full length "
hussar zigzags", and for chief officers, the collar is sheathed with only one cord or filigree.
In the 2nd and 5th regiments of the chief officers along the upper edge of the collar, there is also galloon, but 5/16 inches wide.
In addition, on the cuffs of the generals there is galloon, the same as the one on the collar. The stripe of galloon comes from the cut of the sleeve with two ends, in front it converges over the toe.
For staff officers, the galloon is also the same as the one on the collar. The length of the entire patch is up to 5 inches.
And the chief officers are not supposed to galloon.

Below are pictures of the shoulder cords

1. Officers and generals

2. Lower officials

The shoulder cords of the chief, staff officers and generals did not differ in any way from each other. For example, it was possible to distinguish a cornet from a major general only by the appearance and width of the braid on the cuffs and, in some regiments, on the collar.
Twisted cords relied only on adjutants and aide-de-camp!

Shoulder cords of the adjutant wing (left) and adjutant (right)

Officer's epaulettes: lieutenant colonel of the air squadron of the 19th army corps and staff captain of the 3rd field air squadron. In the center are shoulder boards of the cadets of the Nikolaev Engineering School. On the right is the epaulette of a captain (most likely a dragoon or lancer regiment)

The Russian army in its modern sense began to be created by Emperor Peter I at the end of the 18th century. The system of military ranks of the Russian army took shape partly under the influence of European systems, partly under the influence of the historically established purely Russian system of ranks. However, at that time there were no military ranks in the sense in which we are accustomed to understand. There were specific military units, there were also quite specific positions and, accordingly, their names. company commander. By the way, in the civil fleet even now, the person in charge of the ship's crew is called the "captain", the person in charge of the seaport is called the "port captain". In the 18th century, many words existed in a slightly different sense than they do now.
So "General" meant - "chief", and not just "highest military leader";
"Major"- "senior" (senior among regimental officers);
"Lieutenant"- "assistant"
"Outbuilding"- "younger".

"Table of ranks of all ranks of military, civilian and courtiers, in which class the ranks are acquired" was put into effect by the Decree of Emperor Peter I on January 24, 1722 and lasted until December 16, 1917. The word "officer" came into Russian from German. But in German, as in English, the word has a much broader meaning. In relation to the army, this term means all military leaders in general. In a narrower translation, it means - "employee", "clerk", "employee". Therefore, it is quite natural - "non-commissioned officers" - junior commanders, "chief officers" - senior commanders, "headquarters officers" - staff members, "generals" - the main ones. Non-commissioned officer ranks also in those days were not ranks, but were positions. Ordinary soldiers were then named according to their military specialties - musketeer, pikeman, dragoon, etc. There was no name "private", and "soldier", as Peter I wrote, means all military personnel ".. from the highest general to the last musketeer, cavalry or on foot ..." Therefore, soldier and non-commissioned officer ranks were not included in the Table. The well-known names "second lieutenant", "lieutenant" existed in the list of ranks of the Russian army long before the formation of the regular army by Peter I to designate military personnel who are assistants to the captain, that is, the company commander; and continued to be used within the framework of the Table as Russian-language synonyms for the positions "non-commissioned lieutenant" and "lieutenant", that is, "assistant" and "assistant". Well, or if you want - "assistant officer for assignments" and "officer for assignments." The name "ensign" as more understandable (wearing a banner, ensign), quickly replaced the obscure "fendrik", which meant "candidate for an officer's position. Over time, there was a process of separation of the concepts of "position" and "rank". After the beginning of the 19th century, these concepts were already separated quite clearly. With the development of means of warfare, the advent of technology, when the army became large enough and when it was necessary to compare the official position of a fairly large set of job titles. It was here that the concept of "rank" often began to obscure, divert the concept " position".

However, in the modern army, the position, so to speak, is more important than the rank. According to the charter, seniority is determined by position, and only with equal positions is the one with a higher rank considered older.

According to the "Table of Ranks", the following ranks were introduced: civil, military infantry and cavalry, military artillery and engineering troops, military guards, military fleets.

