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IN Ancient Rus' There were no military ranks, and commanders were named according to the number of soldiers under their command - foreman, centurion, thousand. We found out when and how majors, captains and generalissimos appeared in the Russian and other armies.
1. Ensign
Ensigns in the Russian army were originally called standard bearers. From the Church Slavonic language "prapor" is a banner. The title was first introduced in 1649 by decree of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich.
Russian soldiers had to earn the high rank of ensign with their courage and military valor. The son of Alexei Mikhailovich, Peter I, during the creation regular army in 1712 he introduced the military rank of ensign as the first (junior) rank of chief officer in the infantry and cavalry.
Since 1884, the first officer rank after leaving the military academy was second lieutenant (for cavalrymen - cornet), while the rank of ensign was retained by reserve officers, in the Caucasian militia and for wartime. In addition, soldiers who distinguished themselves during battle could receive the rank of ensign. Since 1886, lower ranks could take the ensign exam.
Candidates who passed the exam were in the reserve for 12 years and annually had to undergo six weeks of military training. In the fall of 1912, Nicholas II approved the Regulations on accelerated graduation during the mobilization of the army from His Imperial Majesty's Corps of Pages, military and special schools. Now you could become a warrant officer after 8 months of training.
Thus, warrant officers became, as it were, “precocious officers,” which affected the attitude towards them in the Russian Imperial Army. From 1917 to January 1, 1972, the rank of warrant officer did not exist. In terms of status, the “new warrant officers” were higher than the sergeant major and lower than the junior lieutenant. In comparison with pre-revolutionary ranks, Soviet ensign was equal to a second ensign in the tsarist army. Since 2009, the institution of warrant officers has been liquidated, but in February 2013, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the return of the institutions of warrant officers and midshipmen to the army and navy. Elistratov’s “Dictionary of Russian Argot” notes that in army jargon, warrant officers are called “pieces.”
2. Sergeant
The word "sergeant" came into Russian from French (sergent), and into French from Latin (serviens). Translated as "employee". The first sergeants appeared in the 11th century in England. Only then they called it not the military, but the landowners who carried out various assignments for the king. In the 12th century, sergeants in England were also called employees who performed police functions. As a military rank, "sergeant" appeared only in the 15th century, in the French army. After this it passed into the German and English armies, and in the 17th century - into the Russian one. The rank was in use from 1716 to 1798, when Paul the First replaced the ranks of sergeant and senior sergeant with non-commissioned officer and sergeant major, respectively. In the Red Army, the rank of “sergeant” appeared on November 2, 1940.
The peculiarity of the Soviet sergeant corps was that sergeants were not career military personnel, but conscripts, which, according to the plan of the Soviet military leadership, increased the mobilization qualities of the army. This approach paid off - in December 1979, in 2 weeks, a large group of troops was formed to enter Afghanistan (50 thousand soldiers, sergeants and officers). Absolutely excellent sergeant system in the US Army. According to 2010 data, sergeants there make up about 40% of the total number of the Armed Forces. Of the more than 1,371,000 members of the US Army, 547 thousand are American sergeants. Of these: 241,500 are sergeants, 168,000 are staff sergeants, 100,000 are 1st class sergeants, 26,900 are master sergeants, 10,600 are sergeant majors. A sergeant in the US Army is first after God for soldiers and second lieutenants. Sergeants train them and take charge of them.
3. Lieutenant
The word "lieutenant" comes from the French lieutenant, which translates as "deputy". At the beginning of the 15th century in France, this was the name given to the commanding officers who held the positions of deputy chiefs of detachments, then - deputy commanders of companies; in the navy, this was the name given to deputy captains of ships. From the second half XVII century, "lieutenant" became a military rank.
In Spain of the 15th-16th centuries, the same position was called "lugar teniente" or simply "teniente". In Russia from 1701 to 1917 the rank of lieutenant was only at imperial fleet. In the USSR, the rank of lieutenant was introduced on September 22, 1935 as a primary officer rank, received upon graduation from a military school or upon completion of a military department in civilian universities. Junior lieutenants are awarded the rank of lieutenant after deadline length of service with positive certification.
