Who is an ensign in the army. Understanding military ranks

Ensign(from the church-slav. prapor "banner") - a military rank (rank, category) in the armed forces and other "power" structures of some states.

Russian empire

Ensigns

In the Russian army, by decree of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in 1649 for the first time ensigns standard-bearers began to be called, appointed from among the most courageous warriors, physically strong and proven in battles.

Peter I, creating a regular army, introduced a military rank in 1712 ensign as the first (junior) rank of chief officer in the infantry and cavalry. military rank « ensign » , in the infantry of the Russian army, in the period from 1712 to 1796, corresponded to the rank of bayonet-junker in artillery.

Since 1884, the first officer rank for graduates of military schools was a second lieutenant (cornet - in the cavalry), but the rank ensign how the first officer rank was retained in the Caucasian militia for wartime as well; and also for reserve ensigns. In addition, the rank of ensign was assigned to the lower ranks, promoted to officers for military distinctions.

According to the Provisional Regulations on Ensigns of the Infantry and Cavalry Reserve of 1886 lower ranks, enjoying the benefits of education of the 1st category in accordance with the Military Regulations of 1874, had the opportunity to voluntarily pass the exam for the rank of ensign. Subsequently, the Provisional Regulations of 1886 were extended to other types of troops. Those who passed the exam for the rank of ensign were in the reserve for 12 years and were required to undergo six weeks of military training, which had been held annually since 1893. By order of the military department of 1895 No. 171, this exam was established as mandatory for all conscripts who enjoy the benefits of education of the 1st category. After the issuance of the Order of the military department of 1899 No. 104 for six-week military training, they also began to call on the reserve lower ranks from among the volunteers corresponding to the educational qualification of the 1st category, who at these training camps had to take exams for the rank of ensign.

In 1905, for the first time, they were called up for a two-month military training in the reserve. lower ranks, corresponding to the educational qualification of the 2nd category, who voluntarily expressed a desire to serve these fees in order to pass the exam for the rank of ensign.

On October 8, 1912, Emperor Nicholas II adopted the Regulations on accelerated graduations during the mobilization of the army from His Imperial Majesty's Corps of Pages, military and special schools, according to which in wartime the terms of training officers in military schools were reduced to 8 months, graduates of such accelerated courses received the rank ensign.

Prior to the mobilization of 1914, officers were all those who held officer positions in the army and navy or were enrolled in the reserve or retired after service, there were still warrant officers in the reserve. After the outbreak of the First World War, the deployment of troops, on the one hand, and huge losses in the officer corps, on the other, required many hasty graduations from military schools, and then from ensign schools.

Until 1917 rank ensign assigned to persons who completed an accelerated course of military schools or schools ensigns and passed exams in a specific program. In wartime, it was also allowed to confer the title ensign for military distinctions (without an exam) to non-commissioned officers who had a higher or secondary education. Usually ensigns were appointed platoon commanders and to their respective positions.

After the October Revolution of 1917, in a number of white armies, the rank « ensign » was abolished, however, all ensigns who voluntarily arrived in the ranks of the armies wore it for some time before being promoted to second lieutenants.

In some white armies, such as, for example, the People's Army of Komuch and the Siberian Army of the Siberian Republic, on the contrary, the rank of ensign was left, but completely different sleeves were introduced for him. insignia .

Ensigns

Ensign- military rank, until 1907 the highest non-commissioned officer rank in Russia, in rank above the sergeant major and below the ensign (in 1907−1917 below the ordinary ensign). Corresponds to the modern title foreman .

The position of ensign appeared in the Russian Streltsy army shortly after the appearance of warrant officers proper - junior chief officers who were initially responsible in battle for the movement and preservation of the banner (ensign). Due to the high responsibility of the task being performed, the most intelligent officers were appointed as assistants to the ensign, which led to the fact that ensigns began to be considered the most senior among non-commissioned officers.