In the period from 1722-1731, in relation to the army, the system of military ranks looked like this (the corresponding position in brackets)

Lower ranks (ordinary)

By specialty (grenadier. Fuseler ...)

non-commissioned officers

Corporal(part-commander)

Fourier(deputy platoon commander)

Captainarmus

Ensign(foreman of a company, battalion)

Sergeant

Feldwebel

Ensign(Fendrik), junker bayonet (art) (platoon leader)

Second Lieutenant

lieutenant(deputy company commander)

lieutenant captain(company commander)

Captain

Major(deputy battalion commander)

Lieutenant colonel(battalion commander)

Colonel(commander of the regiment)

Brigadier(brigade leader)

generals

Major General(division commander)

lieutenant general(corps commander)

General-anshef (General Feldzekhmeister)- (commander of the army)

Field Marshal General(commander-in-chief, honorary title)

In the Life Guards, the ranks were two classes higher than in the army. In the army artillery and engineering troops, the ranks are one class higher than in the infantry and cavalry. During the period 1731-1765 the concepts of "rank" and "position" are beginning to separate. So in the state of the field infantry regiment of 1732, when indicating the staff ranks, it is already written not just the rank of "quartermaster", but the position indicating the rank: "quartermaster (of the lieutenant rank)". With regard to officers of the company level, the separation of the concepts of "position" and "rank" is not yet observed. In the army "fendrick" is replaced by " ensign", in the cavalry - "cornet". Ranks are being introduced "Second Major" and "Prime Major" During the reign of Empress Catherine II (1765-1798) ranks are introduced in the army infantry and cavalry junior and senior sergeant, sergeant major disappears. Since 1796 in the Cossack units, the names of the ranks are the same as the ranks of the army cavalry and are equated to them, although the Cossack units continue to be listed as irregular cavalry (not part of the army). There is no rank of second lieutenant in the cavalry, and captain corresponds to the captain. During the reign of Emperor Paul I (1796-1801) the concepts of "rank" and "position" in this period are already separated quite clearly. The ranks in the infantry and artillery are compared. Paul I did a lot of useful things to strengthen the army and discipline in it. He forbade the registration of minor noble children in the regiments. All recorded in the regiments were required to serve really. He introduced disciplinary and criminal responsibility of officers for soldiers (preservation of life and health, training, clothing, living conditions) forbade the use of soldiers as labor force on the estates of officers and generals; introduced the awarding of soldiers with insignia of the orders of St. Anne and the Maltese Cross; introduced an advantage in promotion in the ranks of officers who graduated from military educational institutions; ordered to be promoted in ranks only on business qualities and ability to command; introduced holidays for soldiers; limited the duration of officers' vacations to one month a year; dismissed from the army a large number of generals who did not meet the requirements of military service (old age, illiteracy, disability, absence from service for a long time, etc.). Ranks are introduced in the lower ranks ordinary junior and senior salary. In the cavalry sergeant major(company foreman) For Emperor Alexander I (1801-1825) since 1802, all non-commissioned officers of the nobility are called "junker". Since 1811, the rank of "major" was abolished in the artillery and engineering troops and the rank of "ensign" was returned. During the reign of Emperors Nicholas I (1825-1855) , who did a lot to streamline the army, Alexander II (1855-1881) and the beginning of the reign of Emperor Alexander III (1881-1894) Since 1828, army Cossacks have been given ranks other than army cavalry (In the Life Guards Cossack and Life Guards Ataman regiments, the ranks are like those of the entire guards cavalry). The Cossack units themselves are transferred from the category of irregular cavalry to the army. The concepts of "rank" and "position" in this period are already completely separated. Under Nicholas I, the discord in the naming of non-commissioned officers disappears. Since 1884, the rank of warrant officer has been left only for wartime (assigned only during the war, and with its end, all warrant officers are subject to either dismissal or they should be assigned the rank of second lieutenant). The rank of cornet in the cavalry is retained as the first officer rank. He is a class below the infantry lieutenant, but in the cavalry there is no rank of second lieutenant. This equalizes the ranks of infantry and cavalry. In the Cossack units, the classes of officers are equated with the cavalry, but have their own names. In this regard, the rank of military foreman, previously equal to major, now becomes equal to lieutenant colonel

"In 1912, the last General Field Marshal Milyutin Dmitry Alekseevich, who served as Minister of War from 1861 to 1881, dies. This rank was not assigned to anyone else, but nominally this rank was preserved"

In 1910, the rank of Russian Field Marshal was awarded to the King of Montenegro, Nicholas I, and in 1912, to the King of Romania, Carol I.