4. Captain
“Captain” and “kaput” are words with the same root. In Latin caput means head. Captain is translated as "military leader". For the first time, the title “captain” began to be used again in France; in the Middle Ages, this was the name given to the heads of military districts. Since 1558, company commanders began to be called captains, and the heads of military districts began to be called captains general.
In Russia, the rank of captain appeared in the 16th century. This is how company commanders began to be called. In the cavalry and dragoon regiments and gendarme corps since 1882, the captain was called a captain, and in the Cossack regiments - an esaul. Until 1917, the rank of army infantry captain was equal to the rank of a modern army major, and the rank of guard captain was equal to the rank of army lieutenant colonel. In the Red Army, the rank of captain was introduced on September 22, 1935. At the same time, the ranks of captain of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd rank and captain-lieutenant (the latter corresponds to the rank of captain) were introduced for the naval personnel of the Navy. In artillery, the rank of captain corresponds to the position of battery commander (battler commander).
5. Major
Major is translated as "senior". Che Guevara is also a major, since in Spanish-speaking countries the rank of comandante is equal to major. The title appeared in the 17th century. This was the name given to the assistant regiment commanders responsible for food and guard duties. When regiments were divided into battalions, majors became battalion commanders. In the Russian army, the rank of major was introduced by Peter I in 1698. By analogy with the major generals of that time, majors received not one star, as now, but two. The difference between the ranks was the fringe on the epaulettes.
For major generals it was a general's one, twisted, for majors it was a staff officer's one, made of thin threads. From 1716 to 1797, the Russian army also had the ranks of prime major and second major. The division was abolished by Paul the First. IN Cossack troops The rank of major corresponded to the rank of “military sergeant major,” and in civil ranks it corresponded to “collegiate assessor.”
In 1884, the rank of major was abolished, and majors became lieutenant colonels. In the Red Army, the rank of major was introduced in 1935; in the navy it corresponded to the ship rank of captain of the 3rd rank. Interesting fact: Yuri Gagarin became the first senior lieutenant to become a major.
6. General and above
“General” means “chief,” but “marshal” translates as “groom” (the French maréchal still means “horseshoe blacksmith”). However, until 1917, marshal was the highest military rank in the Russian army, and after that, from the same 1935. But besides marshals and generals, there are also generalissimos. For the first time in Russian history, the title “Generalissimo” was granted on June 28, 1696 by Peter I to governor A.S. Shein for successful actions near Azov (we are not talking about “amusing generalissimos”).
Officially, the military rank of generalissimo was introduced in Russia by the Military Regulations of 1716.
The generalissimos in Russian history were: Prince Alexander Menshikov (1727), Prince Anton Ulrich of Brunswick (1740), Alexander Suvorov (1799). After the Great Patriotic War, on June 26, 1945, by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the highest military rank of “Generalissimo” was introduced Soviet Union". The next day, Joseph Stalin received this title. According to Rokossovsky’s memoirs, he personally persuaded Stalin to accept the title, saying that “there are many marshals, but there is only one generalissimo.” During the Brezhnev rule, there was talk about Leonid Ilyich receiving this too high rank, but... it didn’t work out.
7. Wash the stars
It is customary to wash the receipt of stars. And not only in Russia. It is difficult to establish where exactly this tradition came from today, but it is known that titles were washed during the Great Patriotic War, washed up promotions military service and in the army Russian Empire. The tradition is well known.
The stars are placed in a glass, it is filled with vodka, after which it is drunk, and the stars are caught with the teeth and placed on the shoulder straps.
