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Russian Military RanksModern Russian military ranks trace their roots to Table of Ranks established by Peter the Great. Most of the rank names were borrowed from existing German, French, Swedish, Polish and English ranks upon the formation of Russian regular army in 1600s. The rulers of the Kievan Rus entities had no standing army besides permanent group of personal guards, druzhina (дружина); members of the unit were called druzhinnik (дружинник). In case of emergency, a militia was volunteered from the peasants and druzhina served as a core of the troops. The respective knyaz served as the military leader of the troops. Thus, there were no need in permanent ranks or postitions and they were created randomly, based on curent taks. Upon the formation of Strelets troops, the low-level commanding officers were apointed one of the following ranks: - strelets (стрелец), a basic soldier;
- desyatnik (десятник, 'of ten men'), acting as sergeant/corporal;
- sotnik (сотник, 'of hundred men'), acting as captain.
These were not personal ranks and were retained only as long as the officer held the position. For battles, the troops were organized unto temporary high-level units, usually polk (полк, Old Slavonic for group of troops), a regiment commanded by golova (голова, head) or voevoda (воевода); these commanding positions were not permanent and did not sustain after the battle. The cossack cavalry units had their own ranks of kazak (козак), yesaul (есаул) and ataman (атаман); they were not comparative to the strelets ranks. Upon the formation of standing regiments (prikaz, later polk), new ranks were inserted in between of the existing grades: pyatidesyatnik (пятидесятник, of fifty men) acting as lieutenant, golova (head) acting as colonel of the regiment (also, tysyatskiy (тысяцкий, 'of thousand men'). Later, a polugolova (полуголова) rank was introduced; eventually golova was partially replaced with polkovnik (полковник, regimental commander), and polugolova was renamed podpolkovnik (sub-polkovnik). As usual, voevoda was simply a commander of a large military group and not a rank of any kind. At the same time, the companies of foreign mercenaries were formed; these incorporated foreign ranks of Lieutenant and Rittmeister. They were later changed into New Regiments of the Streltsy Troops and more Western ranks were adopted, including General. Finally, by 1680 the ranks of the New Regiments were unified with Strelets Troops. | Category | Foreign regiments | Streltsy | Equivalent Western rank | | Privates | Soldat (солдат), soldier), Reiter (рейтар), Dragoon (драгун) | Strelets (стрелец) | Private | | Line officers, low grade | Kapral (капрал) | Desyatnik (десятник) | Corporal | | Podpraporshchik (подпрапорщик, a rank of sub-praporshchik) | . | Sergeant | | Line officers, middle grade | Praporshchik (прапорщик, Flag Officer basing on Old Slavonic prapor (прапор), flag) | - | Master Sergeant/Ensign | | Leytenant, Poruchik (лейтенант, поручик; the latter is based on Polish porucznik, a rank similiar to Lieutenant) | Pyatidesyatnik (пятидесятник) | Lieutenant | | Kapitan, Rotmistr (капитан, ротмистр; the latter is adaptation of German Rittmeister) | Sotnik (сотник) | Captain | | Line officers, high grade | Mayor (майор, Major) | - | Major | | Podpolkovknik, also polupolkovnik (подполковник, полуполковник, a sub-polkovnik) | Polugolova, also pyatisotenny golova (полуголова, пятисотенный голова) | Lieutenant Colonel | | Polkovnik (полковник, from Russian polk for regiment) | Polkovnik, also golova (полковник, голова) | Colonel | | Generals | General-Mayor (генерал-майор) | - | Major General | | General-Poruchik (генерал-поручик) | - | Lieutenant General | During the beginning of 1700s, military ranks were frequently changed by the tsar during efforts to reform the army and create a strong Navy. These many changes were routinely documented into Army's Rules of Engagement since 1716, until they were finally incorporated into the first variant of Table of Ranks in 1722. Comparing to Strelets Troops, a few more non-commisioned ranks were added, the soldier rank was replaced with many speciality ranks and a few more General ranks were added. The naval ranks were created from the scratch. The officers were styled according to their rank as defined by the Table. 