In Russia in the 17th-20th centuries, a warrant officer was one of the non-commissioned officer ranks:

from 1826 until the introduction of the rank of warrant officer in 1907 - the highest non-commissioned officer rank

· in 1880−1903 the title of graduates of the infantry cadet schools before they were awarded an officer's rank;

· in 1906−1917 the title of non-commissioned officers.

It should be borne in mind that since 1826, in the guard (in the so-called "old guard"), ensigns were equal to army lieutenants, but did not belong to the corresponding class of the Table of Ranks, in contrast to the sergeants and sergeants of the guards who were previously older than them. Since 1843, in legal terms, junkers have been equated with ensigns and the same insignia - shoulder straps, sheathed along the edge with a narrow gold galloon. Sub-ensigns assigned to act as officers (plutong commanders, etc.) wore a sword belt and an officer's lanyard on edged weapons, and until 1907 were called ensigns, although contrary to popular belief, this was not a separate rank or position at that time. According to the status of the harness-ensign was almost equal to the harness-junker.

Zauryad Ensigns

Zauriad ensign- from 1907 to 1917 in the Russian army, the highest military rank for non-commissioned officers. The insignia for ordinary ensigns were established shoulder straps ensign with a large (larger officer) asterisk in the upper third of the epaulette 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.

Until 1907, contrary to a common misconception, the rank of ensign did not exist, as well as the position, so called ensigns who acted as officers and, in their legal status, were equated with ensigns, but for some reason did not wear an officer's sword.

Zauryad warrant officers had an officer's uniform, but without epaulets and with special distinctions on shoulder straps; they received allowances according to the officer's position; they had disciplinary power on an equal footing with junior officers, and they themselves were subject to penalties established for officers. During demobilization, all warrant officers, not excluding those who had not completed their mandatory terms of active service, were given the opportunity to take advantage of the transfer to the reserve, or - having an educational qualification and not having passed the age of 28 - enter cadet schools to acquire the right to be promoted to officers, or enter the sergeant major positions in the troops. In the latter case, they retained their rank and uniform, and at the same time acquired the right to the maintenance and benefits assigned to super-enlisted sergeant majors.

the USSR

In 1917−1946. in Red, then until 1972 in the Soviet army ranks ensign or similar did not exist.

Rank in the Armed Forces of the USSR ensign introduced on January 1, 1972 (simultaneously with the rank of midshipman, Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of November 18, 1971).

Since January 12, 1981 in the Soviet Army, coastal units and aviation Navy, border and internal troops of the USSR Armed Forces introduced a military rank Senior Warrant Officer(simultaneously with the introduction to Navy USSR ranks senior midshipman ).

the Russian Federation

Story

In the modern Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (AF of Russia), the rank of pre-revolutionary ensign corresponds to the rank Ensign .

Modern Russian warrant officers (and midshipmen) are a separate category of military personnel. According to their official position, duties and rights, they occupy a place close to junior officers, they are their closest assistants and superiors for soldiers (sailors) and sergeants (foremen) of one unit with them.

Since the beginning of 2009, the phased liquidation of the institute of ensigns and midshipmen in the RF Armed Forces has begun. It was assumed that warrant officers would be replaced by professional contract sergeants, the federal target program for the training of which had already been approved.

“The institute of ensigns, which amounted to 142 thousand people, was liquidated in the army,” assured the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, General of the Army Nikolai Makarov. “We had 142 thousand ensigns. As of December 1, 2009, none remained.” Approximately 20 thousand warrant officers who were in command positions were appointed, the rest were fired or moved to the positions of sergeants.

According to the assumption, since December 2010, in January-March, persons in the rank of ensign or Senior Warrant Officer, and those who had not yet expired the contract served in the previous rank with the preservation of the rank and insignia.

At the same time, the abolition of the institution of ensigns did not affect the Internal Troops MIA, Border Guard Service, FSB , FSO, Troops Ministry of Emergency Situations and other military formations other than the Russian Ministry of Defense, in addition, there is a special rank in law enforcement agencies ensign .