WARRANT OFFICER, warrant officer, husband. (from church slav. ensign banner) (pre-Rev.). In the tsarist army, the officer rank was the first in wartime (cf. second lieutenant). Wartime ensign. Reserve ensign. Dictionary Ushakova. D.N. Ushakov. 1935... ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary
Junior officer rank in the Russian army from the 17th century. (since 1884 only for reserve personnel and in wartime) and in the navy (since 1896, for reserve personnel). Military rank in the Soviet Armed Forces (since 1972), and some other armies. In 1981 in the Soviet Armed Forces... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
Konstapel, collar, chest, ensign, piece, cornet Dictionary of Russian synonyms. ensign noun, number of synonyms: 8 constapel (1) ... Dictionary of synonyms
Ensign, ah, husband. 1. In the Soviet Army in certain branches of the military: the military rank of persons who voluntarily serve beyond the established period, as well as the person who has this rank (in some other armies, military rank). 2. In the tsarist army: the most... ... Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary
A; m. 1. In the Russian army until 1917: the most junior officer rank; the person who held this title. P. Semenovsky regiment. School of warrant officers. ● In Russia, the rank of ensign was introduced at the beginning of the 18th century; initially ensigns were standard bearers. 2. In… … Encyclopedic Dictionary
ensign- a, m. 1) In the Russian army before 1917: the most junior officer rank, as well as the person who held this rank. There were only two officers in our company: the company commander, Captain Zaikin, and the subaltern officer, warrant officer Stebelkov... just released from... ... Popular dictionary of the Russian language
ENSIGN.- Known since the 17th century. Derived from prapor “banner”, borrowed. from Art. sl. language (originally Russian popor) and going back to the general word. *rogrog, formed by doubling the root horn, the same as in the feather, soar. Prapor literally means “fluttering”... ... Etymological dictionary Sitnikova
ensign- a, m. The most junior officer rank; person holding this title. Marya Gavrilovna was raised in French novels, and therefore was in love. The subject she chose was a poor army ensign. // Pushkin. The stories of the late Ivan... ... Dictionary of forgotten and difficult words from works of Russian literature of the 18th-19th centuries
Genus. p.a. The banner was formed from the ensigns according to the German model. Fähnrich ensign, actual standard bearer: Fahne banner, Swiss German. Venner; see Shakhmatov, Essay 154; Falk-Thorp 288 et seq.; Kluge Götze 143 … Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language by Max Vasmer
ensign- Original. Known since the 17th century. Suf. derived from ensign “banner”, borrowed. from Art. sl. language (originally Russian. Popopor). Prapor obsesslav. *porporъ, doubling the root por, the same as in the pen, soar Prapor literally “flying” (canvas on the shaft) ... Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language
Books
- Ensign of the dragon cavalry, Lantsov Mikhail Alekseevich. Viktor Orlov worthily bears the title of ensign of the border troops in the world of light elves. Should I grow wings and become an angel? No problem! Disperse the dragons with the fire of a four-barreled Shilka? Don’t...
- Ensign of the dragon cavalry, Mikhail Lantsov. Viktor Orlov worthily bears the title of ensign of the border troops in the world of light elves. Should I grow wings and become an angel? No problem! Disperse the dragons with the fire of a four-barreled Shilka? Don’t...
How to get the rank of ensign in the army Russian Federation
In order to receive the rank of warrant officer in the army of the Russian Federation, you must go through a special school for warrant officers. There are currently thirteen such schools in the Russian Federation. However, this will be possible to do only if he undergoes military service in the ranks of the armed forces of the Russian Federation. There you need to show yourself with positive side, and then contact the command of the military unit with a report on issuing a referral to the school of warrant officers. But there is one nuance here, which lies in the fact that in the overwhelming majority of cases it considers reports on the assignment of warrant officers to the school only from soldiers who have served at least half of their allotted term.
If a person has already passed conscript service in the ranks of the armed forces of the Russian Federation and he has a desire to join the army again, but on a contract basis, then he can enter the school of warrant officers immediately, that is, without receiving a referral from a specific unit.
Positions for warrant officers provided for in the Russian Federation
All positions for warrant officers that exist in the armed forces of the Russian Federation can be divided into the following groups:
- 1) command positions;
- 2) technical positions.