1731-1798 By 1731, the ranks of both enlisted staff and commissioned/non-commissioned officers were somewhat settled; these ranks survived until the Russian Revolution with only minor adjustements. Captain-Poruchik rank is comparable to Lieutenant Captain. Note that Poruchik can sometimes be styled as Poru't'chik, as it was originally written by the tsar. Comissioned officers of artillery, engineers enjoyed a handicap of 1 grade, and the Leib Guard enjoyed a handicap of 2 grades. Ground Forces> | rade | Category | Army | Cavalry (since 1731) | Artillery | | |rowspan=4|Generals | General-Fieldmarshal (Генерал-фельдмаршал) | none | none | | I | General en Chief (Генерал-аншеф) | General of the Cavalry (Генерал от кавалерии) | General Feldzeugmeister (Генерал-фельдцейхмейстер) | | II | colspan=3|Poruchik General (Генерал-поручик) | | V | colspan=3|Major General (Генерал-майор) | | |rowspan=4|Staff Officers |colspan=2|Brigadier (Бригадир) (until 1798) |Colonel (Полковник) | | I | colspan=2|Colonel (Полковник) | Sub-Colonel (Подполковник) | | II | colspan=2|Sub-Colonel (Подполковник) | Major (Майор) | | owspan=2|VIII | colspan=2|Premier Major, Second Major (Премьер-майор, секунд-майор) | - | | owspan=7|Ober-Officers | colspan=2| - | Captain (Капитан) | | X | Captain (Капитан) | Rittmeister (Ротмистр) | Captain-Poruchik (Капитан-поручик) (until 1731 and since 1765) | | |colspan=2|Captain-Poruchik (Капитан-поручик) (until 1731) |Poruchik | | I | colspan=2|Poruchik (Поручик) (since 1765) | Sub-Poruchik (Подпоручик) (since 1765) | | II | colspan=2|Poruchik (Поручик); Sub-Poruchik (Подпоручик) since 1765 | Sub-Poruchik (Подпоручик) (until 1765) | | III | colspan=2|Sub-Poruchik (Подпоручик) (until 1765) | Bayonet-Junker (Штык-юнкер); Praporshchik since 1765 | | IV | Praporshchik/Fhnrich (Прапорщик/фенрих) | Cornet (Корнет) | - | | owspan=6 colspan=2|Under-Officers | colspan=3| Senior Sergeant (Старший сержант); Feldwebel (Фельдфебель) since 1765 | | olspan=3| Junior Sergeant (Младший сержант); Sergeant (Сержант) since 1765 | | olspan=3|Sub-Praporshchik (Подпрапорщик) | | olspan=3|Kaptenarmus (Каптенармус) | | olspan=3|Fourier (Фурьер) | | olspan=3|Corporal (Капрал) | | owspan=2 colspan=2|Privates | Musketeer, Fusilier, Grenadier etc. (Мушкетёр, фузилёр, гренадёр и т.д.) | Dragoon, Hussar, Cuirassier, Cossack etc. (Драгун, гусар, кирасир, казак и т.д.) | Cannoneer, Sapper, Pioneer, Miner etc. (Канонир, сапёр, пионер, минёр и т.д.) | Naval Forces> | rade | Category | Rank | | |rowspan=4|Admirals | General Admiral (Генерал-адмирал) | | I | Admiral (Вице-адмирал) | | II | Vice Admiral (Вице-адмирал) | | V | Schout-bij-nacht (Шаутбейнахт);Counter Admiral since 1724 (Контр-адмирал) | | |rowspan=4|Staff Officers |Captain-Commander (until 1826) (Капитан-командор); Captain of Brigadier rank (1764-1798) (Капитан брагадирского ранга) | | I | Captain, 1st rank (Капитан 1-го ранга) | | II | Captain, 2nd rank (Капитан 2-го ранга) | | III | Poruchik (Поручик); Captain-Poruchik since 1764 (Капитан-поручик) | | X | rowspan=6|Ober-Officers | Poruchik (since 1764) | | | | | I | Ship Secretary (Корабельный секретарь) (until 1764) | | II | Midshipman (Мичман) (since 1764) | | III | Midshipman (Мичман) (1758-1864) | | IV | | | owspan=3 colspan=2|Under-Officers | Skipper, Sturmann (Шкипер, штурман) | | a href="/encyclopedia/Unteroffizier" title="Unteroffizier">Unteroffizier (Унтер-офицер) | | a href="/encyclopedia/Bootsmann" title="Bootsmann">Bootsmann (Боцман) Bootsmannsmaat (Боцманмат) | | owspan=2 colspan=2|Privates | Matrose, 1st rank (Матрос 1-й статьи) | | atrose, 2nd rank (Матрос 2-й статьи) | 1798-1884 In 1798-1884 timeline, the General ranks were streamlined and a Brigadier was abolished. The Captain-Poruchik rank was reestablished again, this time as Stabbs-Captain. Courious Second Major and Premier Major ranks were united. In 1826, Russian Army adopted shoulder insignia and distinct Cossack cavalry ranks. 1884-1917 In 1884, a Major and Captain-Lieutenant ranks were abolished again and the ranks below were shifted several grades up. The latter was not reintroduced until 1909. The October Revolution of 1917 cancelled the privileges of Russian nobility (Dvoryanstvo). The Table of Ranks was abolished and so were the personal military ranks. The army and the navy has returned to a system of positional ranks that were acronymized from full position name. For example, komdiv was an acronym of Division Commander, likewise kombat was Battalion Commander, etc. These acronyms survided as informal position names to the current day. The personal ranks were not reintroduced until 1935, and General ranks were restored in May [insignia]-was-reintroduced-in-title="1940. The ranks were based on Russian Empire military ranks, although they underwent some modifications; the modified Imperial rank [insignia] was reintroduced in 1940" title="[1943">1940">[1943">1940. The ranks were based on Russian Empire military ranks, although they underwent some modifications; the modified Imperial rank [insignia] was reintroduced in 1970s, the non-commisioned officers serving under contract and holding Starshina (Master Sergeant) rank were reassigned to newly-created Praporshchik rank (not to be confused with similarly named Russian Empire rank of commissioned officers); starshina was reserved for draftsmen only. The independent Russia inherited the ranks of the Soviet Union, although the insignia and uniform was altered a little. The following is a table of Ground Force, Air Force and Naval ranks of the Military of Russia. Russian version is given first, followed by its English transliteration, then by its English translation. Ground Force ranks are used by: - 1. Ground Forces.