In army jargon, the ensign was called "piece", midshipman - "chest".

On February 27, 2013, at the expanded board of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the Minister of Defense of Russia S. Shoigu announced the return of the institute of ensigns and warrant officers to the Russian Armed Forces.

On July 1, the Ministry of Defense put into effect a new staffing table, in which, for the first time in five years, special positions for ensigns and midshipmen appeared. According to the head of the Main Directorate of Personnel (GUK) of the Ministry of Defense, Colonel-General Viktor Goremykin, about 100 positions have been allocated for warrant officers and midshipmen, among which only combat ones - "no warehouses, no bases" was the main requirement of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. These positions are broadly classified into commander's (commander maintenance platoon, commander combat group, combat vehicle, combat post) and technical (company technician, head of a radio station, electrician, paramedic, head of a repair shop, head of a technical unit, etc.). From December 1, 2008, these positions were considered sergeants. State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense Nikolai Pankov said that the positions of ensigns require special education, but "do not reach" the officers.

Heroes of Russia

In modern Russia, there are many warrant officers of the Russian Ministry of Defense and MIA Russia was awarded the high title of Hero of the Russian Federation.

Barinov Sergey Mikhailovich - policeman-driver

Garmash Artyom Vladimirovich - sniper mobile special forces

Dneprovsky Andrey Vladimirovich - commander machine gun grenade platoon

Katunkin Artyom Viktorovich - employee of the special forces unit

Kozlov Oleg Anatolyevich - sniper Tereshkin Oleg Viktorovich - deputy platoon commander of a special forces detachment

Shantsev Sergey Vladimirovich - deputy commander of the reconnaissance group

In art

Two traditions of the image of ensigns can be distinguished. Leo Tolstoy in the stories "Raid" and "Sevastopol in August" shows ensigns as young, talented officers. In both stories ensigns are dying. On the contrary, Chekhov (the story "Abolished!") Depicts the hero- ensign petty and vain.

Starting from 1914−1915. in Russia there is a different perception of the word « ensign » . Since during the First World War, accelerated courses of military schools and schools ensigns about 220,000 people graduated, the concept « ensign » often became a derisive designation of a narrow-minded, poorly educated officer from the “lower classes”. Ditties appeared: “I used to be a janitor, everyone called Volodya, and now I ensign- your honor! In connection with the haste of military educational and military training, they were jokingly defined by the words: “A chicken is not a bird, ensign- not an officer.

In army folklore of the Soviet and post-Soviet period ensign, as a rule, is a narrow-minded, rude, thieving type, serving in a position related to the management of material values and actively appropriating and selling these values. Such a stereotype is often reflected in art and the media, for example, in the series "Soldiers" - the images of ensigns Anatoly Danilovich Danilyuk and Oleg Nikolaevich Shmatko (even whose last name contains an allusion to a contemptuous nickname: " shmat" in Ukrainian means "piece"). For the sake of justice, it is worth noting that in the same series, the elder ensign Zhanna Semyonovna Topalova is shown as an honest and kind woman who fought in "hot spots". Also featured in the series ensign Sokolov, who was a private in the first season, who is shown as an intelligent person, but with a too soft character.

Satirically evil, practically, mockingly ensign brightly represented in the humorous television series “Caution, modern! 2" and "Beware, Zadov!" ( ensign Vasily Petrovich Zadov performed by Dmitry Nagiev). The same example is the "wild ensign" Kazakov from the film "DMB" (the role is played by Sergei Artsibashev).

Shown differently ensign in the most popular Soviet feature films "In the Zone of Special Attention" and "Return Move", one of the main characters of which is the guard ensign airborne troops Volentyr, personifying a combination of all the positive qualities of a real military man and being the complete opposite of the characters of the above-mentioned modern series on an army theme. He educates by his personal example Private the composition of the military service and, being older and wiser in life, helps in the professional and personal development of a young officer who has just come from a military school (in which most future officers entered after graduation, having passed military service in the armed forces).