The command positions that are provided for warrant officers in the armed forces of the Russian Federation, in particular, include the position of platoon commander, the position of combat group commander, the position of combat post commander, and the position of vehicle commander.
As for the technical positions that are provided for warrant officers in the armed forces of the Russian Federation, these include the position of an electrician, the position of a radio station manager, the position of a repair shop manager, the position of a technical unit manager, as well as the position of a weapons warehouse manager.
Ranks and responsibilities of a warrant officer
The ranks and responsibilities of a warrant officer in the armed forces of the Russian Federation are generally not numerous. There are only two ensign ranks: simply warrant officer and senior warrant officer. Accordingly, the warrant officer is not particularly interested in promoting his rank to senior warrant officer. Length of service does not matter much to him either.
As for the duties of warrant officers in the armed forces of the Russian Federation, there are only five of them:
- 1) unquestioning adherence to absolutely all instructions of the junior officers of the armed forces of the Russian Federation;
- 2) providing assistance to junior officers of the armed forces of the Russian Federation;
- 3) participation in the liquidation of various types of emergency situations;
- 4) providing assistance to colleagues who are junior in position;
- 5) preparation for the transition to junior officers of the armed forces of the Russian Federation.
Law on warrant officers
The Law on Warrant Officers consists of the following regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation:
- 1) Regulations “On the procedure for military service,” which was adopted on September sixteen, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine;
- 2) Federal law Russian Federation “On Education”;
- 3) Federal Law of the Russian Federation “On Military Duty and Military Service”, which was adopted on March twenty-eighth, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight;
- 4) Federal Law of the Russian Federation “On the Status of Military Personnel”.
Ensign as a person
An ensign in the armed forces of the Russian Federation as a person is much more humane compared to an officer. This is explained, first of all, by the fact that he lives civil life, and the army for him, unlike officers, is not a service, but a job. In addition, almost every warrant officer in the armed forces of the Russian Federation is actually subordinate to either the deputy commander for logistics or the deputy commander for weapons. Warrant officers practically do not fall under the jurisdiction of the main command of a military unit.
Warrant officers in the armed forces of the Russian Federation also, by and large, don’t give a damn about ordinary officers. Although not in all cases. But in any case, the subordination of warrant officers to officers is only formal.
In any specialized forces of the Russian Federation, a warrant officer may also be an instructor in any specific area of military training. For example, a hand-to-hand combat instructor, a swimming instructor. But even in this case, the main qualities social behavior the ensign and his character traits continue to retain their strength. However, they can also be supplemented by such a quality as ideological fanaticism, which is explained by the specific nature of the work performed by the ensign. This makes the ensign even less sensitive to his social position.
Thus, a warrant officer in the armed forces of the Russian Federation feels very at ease. That is, he is his own commander. One could even say that, as a person, the warrant officer represents a separate psychological and social type of serviceman.
Important! For all questions about warrant officers in the ranks of the Russian armed forces, if you don’t know what to do and where to contact:
Call 8-800-777-32-63.
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Lawyers and advocates who are registered on Russian Legal Portal, will try to help you from a practical point of view in this matter and advise you on all issues of interest.
The position of ensign appeared in the Russian Streltsy army shortly after the appearance of warrant officers themselves - junior officers who were initially responsible in battle for the movement and preservation of the banner (ensign) of the Streltsy hundred. Due to the high responsibility of the task performed, the most intelligent “low” non-commissioned officers were appointed as assistants to the warrant officer, which led to the fact that lieutenant warrant officers began to be considered the most senior among non-commissioned officers. During the campaign, it was they, and not the ensigns, who carried the unit’s banner.
Sub-ensign (belt-ensign) of the 33rd Old Ingermanland Regiment, estandard cadet of the 7th Dragoon Novorossiysk Regiment and sub-ensign of the Life Guards of the Ural Cossack Squadron.