P.S. After the October Revolution of 1917, by the Decree of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars (Bolshevik government) of December 16, 1917, all military ranks were abolished ...

The officer epaulettes of the tsarist army were arranged completely differently than modern ones. First of all, the gaps were not part of the galloon, as we have been doing since 1943. In the engineering troops, two harness galloons or one harness and two headquarters officer galloons were simply sewn onto the shoulder strap. For each type of troops, the type of galloon was determined specifically. For example, in the hussar regiments on officer shoulder straps, a galloon of the "hussar zig-zag" type was used. On the shoulder straps of military officials, a "civilian" galloon was used. Thus, the gaps of officer epaulettes were always the same color as the field of soldier epaulettes. If shoulder straps in this part did not have a colored edging (edging), as, say, it was in the engineering troops, then the edgings had the same color as the gaps. But if in part the epaulettes had a colored edging, then it was visible around the officer's epaulette. A silver-colored epaulette button without sides with an extruded double-headed eagle sitting on crossed axes. and letters, or silver monograms (to whom it is necessary). At the same time, it was widespread to wear gilded forged metal stars, which were supposed to be worn only on epaulettes.

The placement of the stars was not rigidly fixed and was determined by the size of the encryption. Two stars were supposed to be placed around the encryption, and if it filled the entire width of the shoulder strap, then above it. The third asterisk had to be placed so as to form an equilateral triangle with the two lower ones, and the fourth asterisk was slightly higher. If there is one asterisk on the chase (for the ensign), then it was placed where the third asterisk is usually attached. Special signs were also gilded metal patches, although it was not uncommon to find them embroidered with gold thread. The exception was the special signs of aviation, which were oxidized and had the color of silver with a patina.

1. Epaulette staff captain 20 engineer battalion

2. Epaulette for lower ranks Lancers 2nd Leib Ulansky Courland Regiment 1910

3. Epaulet full general from the cavalry suite His Imperial Majesty Nicholas II. The silver device of the epaulette testifies to the high military rank of the owner (only the marshal was higher)

About the stars on uniform

For the first time, forged five-pointed stars appeared on the epaulettes of Russian officers and generals in January 1827 (during the time of Pushkin). Ensigns and cornets began to wear one golden star, two - lieutenants and major generals, three - lieutenants and lieutenant generals. four - staff captains and staff captains.

A with April 1854 Russian officers began to wear embroidered stars on the newly established shoulder straps. For the same purpose, diamonds were used in the German army, knots in the British, and six-pointed stars in the Austrian.

Although the designation of a military rank on shoulder straps is a characteristic feature of the Russian army and the German one.

Among the Austrians and the British, shoulder straps had a purely functional role: they were sewn from the same material as the tunic so that the shoulder straps would not slip. And the rank was indicated on the sleeve. The five-pointed star, the pentagram is a universal symbol of protection, security, one of the oldest. 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 copied the appearance of the French army - this is how the stars "rolled down" from the French sky to the Russian one.

As for the British army, even during the Anglo-Boer War, stars began to migrate to shoulder straps. This is about officers. For the lower ranks and warrant officers, the insignia remained on the sleeves.
In the Russian, German, Danish, Greek, Romanian, Bulgarian, American, Swedish and Turkish armies, shoulder straps were insignia. In the Russian army, shoulder straps were for both lower ranks and officers. Also in the Bulgarian and Romanian armies, as well as in the Swedish. In the French, Spanish and Italian armies, insignia were placed on the sleeves. In the Greek army, the officers on shoulder straps, on the sleeves of the lower ranks. In the Austro-Hungarian army, the insignia of officers and lower ranks were on the collar, those were lapel. In the German army, only officers had insignia on shoulder straps, while the lower ranks differed from each other by the galloon on the cuffs and collar, as well as the uniform button on the collar. The exception was the so-called Kolonial truppe, where as additional (and in a number of colonies the main) insignia of the lower ranks were chevrons made of silver galloon sewn on the left sleeve of a-la gefreiters of 30-45 years.

