Military ranks in order from private. The system of military ranks in the Russian imperial army

Shoulder straps and ranks in the Russian army were created in order to clearly delineate duties between the military. The higher the status, the more responsibility is assigned to the soldier who was awarded the rank. Shoulder straps play an identification role, that is, they create a visual representation of a military man, namely: what position he holds, as well as his military rank.

Shoulder straps and ranks in the army play a very important role, and for different troops they have different external characteristics, as well as names. The reason here is that each type of troops has its own characteristics. For comparison, let's go over the land and sea shoulder straps and ranks of the Russian army.

Shoulder straps and ranks in the ground forces of the Russian army

Observance of subordination and knowledge of one's function in the general formation are the basis of military discipline. This is also said to ordinary soldiers who are just beginning to get acquainted in practice with military service. In the ground forces, military personnel are divided by composition.

The following military personnel are included in the number of draft and contact staff:

Private. This is the lowest rank of a soldier, from which all conscripts begin their military career. This rank can be considered higher, perhaps, than a cadet, since the latter only theoretically studies all the basics of military art, and the private is already being tested in practice. The shoulder straps of an ordinary soldier are clean, that is, they do not have any identification marks (as the conscripts themselves say, “clean shoulder straps - a clear conscience”).
Corporal. As a rule, the most distinguished privates can later be promoted to . It is received by the very best or senior privates, that is, obvious leaders in their environment. The epaulettes of the Russian Federation at the corporal already take on one thin strip as a distinctive sign. It is this symbol that gives other military personnel an idea of the role of this soldier in the overall military structure. If the commander is absent for some reason, then he is replaced by a corporal.

After the fundamental ranks, sergeants and foremen follow. Further, it is they who follow in order of the hierarchy of shoulder straps and military ranks:

Lance Sergeant. This rank is an intermediate step between the corporal and the foreman. As a rule, promotion in rank means acceptance of a new position. upon receiving his new rank, he is appointed as a squad leader, or as a tank or vehicle. Another narrow stripe is added to the shoulder straps of Russia of a junior sergeant. This rank can also be obtained in exceptional cases if the soldier is sent to the reserve and at the time of sending he had the rank of corporal. However, this corporal should distinguish himself by merit and be one of the best.
Sergeant. This is the next link, to which the soldier passes after overcoming the rank of junior sergeant. Upon receipt of this title, shoulder straps are supplemented with another narrow strip. By this time, the soldier has three of them. It is referred to differently as "non-commissioned officer", and in many countries, especially in Germany, where the term comes from, it sounds the same.
Staff Sergeant. A soldier awarded this title receives one wide instead of three narrow stripes on the shoulder straps of the Russian army. occupies an intermediate step between foreman and sergeant.
Sergeant major. If before this rank the defining lines were located across the shoulder strap, then the wide line already goes along the shoulder strap. Among the military personnel of its composition, this rank is the most senior. As a rule, foremen are also an official and command an entire company. In relation to sergeants and soldiers who stand at the very first steps of military ranks, he is a commander. His job responsibilities include monitoring the observance of discipline among subordinates, suggesting to juniors what to do in a given situation, and ensuring that all subordinates fulfill their duties.

After that, the composition of the ranks of the RF Armed Forces goes into the category of ensigns:

Ensign. The shoulder straps of the military in this rank somewhat change their appearance, since instead of stripes, starting with the ensign, stars are used. At the ensign they are small and are available in the amount of two pieces. This is already a different level of military service, respectively, the requirements are tougher in relation to the soldier who was awarded this rank.
Senior Warrant Officer. It is also an intermediate link between the ensign and officer ranks. Another small star is added to the shoulder straps. Just like on the shoulder straps of an ensign, red lines run along both sides. This rank of military personnel is used not only on the territory of the Russian Federation, but also in many other states.