In Russia in the 17th-20th centuries, lieutenant officer is one of the non-commissioned officer ranks, first introduced by the Decree “On Military Ranks” in 1680 for all regiments - riflemen, soldiers and reiters, with a status higher than corporal and lower than ensign. In 1698-1716, before the adoption of Peter the Great's Military Regulations, a lieutenant ensign was lower in status than a captain and higher than a sergeant. In 1716-1722, before the adoption of the Table of Ranks, a lieutenant ensign was higher in status than a corporal and lower than a captain, then until 1765 - higher than a captain and below a sergeant. In 1765-1798 - above the captain and below the junior sergeant, in 1798-1826 - above the junior non-commissioned officer and below the sergeant. In the Guard, since 1838, the rank of lieutenant ensign was abolished and restored only in 1884, although it was retained as an optional rank for students educational institutions guard, equal to the rank of cadet, until 1859. In the life campaign in 1741-1761, lieutenant ensigns belonged to the VIII class of the Table together with fouriers and vice-sergeants, that is, they were equated to captain-lieutenants of the guard.
Sub-ensign of the Reiter regiments. 1680s.
Sub-ensign Dudnikov. Portrait by V. A. Poyarkov.
In the portrait of the full St. George cavalier Dudnikov, on the shoulder straps of the ensign, the sergeant major's stripes sewn on top are clearly visible.
Since 1716, in accordance with Peter the Great's Charter, ensigns were entrusted with the responsibility of commanding those lagging behind on the march and supervising the sick and wounded during the campaign. Sub-ensigns of Russian origin received an annual salary of 13 rubles. Foreigner sub-ensigns were paid 72 rubles. In 1731, this difference was eliminated, and all ensigns were paid 72 rubles a year. From 1800 to 1826, after the abolition of the rank of sergeant, the lieutenant ensign occupied a position between the junior non-commissioned officer and the sergeant major, and from 1826 until the introduction of the rank of ordinary ensign in 1907, the lieutenant officer became the most senior of the non-commissioned officer ranks, occupying a position above the sergeant major and below ensign. The reason for this move was not only the fact that, in accordance with formal logic, the ensign should be located under the ensign, but also the fact that since the abolition of the rank of sergeant, the commanders of the plutongs (platoons) were the ensigns. In general, during the 18th-19th centuries, the range of responsibilities of ensigns and the requirements for the level of their military and general educational training changed repeatedly. From the middle of the 18th century until the reform of 1826, the rank was also a kind of analogue of the rank of volunteer - persons who had a complete classical secondary education and, as a consequence, the right to be promoted to chief officer were automatically promoted to it. Before the introduction of the system of cadet schools, students of higher military educational institutions were promoted to lieutenant officers. Moreover, in those days even the shoulder straps of a lieutenant officer were the same as those of a cadet. It was an ordinary soldier's shoulder strap, trimmed along the side edges and the top edge with narrow gold braid. In 1880-1903, cadets who graduated from infantry cadet schools were automatically promoted to lieutenant ensigns before they were awarded the first chief officer rank. Until 1880 and since 1903, ensigns in the army were issued from the majority military educational institutions cadets who did not show even minimal success in their studies or who committed some particularly disgraceful offenses, and were therefore released under the 3rd category (i.e., not promoted to chief officer upon graduation), they could not subsequently be promoted to the belt- warrant officers or mediocre warrant officers could not even serve the rank of warrant officer, but retained the right to promotion immediately to second lieutenant, subject to long, unblemished service and successful passing of exams under the reserve warrant officer training program. In practice, such proceedings usually took place in the third year of service, and the examinations were taken rather formally.
Sub-ensign of the 10th New Ingermanland Infantry Regiment Grigory Selinchuk, March 1916.
After platoon commanders were assigned to the regular category of chief officers, only assistant platoon commanders began to be promoted to lieutenant warrant officers. Since 1907, the title was awarded exclusively to long-term servicemen. Their shoulder straps acquired a hexagonal shape, like those of officers. On their shoulder straps, ensigns had a longitudinal badge made of sword belt braid 5/8 of an inch wide, in the same color as the regiment's instrument metal. In addition to this stripe, they wore transverse stripes for their position. Two stripes - for the position of a detached non-commissioned officer, three stripes - for the position of a platoon non-commissioned officer, one wide - for the position of a sergeant major. In other positions, lieutenant officers did not have transverse stripes. The salary of a lieutenant officer in 1913 was 28.5 rubles per month in the first three years of service and 33.5 rubles in the following. For completing the first two years of service, a lieutenant officer received a one-time allowance of 150 rubles, and for 10 years of continuous service - a one-time allowance of one thousand rubles.