- 2. Air Force.
- 3. Airborn Assault troops (Independent Core).
- 4. Space Troops (Independent Core).
- 5. Strategic missile troops (Independent Core).
- 6. Police, Internal troops - [http://www.mvd.ru under Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD).
- 7. Federal Security Service (FSB), Border Guard service of FSB.
- 8. Civil Defense troops, Fire Rescue service - under Ministry of Civil Defense And Emergency Situations.
- 9. Naval Infantry (Marine Corps), vatious shore services of the navy.
Deck (Navy) ranks are used by: - 1. Navy
- 2. Maritime units of the Border Guard Service of FSB.
| ank Level | Ground forces / Air force | Navy | | rowspan=5 | Supreme Officers | Маршал Российской Федерации Marshal Rossiyskoy Federatsii Marshal of Russian Federation | No equivalent rank | | #1043;енерал армии General armii General of the Army | Адмирал флота Admiral flota Admiral of the Fleet | | #1043;енерал-полковник General-polkovnik Colonel General | Адмирал Admiral Admiral | | #1043;енерал-лейтенант General-leytenant Lieutenant General | Вице-адмирал Vitse-admiral Vice Admiral | | #1043;енерал-майор General-mayor Major General | Контр-адмирал Kontr-admiral Rear Admiral | | rowspan = 3 | Senior Officers | Полковник Polkovnik Colonel | Капитан первого ранга Kapitan pervogo ranga Captain of the 1st rank | | #1055;одполковник Podpolkovnik Lieutenant Colonel | Капитан второго ранга Kapitan vtorogo ranga Captain of the 2nd rank | | #1052;айор Mayor Major | Капитан третьего ранга Kapitan tretyego ranga Captain of the 3rd rank | | rowspan=4 | Junior Officers | Капитан Kapitan Captain | Капитан-лейтенант Kapitan-leytenant Captain-Lieutenant | | #1057;тарший лейтенант Starshy leytenant Senior Lieutenant | Старший лейтенант Starshy leytenant Senior Lieutenant | | #1051;ейтенант Leytenant Lieutenant | Лейтенант Leytenant Lieutenant | | #1052;ладший лейтенант Mladshy leytenant Junior Lieutenant | Младший лейтенант Mladshy leytenant Junior Lieutenant | | rowspan = 2 | Warrant Officers | Старший прапорщик Starshy praporshchik Senior Warrant Officer | Старший мичман Starshy michman Senior Warrant Officer | | #1055;рапорщик Praporshchik Warrant Officer | Мичман Michman Warrant Officer | | rowspan = 4 | Sergeants and Petty Officers | Старшина Starshina Master Sergeant | Главный корабельный старшина Glavny korabelny starshina Senior Chief Petty Officer | | #1057;тарший сержант Starshy serzhant Senior Sergeant | Главный старшина Glavny starshina Chief Petty Officer | | #1057;ержант Serzhant Sergeant | Старшина первой статьи Starshina pervoy statyi Petty Officer 1st Class | | #1052;ладший сержант Mladshy serzhant Junior Sergeant | Старшина второй статьи Starshina vtoroy statyi Petty Officer 2nd Class | | rowspan=2 | Soldiers and seamen | Ефрейтор Yefreytor Senior Private | Старший матрос Starshy matros Senior Seaman | | #1056;ядовой Ryadovoy Private | Матрос Matros Seaman |
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