It is interesting to note that with service and field uniforms in peacetime, that is, with a tunic of the 1907 model, officers of the hussar regiments wore epaulettes that also differed somewhat from the epaulettes of the rest of the Russian army. For hussar shoulder straps, galloon with the so-called "hussar zigzag" was used
The only unit where epaulets with the same zigzag were worn, except for the hussar regiments, was the 4th battalion (from 1910 a regiment) of the riflemen of the Imperial family. Here is a sample: the epaulette of the captain of the 9th Kyiv Hussars.

Unlike the German hussars, who wore uniforms of the same tailoring, differing only in the color of the fabric. With the introduction of khaki shoulder straps, the zigzags also disappeared, the encryption on the shoulder straps indicated belonging to the hussars. For example, "6 G", that is, the 6th Hussar.
In general, the field uniform of the hussars was of the dragoon type, those combined arms. The only difference indicating belonging to the hussars was indicated by boots with a rosette in front. However, the hussar regiments were allowed to wear chakchirs with field uniforms, but not all regiments, but only the 5th and 11th. The wearing of chakchira by the rest of the regiments was a kind of "non-statutory". But during the war, this happened, as well as the wearing by some officers of a saber, instead of the standard Dracoon saber, which was supposed to be with field equipment.

The photograph shows the captain of the 11th Izyum Hussar Regiment K.K. von Rosenshild-Paulin (sitting) and Junker of the Nikolaev Cavalry School K.N. von Rosenshield-Paulin (also later an officer of the Izyum regiment). Captain in summer full dress or dress uniform, i.e. in a tunic of the 1907 model, with galloon epaulettes and the number 11 (note that on the officer epaulettes of the peacetime cavalry regiments, there are only numbers, without the letters "G", "D" or "U"), and blue chakchirs worn by officers of this regiment in all forms of clothing.
Regarding "non-statutory", during the years of the World War, apparently, the wearing of galloon epaulettes of peacetime by hussar officers was also encountered.

on the galloon officer shoulder straps of the cavalry regiments, only numbers were affixed, and there were no letters. which is confirmed by photographs.

Zauryad Ensign- from 1907 to 1917 in the Russian army, the highest military rank for non-commissioned officers. The insignia for ordinary ensigns were ensign shoulder straps with a large (larger than officer's) asterisk in the upper third of the shoulder strap on the line of symmetry. The rank was assigned to the most experienced non-commissioned officers, with the outbreak of the First World War, it began to be assigned to ensigns as an encouragement, often immediately before the first senior officer rank (ensign or cornet) was awarded.

From Brockhaus and Efron:
Zauryad Ensign, military During mobilization, with a lack of persons who meet the conditions for promotion to an officer's rank, some. non-commissioned officers are awarded the rank of Z. Ensign; correcting the duties of a junior. officers, Z. great. limited in the rights of movement in the service.

Interesting history of ensign. In the period 1880-1903. this rank was assigned to graduates of cadet schools (not to be confused with military schools). In the cavalry, he corresponded to the rank of standard junker, in the Cossack troops - to the cadet. Those. it turned out that it was a kind of intermediate rank between the lower ranks and officers. Ensigns who graduated from the Junkers School in the 1st category were promoted to officers not earlier than September of the graduation year, but outside the vacancies. Those who graduated from the 2nd category were promoted to officers not earlier than the beginning of the next year, but only for vacancies, and it turned out that some were waiting for production for several years. According to the order of the BB No. 197 for 1901, with the production in 1903 of the last ensigns, standard junkers and cadets, these ranks were canceled. This was due to the beginning of the transformation of cadet schools into military ones.
Since 1906, the rank of ensign in the infantry and cavalry and cadet in the Cossack troops began to be assigned to overtime non-commissioned officers who graduated from a special school. Thus, this title became the maximum for the lower ranks.

Ensign, standard junker and cadet, 1886:

The epaulette of the staff captain of the Cavalry Guards Regiment and the epaulettes of the staff captain of the Life Guards of the Moscow Regiment.

The first shoulder strap is declared as the shoulder strap of an officer (captain) of the 17th Nizhny Novgorod Dragoon Regiment. But Nizhny Novgorod residents should have a dark green piping along the edge of the shoulder strap, and the monogram should be of an applied color. And the second shoulder strap is presented as the shoulder strap of a second lieutenant of the guards artillery (with such a monogram in the guards artillery there were shoulder straps of officers of only two batteries: the 1st battery of the Life Guards of the 2nd Artillery Brigade and the 2nd battery of the Guards Horse Artillery), but the shoulder strap button should not whether to have in this case an eagle with cannons.