It should be borne in mind that since 1826, in the guard (in the so-called “old guard”), second ensigns were equal to army second lieutenants, but did not belong to the corresponding class of the Table of Ranks, in contrast to the sergeants and sergeants of the guard who were previously listed above them. Since 1843, in legal terms, cadets have been equated with ensigns and identical insignia have been established for them - shoulder straps trimmed along the edge with narrow gold braid. Sub-ensigns (usually from the nobility) appointed to perform the duties of officers (commanders) individual parts etc.), wore a sword belt with a chief officer's braid and an officer's lanyard on edged weapons, and until 1907 were called sword-belt ensigns or, in the absence of grounds for subsequent promotion to chief officer, ordinary warrant officers (until 1884 ), although contrary to popular belief this was not a separate title or position at that time. In terms of status, the belt-ensign was equal to the belt-cadet. Despite the general similarity to the point of indistinguishability of the status of the sword belt-ensign and the ordinary warrant officer until 1907, the fundamental difference between them was that the sword belt-ensign could under no circumstances wear an officer’s uniform and insignia, and was not titled “your honor,” i.e. e. remained precisely a non-commissioned officer, although performing chief officer duties.
If a non-commissioned officer was promoted to lieutenant officer for distinction or as a candidate for promotion to chief officer, he wore non-commissioned officer's stripes on his shoulder straps over the braid of his previous rank (sergeant major or senior detached non-commissioned officer).
Shoulder straps for a lieutenant warrant officer for the position of sergeant major. 2nd Siberian Rifle General-Adjutant of Count Muravyov-Amursky Regiment.
Since 1801, non-commissioned officers from the nobility who had served at least three years in the rank received the right to be promoted to ensign upon retirement. Other non-commissioned officers, when placed on indefinite leave or resignation, could be encouraged to be promoted to the next rank. In practice, non-commissioned officers were most often promoted to sub-ensigns or conductors. The position of guards ensigns was special - even without being promoted to guard ensigns, they could retire with an “army rank” or enter civil service. At the same time, for example, until 1859, a guard lieutenant officer could retire or transfer to the army as an army second lieutenant. For the cavalry, such practice in the process of promotion to cornets was allowed only if they passed an exam in the training program for cavalry cadets.
According to the statute of the insignia of the Military Order (St. George's Cross) from 1913, any military personnel awarded its 1st degree were automatically promoted to lieutenant warrant officers (of course, in those branches of the military and units where this rank existed), and those awarded the 2nd degree were promoted to lieutenant warrant officers upon retirement or transfer to the reserve. With the outbreak of the First World War, this rule began to be systematically violated.
On November 23, 1917, the rank of lieutenant officer was abolished, like all other ranks, ranks and titles.
Feb. 27th, 2013 | 04:31 pm
IN Russian army 55 thousand warrant officers and midshipmen will be returned. Alexei Zhuravlev, a member of the State Duma Committee on Defense, comments on this news: “Schools for warrant officers provided the army with a category of specialists - both logistics specialists and specialists who could work on highly complex equipment. There is a catastrophic shortage of such specialists now.”
By reducing warrant officers, the ministry was counting on an increase in conscripts from higher education. There are now about 20% of such conscripts, but few of them remain to serve under contract.
The ranks of warrant officers and midshipmen were abolished in 2009 during military reform Anatoly Serdyukov, who served as head of the Ministry of Defense. Then more than 140 thousand warrant officers and midshipmen were laid off, transferred to the reserve or transferred to other positions.
Military Internet information analyst Oleg Pavlov learned everything about the rank of warrant officer.