The officer corps comes immediately after the composition of warrant officers, it includes the following ranks of military personnel:

Ensign. The first level of junior officers. The appearance of the shoulder strap also changes, as the two longitudinal stripes are replaced by one that runs from one edge to the other in the middle of the shoulder strap. When a soldier is promoted to the rank of junior lieutenant, three small stars are replaced by one larger one. The star is clearly on the red line. This title is used in the power structures of our country, as well as in the military hierarchy abroad.
Lieutenant. This title is used not only in the army, but also in such structures of our state as, for example, the police. It is the middle link between junior lieutenant and senior. On shoulder straps, instead of one star of medium size, there are two. However, not along the red line, but on its sides.
Senior lieutenant. A third star of medium size is added to the shoulder straps, which is located just above the two side ones, on the red center line. This military rank also applies to junior officers, it is used both in law enforcement agencies and the armed forces both in our country and on the territory of foreign states.
Captain. On the captain's shoulder straps, one more, fourth star of medium size is added, which is located just above the third and also on the red center line. This rank is available both in the ground forces of our country and in the navy. Initially, the chiefs of the military maritime districts were called captains, and later it acquired a modern meaning.

Major. The rank has one star, an order of magnitude more than the stars of a captain or lieutenant. Shoulder strap has two longitudinal red stripes. This rank is the first step in the senior officer corps.
Lieutenant colonel. Shoulder straps have two stars located on two red lines. It is the middle step between major and colonel. It is used in the national army, as well as in law enforcement structures of many European countries, as well as Russia.
Colonel. A third star is added to the shoulder straps, located just above the other two. This step is the final one in the senior officer corps. The name comes from the ancient concept of "regiment", that is, the head of this same regiment. The rank is used in the armed forces of our country, as well as in law enforcement agencies. The title exists not only in Russia, but also in other states.

The highest officers of our country are represented by generals, who also have their own internal military gradation:

Major General. This title is the first step in the so-called elite of our military hierarchy. Shoulder straps at this stage are crowned with large stars, this title has one such star. The red line now wraps around the entire shoulder strap.
Lieutenant general. A soldier of this rank was awarded two large stars on shoulder straps. Despite the fact that a major is higher than a lieutenant, a lieutenant general in the highest system of military service will be higher than a major general.
Colonel General. It has three large stars on shoulder straps, arranged in a row. Represents the middle link between a lieutenant general and an army general.
Army General. A soldier of this rank has four large stars. In the United States or Ukraine, it is the highest military rank. However, in countries where there are such ranks as field marshal or marshal, it is in second place in terms of seniority.
Marshal of the Russian Federation. The highest military rank in our country. On shoulder straps is the coat of arms of the Russian Federation and a star in a range of two colors - gold and silver. This title was established in 1993 by a relevant decree.

Military ranks and epaulettes in the naval forces of Russia

Obligations and status in the naval forces are similar to those used in the land, but the names of the sailors are different.

junior ranks:

foreman 2 articles;
foreman 1 article;
chief foreman;
chief ship foreman;
midshipman;
senior midshipman.

The gradation of ranks in the naval forces is as follows (starts with junior officer ranks):

Junior lieutenant, there is one stripe in the gap.
The lieutenant has two stars on the sides of the red line.
Senior lieutenant, there are three stars on shoulder straps.
Lieutenant-captain, there are four stars in the gaps.

Middle officer naval ranks are subdivided as follows:

Captain (rank 3), there are already two gaps on the shoulder straps of the middle link, and the stars are larger in size. At this rank, the star is between the red stripes.
Captain (rank 2), two stars located directly on the gaps.
Captain (1st rank), three stars, two on the stripes, one between them.

The composition of the highest category is characterized by the following titles:

Rear Admiral. Shoulder straps of this rank do not have gaps on them, stars are immediately embroidered on them. The size of the star is increasing again. Members of this rank wear one star.
Vice admiral. There are two stars on the shoulder straps.
Admiral. Soldiers of this rank wear three stars on shoulder straps.
Fleet Admiral. A serviceman awarded this rank, which is the highest in the navy, wears one large star on shoulder straps, which is 4 cm in diameter.