In a similar form, but with a more tragic accent, the images of ensigns in the films "Checkpoint" ( ensign Ilyich) and "9th company" ( ensign Dygalo). Without denying the positive qualities of a military man, these images demonstrate a man, a fighter who took the brunt of the war in "hot spots" and sacrificed all possible personal prospects and the future of his loved ones (family, career and just civilian life) to this cause.

A positive image of an ensign in the post-Soviet period is also shown in the TV series "Special Forces" on the example of special forces warrant officers Khrustalev (call sign "Khrust"), Shakhmametyev (call sign "Shah") and Kobrin (call sign "Serpent") (the roles are played by Igor Lifanov, Andrey Zibrov and Alexander spout). The complete opposite in the series are ensigns Funtasov and Agaptsev (appear in the series "Broken Arrow")

In Ancient Russia, there were no military ranks, and commanders were named according to the number of soldiers in their subordination - ten's manager, centurion, thousand's manager. We found out when and how majors, captains and generalissimos appeared in the Russian and other armies.

Ensign

Ensigns in the Russian army were originally called standard bearers. From the Church Slavonic language "prapor" - a banner. The title was first introduced in 1649 by decree of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. The high rank of ensign Russian soldiers had to earn with their courage and military prowess.

The son of Alexei Mikhailovich, Peter I, when creating a regular army in 1712, 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 a second lieutenant (for cavalrymen - a cornet), while the rank of ensign was retained by reserve officers, in the Caucasian police and for wartime. In addition, the rank of ensign could be received by soldiers who distinguished themselves during the battle.
Since 1886, the lower ranks could take the exam for ensign. Candidates who passed the exam were in the reserve for 12 years and had to undergo six weeks of military training annually.

In the autumn 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 it was possible to become an ensign after 8 months of training. Thus, the ensigns became, as it were, "early officers", which affected the attitude towards them in the Russian Imperial Army.

From 1917 to January 1, 1972, the rank of ensign did not exist. In terms of status, the "new warrant officers" were higher than the foreman and lower than the junior lieutenant. In comparison with the pre-revolutionary ranks, the Soviet ensign was equal to the sub-ensign of the tsarist army.
Since 2009, the institute of ensigns has been liquidated, but in February 2013, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the return of the institutes of ensigns and midshipmen to the army and navy.

In Yelistratov's Dictionary of Russian Argo, it is noted that ensigns are called "pieces" in army jargon.

Sergeant

The word "sergeant" came into Russian from French (sergent), and into French from Latin (serviens). It translates as "employee".

The first sergeants appeared in the 11th century in England. Only then was it called not the military, but the landowners who performed 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 that, 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 Pavel 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 sergeants was that not regular military men, but conscripts became sergeants, which, according to the plan of the Soviet military leadership, increases the mobilization qualities of the army. This approach paid off - in December 1979, in 2 weeks, a large grouping of troops was formed to enter Afghanistan (50 thousand soldiers, sergeants and officers).

Absolutely excellent system of sergeants in the US Army. According to 2010 data, there sergeants make up about 40% of the total number of the Armed Forces. Of the more than 1,371,000 US Army personnel, 547,000 are American NCOs. Of these: 241,500 are sergeants, 168,000 are staff sergeants, 100,000 are class 1 sergeants, 26,900 are master sergeants, 10,600 are sergeant majors.

A sergeant in the US Army is the first after God for soldiers and second lieutenants. The sergeants train them and take patronage over them.

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 persons in command who held the positions of deputy commanders of detachments, after that they were deputy commanders of companies, in the navy they were called deputy captains of ships. From the second half of the 17th 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 in the imperial fleet. In the USSR, the rank of lieutenant was introduced on September 22, 1935 as the primary officer rank obtained at the end of a military school or at the end of a military department in civilian universities. The rank of lieutenant is awarded to junior lieutenants after the expiration of the established period of service with a positive attestation.

Captain

"Captain" and "kaput" are words of the same root. In Latin, caput means head. Captain translates as "commander".