Major(Spanish mayor - more, stronger, more significant) - the first rank of senior officers.
The title originated in the 16th century. The major was responsible for guarding and feeding the regiment. When the regiments were divided into battalions, the battalion commander, as a rule, became a major.
In the Russian army, the rank of major was introduced by Peter I in 1698, and abolished in 1884.
Prime Major - a staff officer rank in the Russian imperial army of the 18th century. He belonged to the VIII class of the "Table of Ranks".
According to the charter of 1716, the majors were divided into prime majors and second majors.
The Prime Major was in charge of the combat and inspector units in the regiment. He commanded the 1st battalion, and in the absence of the regimental commander - the regiment.
The division into prime and second majors was abolished in 1797."

"It appeared in Russia as a rank and position (deputy regiment commander) in the streltsy army at the end of the 15th - early 16th centuries. In the streltsy regiments, as a rule, lieutenant colonels (often of "mean" origin) performed all administrative functions for the head of the streltsy, appointed from among the nobles or boyars In the XVII century and the beginning of the XVIII century, the rank (rank) and position was referred to as a lieutenant colonel due to the fact that the lieutenant colonel usually, in addition to his other duties, commanded the second “half” of the regiment - the back rows in formation and the reserve (before the introduction of the battalion formation of regular soldier regiments) From the moment the Table of Ranks was introduced until its abolition in 1917, the rank (rank) of lieutenant colonel belonged to the VII class of the Table of Ranks and gave the right to hereditary nobility until 1856. In 1884, after the abolition of the rank of major in the Russian army, all majors (with the exception of the dismissed or those who have stained themselves with unseemly misconduct) are promoted to lieutenant colonels.

INSIGNIA OF CIVIL OFFICERS OF THE MILITARY MINISTRY (here are military topographers)

Ranks of the Imperial Military Medical Academy

Chevrons of combatant lower ranks of extra-long service according to "Regulations on the lower ranks of the non-commissioned officer rank, remaining voluntarily in extra-long active service" dated 1890.

From left to right: Up to 2 years, Over 2 to 4 years, Over 4 to 6 years, Over 6 years

To be precise, the article, from which these drawings are borrowed, says the following: "... the awarding of chevrons to super-enlisted lower ranks holding the positions of sergeant majors (wahmisters) and platoon non-commissioned officers (fireworks) of combatant companies, squadrons, batteries was carried out:
- Upon admission to long-term service - a silver narrow chevron
- At the end of the second year of long-term service - a silver wide chevron
- At the end of the fourth year of long-term service - a gold narrow chevron
- At the end of the sixth year of long-term service - a gold wide chevron"

In army infantry regiments to designate the ranks of corporal, ml. and senior non-commissioned officers, an army white braid was used.

1. The rank of WRITTEN, since 1991, exists in the army only in wartime.
With the beginning of the Great War, ensigns graduate from military schools and ensign schools.
2. The rank of WARNING OFFICER of the reserve, in peacetime, on the shoulder straps of an ensign, wears a galloon patch against the device at the lower rib.
3. The rank of WRITTEN OFFICER, in this rank in wartime, when military units are mobilized with a shortage of junior officers, the lower ranks are renamed from non-commissioned officers with an educational qualification, or from sergeants without
educational qualification. From 1891 to 1907, warrant officers on the shoulder straps of an ensign also wear rank stripes, from which they were renamed.
4. Title ZAURYAD-WRITTEN OFFICER (since 1907). Shoulder straps of a lieutenant with an officer's star and a transverse stripe according to the position. Chevron sleeve 5/8 inches, angle up. Shoulder straps of an officer's standard were retained only by those who were renamed Z-Pr. during the Russo-Japanese War and remained in the army, for example, as a sergeant major.
5. The title of WRITTEN OFFICER-ZURYAD of the State Militia Squad. Non-commissioned officers of the reserve were renamed into this rank, or, in the presence of an educational qualification, who served for at least 2 months as a non-commissioned officer of the State Militia Squad and was appointed junior officer of the squad. Ensigns-zauryad wore epaulettes of an active duty ensign with a galloon stripe of instrument color sewn into the lower part of the epaulettes.