In any case, a soldier must pass the test of time before he can perform the duties of higher ranks.

In life, there are situations when it is vital for a person (often a soldier or conscript) to learn the ranks of the Russian army in ascending order. Or just see before your eyes a list of military ranks in order in order to determine who reports to whom. What am I telling you here! Each of us knows that such cases happen and cannot be avoided.

That is why I decided to make a short article-note, which contains the maximum benefit in answering the following questions:

How are the ranks in the Russian army arranged in ascending order?
How are the shoulder straps of military personnel in the Russian army arranged in ascending order?

From words to deeds. Go!

Ranks in the Russian army in ascending order

I will make one remark before the list. You need to understand that in our army there are 2 types of military ranks of military personnel - military and naval. If you roughly describe the difference between these two types of ranks, then we can say this: military - these are the ranks of those who serve on the ground and in the air. Ship - those who serve on the water and under it.

In addition, I conditionally divided all ranks into 2 categories: officer ranks and ranks of other military personnel. It is obvious that the officer > other military personnel. Such is the hierarchy. By the way, here she is:

Non-officer ranks in the army in order (lowest to highest)

Private ~ Sailor.
Corporal ~ Senior sailor.
Junior sergeant ~ Petty officer of the second article.
Sergeant ~ Petty Officer of the first article.
Senior Sergeant ~ Chief Petty Officer.
Ensign ~ Midshipman.
Senior warrant officer ~ Senior midshipman.

Officer ranks in the army in order (lowest to highest)

Military rank ~ Ship rank.

Second Lieutenant ~ Second Lieutenant
Lieutenant ~ Lieutenant.
Senior Lieutenant ~ Senior Lieutenant.
Captain ~ Lieutenant Commander.
Major ~ Captain 3rd rank.
Lieutenant colonel ~ Captain 2nd rank.
Colonel ~ Captain 1st rank.
Major General ~ Rear Admiral.
Lieutenant General ~ Vice Admiral.
Colonel General ~ Admiral.
General of the Army ~ Admiral of the Fleet.
Marshal of the Russian Federation ~ There are no analogues.

Total: more than 35 titles. Will it be hard to remember? I hope no! And also the fact that you found the answer to the question, thanks to which you came to my site. If not, then I am sure that you will find the answer to it in the full version of the article on ranks and shoulder straps in the Russian Army in 2017. Here on her. Go ahead and read!

By the way, there at the end of the article you will find an interesting test of 10 questions, which will allow you to consolidate your knowledge while reading both articles.

Well, for those who came here for shoulder straps, as promised, I am enclosing a list of shoulder straps of the Russian army in ascending order. Here he is!

Shoulder straps of the military personnel of the Russian army in ascending order

For starters - shoulder straps of military ranks in ascending order. Click on the picture to enlarge!

In the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, two types of ranks have been established for persons undergoing military service - military and naval. In ancient Rus', the presence of insignia and certain military units that were formed on an ongoing basis was completely excluded. The division of the then still pitiful semblance of a standing army into separate formations took place in accordance with the number of soldiers who were in one formation or another. The principle was as follows: ten soldiers - a unit called the "ten" headed by the "ten". Further all in the same spirit.

The history of the emergence of military ranks in Russia

Under Ivan the Terrible, and later under Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, this system underwent some changes: archery hundreds appeared, and military ranks appeared in them. At that time, the hierarchy of ranks was the following list:

Sagittarius
foreman
Pentecostal
centurion
head

Of course, between all of the above ranks and the ranks that currently exist, the following analogy can be drawn: a foreman is a warrior who in our time performs the duties of a sergeant, or a foreman, a Pentecostal is a lieutenant, and a centurion, respectively, is a captain.