For the first time, the title of "captain" was used again in France, in the Middle Ages the heads of military districts were called that. From 1558, company commanders began to be called captains, and the heads of military districts began to be called captain-generals.

In Russia, the rank of captain appeared in the 16th century. So they began to call company commanders. In the cavalry and dragoon regiments and the gendarme corps, since 1882, the captain was called the captain, and in the Cossack regiments - the captain.

Until 1917, the rank of army infantry captain was equal to the rank of a modern army major, the rank of captain of the guard 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 ranks 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 (combatr).

Major

Major translates as "senior". Che Guevara is also a major, since in Spanish-speaking countries the rank of commandant is equal to major.

The title appeared in the 17th century. This was the name of the assistants to the regiment commander responsible for food and guard. When the regiments were divided into battalions, the majors became battalion commanders.

In the Russian amia, the rank of major was introduced by Peter I in 1698. By analogy with major generals of that time, majors received not one star, as they do now, but two. The difference between the ranks was in the fringe on the epaulettes. For major generals, she had a general, twisted, for majors - a staff officer, made of thin threads.

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 the governor A.S. Shein for successful operations 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.

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, the highest military rank "Generalissimo of the Soviet Union" was introduced by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. The next day, Joseph Stalin received this title. According to Rokossovsky's memoirs, he personally persuaded Stalin to accept the rank, saying that "there are many marshals, but only one generalissimo."

Most people who are not related to the army have a very vague idea about ensigns, which has developed on the basis of watching television series or once heard anecdotes. For them, an ensign is, at best, an enterprising businessman in uniform who, on occasion, “will not miss his own”, and at worst, a kind of stupid drinker.

But in fact, everything is quite different.

Ensign: the meaning of the word

The history of the word "ensign" goes back to the Church Slavonic language, in which the banner was called the "ensign". Therefore, an ensign is a person carrying a banner. But the word "banner" comes from the lexeme "know". Other words, such as “meaning”, “familiar”, also came from him. Therefore, the banner is an attribute elevated to the level of a symbol, by which the belonging of a military unit, its “face” was determined. Going into battle, the standard-bearer was always ahead of the advancing army, carrying a banner. Moreover, in the event of the loss of the battle banner, the military unit to which it belonged was disbanded with disgrace. Therefore, the most courageous and strong people, both physically and morally, were selected for such an honorable mission.

Ensign as a military rank

The military rank of ensign was first introduced in 1649 by the second of the tsars of the Romanov dynasty, Alexei Mikhailovich. Moreover, this title was an award, which had to be earned on the battlefield with one's valor, dedication and courage. But Peter I, the son of Alexei Mikhailovich, who succeeded him on the royal throne, when creating his new regular army, transformed the rank of ensign into a military rank in 1712. Now the youngest of the officer ranks in the infantry and cavalry has become so called.

In 1884, things changed again. The title of "ensign" ceased to be the first among officers. In the active army, he was replaced by a "second lieutenant" ("cornet" in the cavalry). However, as an officer rank, he was retained for the reserve military and the Caucasian police. Also, the title of "ensign" could be assigned to soldiers who particularly distinguished themselves during the hostilities.

Since 1886, junior military ranks had the opportunity to get the rank of ensign by passing special exams, but after that, already being in the “reserve”, they had to take one and a half months every year.

The next changes with the possibility of obtaining a rank occurred during the reign of Nicholas II. In 1912, the monarch approved a provision that allowed the assignment of the rank of ensign to cadets of military and special schools in the event of their accelerated release (after 8 months of training) in connection with mobilization into the army.

Thus, during the war of 1914-1918, "early" ensigns formed the basis of the command staff, leading small units or machine-gun crews.

55 years without ensigns

With the coming to power of the Bolsheviks (1917), the military rank of ensign was abolished, as, indeed, all other military ranks. Interestingly, the first Supreme Commander of the Red Army after the 17th year was N.V. Krylenko, who under Nicholas II was just an ensign.