Cossack ranks and titles

On the lowest rung of the service ladder stood an ordinary Cossack, corresponding to an ordinary infantry. This was followed by an orderly, who had one badge and corresponded to a corporal in the infantry. The next rung of the career ladder is the junior officer and the senior officer, corresponding to the junior non-commissioned officer, non-commissioned officer and senior non-commissioned officer and with the number of badges characteristic of modern sergeants. This was followed by the rank of sergeant major, who was not only in the Cossacks, but also in the non-commissioned officers of the cavalry and horse artillery.

In the Russian army and gendarmerie, the sergeant-major was the closest assistant to the commander of a hundred, squadron, battery for drill, internal order and economic affairs. The rank of sergeant major corresponded to the rank of sergeant major in the infantry. According to the regulation of 1884, introduced by Alexander III, the next rank in the Cossack troops, but only for wartime, was the cadet, an intermediate rank between a lieutenant and ensign in the infantry, which was also introduced in wartime. In peacetime, in addition to the Cossack troops, these ranks existed only for reserve officers. The next degree in the chief officer ranks is cornet, corresponding to a second lieutenant in the infantry and a cornet in the regular cavalry.

According to his official position, he corresponded to a junior lieutenant in the modern army, but wore shoulder straps with a blue gap on a silver field (the applied color of the Don Cossacks) with two stars. In the old army, compared to the Soviet one, the number of stars was one more. Next came the centurion - the chief officer rank in the Cossack troops, corresponding to a lieutenant in the regular army. The centurion wore epaulettes of the same design, but with three stars, corresponding in his position to a modern lieutenant. A higher step - podesaul.

This rank was introduced in 1884. In the regular troops, it corresponded to the rank of staff captain and staff captain.

The podesaul was an assistant or deputy to the Yesaul and in his absence he commanded a Cossack hundred.
Shoulder straps of the same design, but with four stars.
According to his official position, he corresponds to a modern senior lieutenant. And the highest rank of chief officer rank is Yesaul. It is worth talking about this rank especially, since in a purely historical sense, the people who wore it held positions in both civil and military departments. In various Cossack troops, this position included various official prerogatives.

The word comes from the Turkic "yasaul" - chief.
In the Cossack troops it was first mentioned in 1576 and was used in the Ukrainian Cossack army.

Yesauls were general, military, regimental, hundreds, stanitsa, marching and artillery. General Yesaul (two per Army) - the highest rank after the hetman. In peacetime, general captains performed inspection functions, in war they commanded several regiments, and in the absence of a hetman, the entire Army. But this is typical only for Ukrainian Cossacks. Troop captains were chosen on the Military Circle (in the Don and most others, two per Army, in the Volga and Orenburg - one each). Dealt with administrative matters. Since 1835, they were appointed as adjutants to the military ataman. Regimental captains (originally two per regiment) performed the duties of staff officers, were the closest assistants to the regiment commander.

Hundreds of Yesauls (one per hundred) commanded hundreds. This link did not take root in the Don Cossacks after the first centuries of the existence of the Cossacks.

The stanitsa Yesauls were typical only for the Don Cossacks. They were selected at stanitsa gatherings and were assistants to the stanitsa atamans. They performed the functions of assistants to the marching chieftain, in the 16th-17th centuries, in his absence, they commanded the army, later they were executors of the orders of the marching chieftain. The artillery captain (one per Army) was subordinate to the chief of artillery and carried out his instructions.

Only the military captain was preserved under the military ataman of the Don Cossack army. In 1798 - 1800. the rank of captain was equated to the rank of captain in the cavalry. Yesaul, as a rule, commanded a Cossack hundred. Corresponded to the official position of the modern captain. He wore epaulettes with a blue gap on a silver field without stars. Next come the headquarters officer ranks. In fact, after the reform of Alexander III in 1884, the rank of Yesaul entered this rank, in connection with which the major link was removed from the headquarters officer ranks, as a result of which the soldier from the captains immediately became a lieutenant colonel. The name of this rank comes from the ancient name of the executive authority of the Cossacks. In the second half of the 18th century, this name, in a modified form, spread to persons who commanded certain branches of the Cossack army. Since 1754, the military foreman was equated with a major, and with the abolition of this rank in 1884, with a lieutenant colonel. He wore shoulder straps with two blue gaps on a silver field and three large stars.