After a certain amount of time, already during the reign of Peter the Great, the hierarchical system of ranks was again transformed to the following:

soldier
corporal
ensign
lieutenant called lieutenant
captain (captain)
quartermaster
major
lieutenant colonel
colonel

The year 1654 became an outstanding year in the history of the formation of military ranks in Russia. It was then that for the first time in the history of Russia the rank of general was awarded. Alexander Ulyanovich Leslie, the head of the operation to capture and liberate Smolensk, became its first owner.

Categories of military ranks in the Russian army

One of the largest political events of the 20th century that took place in Russia, namely the October Revolution of 1917, was the last stage on the path to the formation of an established system of military ranks, which has not undergone any changes for a whole century.

Military ranks

Private. One of the first, considered the lowest military rank of the armed forces of the Russian Federation.
Corporal. A title that is awarded to military personnel who are part of the armed forces of the Russian Federation for any military distinction.

Major.
Lieutenant colonel.
Colonel.

Ship ranks

Ship ranks can simply be listed in order of seniority (from lowest to highest) due to full compliance with the land equivalent:

Sailor, senior sailor.
Foreman of the 2nd (second) article, foreman of the 1st (first) article, chief foreman, chief ship foreman - representatives of a group of military personnel belonging to sergeants and foremen.
Midshipman, senior midshipman - military personnel of the group of ensigns and midshipmen.
Junior lieutenant, lieutenant, senior lieutenant, lieutenant commander - a group of military personnel representing junior officers.
Captain of the 3rd (third) rank, captain of the 2nd (second) rank, captain of the 1st (first) rank - representatives of senior officers.
Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral, Admiral, Admiral of the Fleet - representatives of the highest officers, respectively.

As with military ranks, the highest military rank for the Navy is Marshal of the Russian Federation.

What is quite remarkable is that naval and military military ranks are also assigned to the following formations: the power structures of the Russian Federation - the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, etc., as well as water border formations that ensure security near the coastal borders.

Colors and types of shoulder straps

Now let's turn to shoulder straps. With them, unlike titles, things are somewhat more complicated.

Shoulder straps are usually distinguished according to the following criteria:

the color of the shoulder strap itself (different depending on the military structure);
the order of location of the distinctive signs on shoulder straps (also depending on a particular military structure);
the color of the decals themselves on shoulder straps (by analogy with the points above).

There is another important criterion - the form of clothing. Accordingly, the army does not have the richest selection of clothing that is permitted by the charter. More precisely, there are only three of them: everyday uniform, field and full dress.

Shoulder straps of non-officers

Let's start with a description of the everyday uniform and the shoulder straps attached to it:

The casual uniform of a non-officer includes epaulettes with two narrow strips along the edges of the longitudinal part. Such shoulder straps can be seen on the shoulders of privates, sergeants, as well as ensigns. All these images are presented above in the sections of military and ship ranks.

Shoulder straps of officers

Shoulder straps of everyday uniforms for officers are divided into three more subspecies:

Shoulder straps for the everyday uniform of junior officers: they have only one strip running in the center along the shoulder strap itself.
Shoulder straps for the everyday uniform of senior officers: they flaunt two longitudinal stripes, also located in the center.
Shoulder straps for the everyday uniform of senior officers: they differ sharply from each of the previous types in that they have a special fabric relief over the entire area of the shoulder strap. The edges are framed by one narrow strip. A distinctive sign is also the stars, following strictly in one row.
It is impossible not to put into a separate group the Marshal of the Russian Federation and the type of shoulder straps corresponding to his everyday form: they also have a special fabric relief, which was mentioned in the paragraph above, but they differ radically in color. If the shoulder straps in each of the previous paragraphs were a rectangle of dark green color, then these same ones are distinguished by their immediately conspicuous and quite corresponding to the high-profile title of their wearer in golden color.