For 55 years, the Soviet army existed without the institution of ensigns, and only on January 1, 1972, by order of the USSR Ministry of Defense, this title returned to the country. The military department considered that the positions occupied by foremen and junior lieutenants could be occupied by a separate category of military personnel - ensigns (midshipmen in the navy). Thus, it turned out that the ensign is a separate type of military personnel who are neither soldiers nor officers, but at the same time clearly marked the border between them.

Another attempt to get rid of ensigns

In December 2008, Anatoly Serdyukov, who at that time was the Minister of Defense, again decided to liquidate the institution of ensigns, hoping that they could be replaced by contract sergeants with higher education. At the same time, he dismissed from the ranks of the Russian Armed Forces about 140,000 military men with the rank of "ensign". But Sergei Shoigu, who replaced Serdyukov in April 2013, reversed this decision.

However, especially for warrant officers, the staffing table was revised with the special wish of the new MO - "no warehouses and bases."

New staffing for ensigns

Designed specifically for ensigns (midshipmen), the new one included about a hundred positions, all of which were classified as "combat". They are generally divided into two groups:

Commander (commanders: platoons, battle groups, combat post, vehicles).
Technical (electrician, head of a radio station, head of a repair workshop, head of a technical unit, etc.).

That is, all the posts that Serdyukov decided to make sergeants from December 1, while absolutely not taking into account the fact that they require special secondary vocational education. The Ministry of Defense, under the leadership of Shoigu, corrected this by giving positions for the sergeant staff, which correspond to their prof. training (commander of a squad, combat vehicle, deputy commander of a platoon, etc.).

But even without warehouses still not done. The position of "warehouse manager" for warrant officers still remained, only now it concerned exclusively military warehouses - weapons. As for clothing and food, it was decided to give them to the service of civilian specialists.

How to get the rank of ensign in the army

Currently, there are 13 ensign schools in Russia, where specialists are trained for the armed forces. Therefore, to get the title of "ensign" in the army, you can use the following methods:

Join the army for military service. There, having shown himself on a good side, apply with a written request to the command of the unit to send ensigns to study at the school. But there is one caveat. As a rule, the command considers the reports of only those military personnel who have already served more than half of the prescribed term.
If the military service is already behind him, and the reserve soldier has a desire to re-enlist in the army under the contract, then he can immediately declare his desire to enter the ensign school without first being sent to
After the conclusion of the contract, submit a report on the desire to study at the ensign school directly to the commander of your unit.

Also, at some universities, admission of cadets is allowed, who, even without having completed the conscription service, but at the same time having enrolled and studied at the university under the program of secondary special education, graduate with the rank of ensign. Thus, the Academy of the Strategic Missile Forces trains drivers for mobile missile systems, as it is planned to completely eliminate the use of non-commissioned officers in this position.

Terms of study at the ensign school

The terms of study at the school directly depend on the military specialty that the cadet has chosen. They can be 5-10 months if the cadet has already completed military service and already has a specialized specialty.

In the case of starting training "from scratch" (a cadet enrolled without military service or does not have a specialized military specialty), the period can be up to 2 years and 10 months.

Upon graduation from the school of ensigns, military personnel enter into a contract with the Ministry of Defense for a period of at least 5 years.

Ensign today

In modern realities, the prevailing stereotypes about ensigns as warehouse managers have become irrelevant.

Today, an ensign is a "techie" who is in charge of complex military equipment and communications. He manages the transport carrying the launchers, takes up combat duty together with the officers.

The ensign in the modern Russian army has turned from a supply manager into a real military specialist.

The position of ensign appeared in the Russian Streltsy army shortly after the appearance of warrant officers proper - 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 being performed, the most intelligent "low" officers were appointed as assistants to the ensign, which led to the fact that ensigns began to be considered the most senior among non-commissioned officers. In the campaign, it was they, and not ensigns, who carried the banner of the unit.