Well, then comes the colonel, shoulder straps are the same as those of the military foreman, but without stars. Starting from this rank, the service ladder is unified with the general army one, since the purely Cossack names of the ranks disappear. The official position of a Cossack general fully corresponds to the general ranks of the Russian Army.

The military rank of junior command staff in the army "non-commissioned officer" came to us from German - Unteroffizier - sub-officer. This institute existed in the Russian army from 1716 to 1917.

The military regulations of 1716 referred to non-commissioned officers in the infantry - a sergeant, in the cavalry - a sergeant-major, a captain, a lieutenant, a corporal, a company clerk, a batman and a corporal. The position of a non-commissioned officer in the military hierarchy was defined as follows: “Those who are below the warrant officer have their place, are called “non-commissioned officers”, i.e. lower initial people".

The non-commissioned officer corps was recruited from soldiers who wished to remain in the army for hire after the end of military service. They were called overtimers. Before the appearance of the institution of long-term servicemen, from which another institution was later formed - non-commissioned officers, the duties of assistant officers were performed by the lower ranks of military service. But the "urgent non-commissioned officer" in most cases differed little from the ordinary.

According to the plan of the military command, the institution of long-term servicemen was supposed to solve two problems: to reduce the understaffing of the rank and file, to serve as a reserve for the formation of non-commissioned officer corps.

There is a curious fact in the history of our army that testifies to the role of the lower commanding ranks. During the Russian-Turkish war of 1877 - 1878. Infantry General Mikhail Skobelev conducted an unprecedented social experiment in the units entrusted to him in the course of hostilities - he created military councils of sergeant majors and non-commissioned officers in the fighting units.

“Particular attention should be paid to the formation of a professional sergeant corps, as well as a link of junior commanders. At present, the staffing of such positions in the Armed Forces is a little over 20 percent.

Currently, the Ministry of Defense pays increased attention to the problems of educational work and professional junior commanders. But the first graduates of such junior commanders will enter the troops only in 2006,” said Secretary of State - Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation General of the Army Nikolai Pankov.

The leadership of the military ministry sought to leave as many soldiers (corporals) as possible in the army for extra-long service, as well as non-commissioned officers who had served urgent service. But on one condition: each of them had to have the appropriate service and moral qualities.

The central figure of the non-commissioned officers of the old Russian army is the sergeant major. He obeyed the company commander, was his first assistant and support. The sergeant major was entrusted with fairly broad and responsible duties. This is evidenced by the instruction issued in 1883, which read: "The sergeant major is the head of all the lower ranks of the company."

The second most important non-commissioned officer was the senior non-commissioned officer - the head of all the lower ranks of his platoon. He was responsible for order in the platoon, morality and behavior of privates, the results of training subordinates, produced outfits for lower ranks for service and work, dismissed soldiers from the yard (no later than before evening roll call), conducted evening roll call and reported to the sergeant major about everything that happened during day in the platoon.

According to the charter, non-commissioned officers were entrusted with the initial training of soldiers, constant and vigilant supervision of the lower ranks, and monitoring of internal order in the company. Later (1764), the legislation assigned to the non-commissioned officer the obligation not only to train the lower ranks, but also to educate them.

Despite all the efforts to select candidates for the service of lower commanding ranks, this area had its own difficulties. The number of conscripts did not correspond to the calculations of the General Staff, their number in the army of our country was inferior to the staffing of Western armies with conscripts. For example, in 1898 there were 65,000 non-commissioned officers in Germany, 24,000 in France, and 8,500 in Russia.

The formation of the institution of long-term employees was slow. The mentality of the Russian people affected. The soldiers, for the most part, understood their duty - to serve the Fatherland honestly and disinterestedly during the years of military service, but they consciously opposed remaining, moreover, to serve for money.

The government sought to interest those who served on conscription in long-term service. To do this, they expanded the rights of long-term employees, increased salaries, established a number of awards for service, improved uniforms, and after service they provided a good pension.

The regulation on the lower ranks of combat long service in 1911 divided non-commissioned officers into two categories. The first is ensigns promoted to this rank from combat non-commissioned officers. They had significant rights and benefits. The second - non-commissioned officers and corporals. They enjoyed somewhat fewer rights. Ensigns in combat units held the positions of sergeant majors and platoon officers - senior non-commissioned officers. The corporals were promoted to junior non-commissioned officers and appointed squad commanders.