An interesting fact is that on February 22, 2013, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin signed a decree that one star with a diameter of 40 mm instead of 4 stars in one line as before would be flaunted on the shoulder straps of generals of the army and admirals of the fleet of the Russian Federation. The corresponding image is shown above.

Field uniform for non-officers: shoulder straps are a regular rectangle, camouflaged as a summer taiga with a transverse (or longitudinal) stripe.
Field uniform of junior officers: stars of relatively small sizes serve as a distinctive sign.
The field uniform of senior officers: a major, a lieutenant colonel have one and two large stars on their shoulder straps, respectively, a colonel has three.
Field uniform of senior officers: all persons with ranks in accordance with the previously announced composition have exactly the same structure (dark green stars, following strictly in a row), but different in the number of distinctive signs of shoulder straps. As well as in everyday uniforms, the Army General and Marshal of the Russian Federation are distinguished by large stars.

In more detail these features can be seen in the picture:

Far from immediately, the clothes of military personnel became comfortable and practical. Initially, beauty was valued more in her than the qualities mentioned a little earlier. Fortunately, under Alexander III (third), the understanding came that rich uniforms were too expensive. It was then that practicality and convenience began to be considered the primary value.

In certain periods of time, the soldier's uniform resembled ordinary peasant attire. Even in the conditions of the already existing Red Army, little attention was paid to the fact that there was no uniform military uniform. The only distinguishing mark of all the soldiers was a red bandage on the sleeves and headdresses.

Even shoulder straps managed to be replaced for some time with ordinary triangles and squares, and only in 1943 they were returned as distinctive signs.

By the way, to this day, the military personnel of the Russian Federation wear a uniform that was developed by the well-known fashion designer V. Yudashkin in 2010.

If you have read the article in full and you are interested in testing your knowledge, then we suggest taking the test -

Perhaps, in your student years, a military training teacher told you about the various ranks that are used in our army, but it is unlikely that you absorbed this information with the same eagerness with which you furiously “neighed” in class, smoked in the school yard or pulled pigtails of girls from their class.

Nevertheless, knowledge about this subject should be in the head of every man, so that he, without hesitation, understands who is the “real major”, and who is the “ensign Shmatko”, military ranks in the Russian army.

Categories of rank in the army of the Russian Federation

There are two main groups of ranks in the troops of the Russian Federation:

ship (refer to those who serve at sea);
military (go to representatives of the ground troops).

Ship ranks

Navy (both under water and over water). The marine uniform has always been to the face of men. No wonder girls like sailors so much!
military naval units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It sounds unusual, but there are police officers at sea.
protection of the coastal (Border) service of the Russian FSB.

They are not chasing unscrupulous fishermen who caught a couple of buckets of carp without permission. Their direct responsibility is the capture of illegal immigrants and other criminals on the water frontiers of the country.

Military ranks

It is not so easy to see sea captains in snow-white uniforms on the streets of cities, especially if there is no sea nearby. But this is no reason to be upset!

Ranks are also given in:

Armed Forces.
Ministry of Internal Affairs (servicemen from the category "policemen" or district police officers).
Ministry of Emergency Situations (dared men rescuing people in trouble).

Vadim, an EMERCOM worker from Khmelnitsky, says that many people imagine the EMERCOM workers as real rescue heroes who live all day long as if in a thriller. Unfortunately, this is not entirely true. The life of the Ministry of Emergency Situations consists of daily visits by some priests in order to carry out explanatory work, otherwise they will inadvertently burn the church and everyone who came there. Rescuers also remove cats from trees, teach old women how to heat the stove so as not to die from carbon monoxide. But employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations still positively evaluate their work. This is facilitated by titles, uniforms and social benefits.

foreign intelligence service (Yes, yes! Imagine - new Stirlitz!);
and other military units of our country.