Look at his certificate
The rank of ensign in the Russian army
The rank of ensign in the Russian army was introduced in 1630 as the primary chief officer rank for foreign regiments, and then enshrined in the Charter of 1647. The status of an ensign was higher than a corporal and lower than a lieutenant. Since 1680, by Decree of Fyodor Alekseevich, the rank was extended to all regiments, including Streltsy (where before that there was no equivalent rank), the rank became higher in status than lieutenant and lower than lieutenant.
In 1722, with the introduction of the Table of Ranks, Peter I tried to replace the rank of ensign with the rank of fendrik, but it did not take root; the rank of ensign disappeared only in the artillery and pioneer troops, where the rank of bayonet-cadet was introduced, which was listed a grade higher. Ensigns of all other branches of the military belonged to the XIV class of the Table, ensigns of the guard - to the XII class, and were titled “Your Honor.”
Until 1845, the rank of ensign was given by hereditary nobility, then until 1856 - only personal, then only hereditary honorary citizenship.
From January 1, 1827, the insignia of an ensign was one star on the chief officer's epaulette, and from April 28, 1854, an ensign's shoulder strap appeared - with one gap and one star on it.
Wartime ensign, First World War
After the reform of 1884, the rank of ensign became an optional wartime rank for the army and guard.
Since 1886, all warrant officers at the end of hostilities had to either be promoted to second lieutenant (midshipman in the navy) or be transferred to the reserve. Mass production of warrant officers took place with the beginning of the First World War to cover the loss of senior officer personnel in front-line units, and they were both trained in special schools (warrant officer schools) and were produced in an accelerated manner from volunteers and non-commissioned officers, the latter for production it was enough to have two military awards (medals or crosses) and an education of at least four classes.
Since 1907, and due to the introduction of the rank of ordinary warrant officer, warrant officers have become higher in status than ordinary warrant officers and lower than second lieutenants.
Usually warrant officers were appointed as platoon commanders and to positions equal to them. An ensign, awarded an order or an award weapon for military distinction, was subject to promotion to second lieutenant (an ensign in the Admiralty of a ship's personnel - to midshipman), but during the First World War this rule was sometimes violated, as a rule, in relation to warrant officers who were promoted from non-commissioned officers and who had no education at all.
Civil war
The junior lieutenant of the Red Army corresponded in rank to the pre-revolutionary ensign.
In the white armies, the rank was abolished in 1919. Ensigns were subject to recertification as cornets and second lieutenants, but newly recruited volunteer ensigns remained in this rank for some time.
In the Red Army, the rank of ensign corresponded to the rank of junior lieutenant, introduced in 1937 on August 5, 1937 as an addition to the resolution of the Central Executive Committee and Council of People's Commissars of the USSR of September 22, 1935 on the introduction of military ranks.
The rank of ensign in the Soviet and Russian armies
In 1917-1972 in the Red Army, then in the Soviet Army until 1972, the rank called ensign did not exist. It was introduced on January 1, 1972. At the same time, the rank of midshipman was equated to him, which previously corresponded to a land sergeant major and had the corresponding shoulder strap. The former midshipman began to be called the chief ship's foreman. In terms of their official position, duties and rights, warrant officers occupied a place close to junior officers, being their closest assistants and superiors for soldiers (sailors) and sergeants (foremen) of the same unit. In this period, the status of an ensign was higher than that of a sergeant major and lower than that of a junior lieutenant. Since 1981, the higher rank of senior warrant officer was introduced, corresponding to the pre-revolutionary mediocre warrant officer. The military rank of ensign was awarded, as a rule, upon completion of ensign schools.
Since the beginning of 2009, the elimination of the regular category of warrant officers and midshipmen in armed forces Russian Federation. It was assumed that warrant officers and midshipmen would be replaced by professional contract sergeants. At that time, 140 thousand warrant officers and midshipmen were serving in the army and navy. By the end of 2009, all of them were transferred to other positions, laid off or transferred to the reserve.