Super-enlisted non-commissioned officers were promoted to lieutenants by order of the head of the division under two conditions. It was necessary to serve as a platoon (senior non-commissioned officer) for two years and successfully complete the course of a military school for non-commissioned officers.

Senior non-commissioned officers usually held the positions of assistant platoon commanders. The rank of junior non-commissioned officer was, as a rule, worn by squad commanders.

Military servicemen of the lower ranks for impeccable service were awarded a medal with the inscription "For diligence" and the sign of St. Anna. They were also allowed to marry and have families. Extra-conscripts lived in the barracks at the location of their companies. The sergeant major was provided with a separate room, two senior non-commissioned officers also lived in a separate room.

In order to interest in the service and emphasize the commanding position of non-commissioned officers among the lower ranks, they were given uniforms and insignia, in some cases inherent in the chief officer. This is a cockade on a headdress with a visor, a checker on a leather belt, a revolver with a holster and a cord.

Combat servicemen of the lower ranks of both categories, who served fifteen years, received a pension of 96 rubles a year. The salary of a warrant officer ranged from 340 to 402 rubles a year, a corporal - 120 rubles a year.

The head of a division or a person of equal authority had the right to deprive a non-commissioned officer of the rank.

It was difficult for commanders of all grades to train excellent non-commissioned officers from semi-literate extra-enlisted soldiers. Therefore, in our army, they carefully studied foreign experience in the formation of the institute of junior commanders, first of all, the experience of the German army.

Unfortunately, not all non-commissioned officers had knowledge of leading subordinates. Some of them naively believed that the way to ensure universal obedience was to use a deliberately harsh and rude tone. And the moral qualities of the non-commissioned officer were not always at the proper height. Some of them were drawn to alcohol, and this had a bad effect on the behavior of subordinates. Non-commissioned officers were also illegible in the ethics of relations with subordinates. Others allowed something similar to bribes. Such facts were sharply condemned by the officers.

As a result, in society and the army, demands were heard more and more insistently about the inadmissibility of an intrusion of an illiterate non-commissioned officer into the spiritual education of a soldier. There was even a categorical demand: "Non-commissioned officers should be prohibited from invading the soul of a recruit - such a tender sphere."

In order to comprehensively prepare a long-term serviceman for responsible work as a non-commissioned officer in the army, a network of courses and schools was deployed, which were created mainly at the regiments. To make it easier for a non-commissioned officer to enter his role, the military department published a lot of different literature in the form of methods, instructions, and advice. Here are some of the most typical requirements and recommendations of that time:

Show subordinates not only strictness, but also a caring attitude;

With soldiers, keep yourself at a "known distance";

In dealing with subordinates, avoid irritation, irascibility, anger;

Remember that the Russian soldier, in his treatment of him, loves the commander whom he considers his father;

Teach soldiers in battle to save cartridges, at rest - crackers;

To have a worthy appearance: “Unter is taut, like a bow is stretched.”

Training in courses and in regimental schools brought unconditional benefits. Among the non-commissioned officers there were many gifted people who skillfully explained to the soldiers the basics of military service, its values, duty and duties. Mastering knowledge and gaining experience, non-commissioned officers became reliable assistants to officers in solving the tasks facing companies and squadrons.

Non-commissioned officers played a prominent role in solving such an important task as teaching soldiers to read and write, and recruits from the national outskirts - the Russian language. Gradually, this problem acquired strategic importance. The Russian army was turning into an "all-Russian school of education." Non-commissioned officers willingly engaged in writing and arithmetic with the soldiers, although there was very little time for this. Their efforts bore fruit - the number and proportion of illiterate soldiers in military collectives decreased. If in 1881 they were 75.9 percent, then in 1901 - 40.3.

In a combat situation, the vast majority of non-commissioned officers were distinguished by excellent courage, examples of military skill, courage and heroism carried the soldiers along with them. For example, during the Russo-Japanese War (1904 - 1905), non-commissioned officers often acted as officers called up from the reserve.

No wonder they say that the new is the well-forgotten old. In the third millennium, our army again has to solve the problems of strengthening the institution of junior commanders. In their solution, the use of the historical experience of the Russian Armed Forces can help.