Rank table

In order to make the description of the ranks not so boring, we decided to present information about them like a cheat sheet (military and ship ranks located on the same line are analogues):


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

Shoulder straps

Soldiers and sailors. There are no insignia on shoulder straps.
Sergeants and foremen. Badges are used as insignia. Warriors have long called them "snot".
Ensigns and midshipmen. Cross-sewn stars are used as insignia. Shoulder straps are reminiscent of officer's, but without stripes. Also, there may be edges.
Junior officers. There is a vertical clearance and metal stars (13 mm).
Senior officers. Two stripes and large metal stars (20 mm).
Senior officer corps. Large embroidered stars (22 mm) located vertically; lack of stripes.
General of the Army, Admiral of the Navy. A large star with a diameter of 40 mm, not metal, but embroidered.
Marshal of the Russian Federation. One very large star (40 mm) is embroidered on the chase. Silver rays diverge in a circle - the shape of a pentagon is obtained. The pattern of the coat of arms of Russia is also noticeable.

Of course, when reading the text, many people find it difficult to imagine the appearance of shoulder straps. Therefore, especially for them, there is a picture in which all of the above is clearly shown.

Shoulder straps of non-officers

Shoulder straps of officers

Marshal of the Russian Federation is the highest rank in the ground forces, but there is also a person above him who can give him orders (even command him to take a prone emphasis). This person is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, who is also the President of the Russian Federation. Remarkably, the title of Supreme Commander is classified as a position, not a military rank.
Vladimir Putin, who now works in this position, left the Federal Security Service as a colonel. Now, while in his position, he gives out commands to the military, who have ranks that he has never reached in his entire career.
Both naval and ground forces are subordinate to the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation. Therefore, admiral is the highest rank in the hierarchy of the Navy.
Capitalizing the names of officials of the RF Armed Forces in order to show respect to seasoned servicemen is a completely unnecessary thing. All ranks from private to admiral are capitalized.
The prefix "guard" adds a special prestige to how this or that rank sounds. Not everyone is destined to receive it, but only those. who serves in the guards regiments.
Servicemen who have retired from military affairs and calmly dig potatoes in their country house do not lose their rank, but continue to wear it with the prefix “in reserve” or “retired”.

Not holding back laughter, a military pensioner from Kharkov, Alexander, says that the colonel, whether he is retired or in reserve, will instill fear in any traffic cop who slows him down on the road for violating traffic rules. A hundred sweats will come down from the guy while he pretends to scold the violator, and then completely release the colonel without a fine. So, the title always helps in life.

Army doctors are also given special ranks. For example, "major of the medical service." Lawyers have a similar situation - "Captain of Justice".

George Clooney from ER, of course, is far away, but it still sounds decent!

Having just embarked on this path and entered the university, young guys become cadets. For now, they can only dream of how they will receive their first rank, and then one of the highest. There is another group of students. They are called listeners. These are those who have already received a military rank.
While there is a one-year military service, you can become a sergeant at most. Not higher.
Since 2012, the ranks of the chief ship foreman and foreman have been abolished. Formally, they exist, but in reality, servicemen receive the following ranks, bypassing these ranks.
We all know that a major is higher than a lieutenant, but for some reason this logic was not taken into account when ranking generals. A lieutenant general is higher in rank than a major general. Here is such a system in the armed forces of the Russian Federation.
To get a new rank in the Russian troops, you need to have a certain length of service and personal achievements. Before assigning the next rank to a candidate, the commanders judge the soldier's moral character and skills in combat and political training. The table below describes the length of service requirements required to advance from one rank to another:

Rank	Job title
Private	All those who have just been called up for service, all lower positions (gunner, driver, gun crew number, driver, sapper, reconnaissance officer, radio operator, etc.)
corporal	There are no full-time corporal posts. The title is given to soldiers in the lowest positions, with a high level of training.
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 a high level of training. Sometimes they work in lower officer positions when there is a shortage of officers
Ensign	Platoon commander. This rank is usually awarded when there is an acute shortage of officers after completing an accelerated officer training 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