Sub-ensign (belt-ensign) of the 33rd Staro-Ingermanland Regiment, standard junker 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, a sub-ensign is one of the non-commissioned officer ranks, first introduced by the Decree "On Military Ranks" in 1680 for all regiments - archery, soldiers and reiters, in status higher than a corporal and lower than an ensign. In 1698-1716, before the adoption of the Petrine Military Regulations, the ensign was lower in status than the captain and higher than the sergeant. In 1716-1722, before the adoption of the Table of Ranks, the ensign was higher in status than a corporal and lower than a captain, then until 1765 - above 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 ensign was abolished and restored only in 1884, although it was retained as an optional rank for students of educational institutions of the guard, equal to the rank of cadet, until 1859. In the life campaign in 1741-1761, ensigns belonged to the VIII class of the Table along with the furiers and vice sergeants, that is, they were equated with captain-lieutenants of the guard.

Lieutenant of the Reiter regiments. 1680s.

Lieutenant Dudnikov. Portrait by V. A. Poyarkov.

In the portrait of the full St. George Dudnikov, on the shoulder straps of a lieutenant, the sergeant-major's insignia sewn on top are clearly visible.
Since 1716, in accordance with the Charter of Peter the Great, ensigns were entrusted with the duty of commanding the stragglers on the march and supervising the sick and wounded on the march. Ensigns of Russian origin received 13 rubles of annual salary. Ensigns from foreigners were paid 72 rubles each. In 1731, this difference was eliminated, and 72 rubles a year were paid to all ensigns. From 1800 to 1826, after the abolition of the rank of sergeant, the lieutenant occupied a position between the junior non-commissioned officer and the sergeant major, and from 1826 until the introduction in 1907 of the rank of an ordinary warrant officer, the ensign becomes the most senior of the non-commissioned officer ranks, taking a position above the sergeant major and below ensign. The reason for this movement 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 terms of reference of ensigns and the requirements for the level of their military and general education have changed several times. 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 - it automatically produced persons who had a complete classical secondary education and, as a result, the right to be promoted to chief officer. Before the introduction of the system of cadet schools, students of higher military educational institutions were made ensigns. Moreover, in those days, even the epaulette of a lieutenant was the same as the epaulette of a junker. It was an ordinary soldier's epaulette, sheathed along the side edges and the upper edge with a narrow gold galloon. In 1880-1903, cadets who graduated from infantry cadet schools were automatically promoted to ensigns before they were awarded the first chief officer rank. Until 1880 and since 1903, junkers were issued as lieutenants to the troops from most military educational institutions, who did not show even minimal success in their studies or who committed some particularly discrediting misconduct, and therefore released in the 3rd category (i.e., not made at the time of graduation to senior officers), they could not be further promoted to sword-belt ensigns or ensigns, they could not serve the rank of ensign, but retained the right to be promoted immediately to second lieutenants, subject to long-term impeccable service and successful passing of exams in the ensign training program stock. In practice, such proceedings usually took place in the third year of service, and examinations were taken quite formally.

Lieutenant of the 10th Novoingermanland Infantry Regiment Grigory Selinchuk, March 1916.

After the assignment of platoon commanders to the regular category of chief officers, only assistant platoon commanders began to produce ensigns. Since 1907, the title was awarded exclusively to extra-conscripts. Their epaulettes acquired a hexagonal shape, like those of officers. On the chase, the ensigns had a longitudinal stripe of a harness galloon 5/8 inches wide in color according to the regiment's instrument metal. In addition to this patch, they wore transverse patches for their position. Two stripes - for the positions of a separated non-commissioned officer, three stripes - for the positions of a platoon non-commissioned officer, one wide - for the positions of a sergeant major. In other positions, ensigns did not have transverse stripes. The salary of a lieutenant in 1913 was 28.5 rubles per month in the first three years of service and 33.5 rubles in the next. For the passage of the first two years of service, the ensign received a 150-ruble lump-sum allowance, and for 10 years of continuous service - a lump-sum allowance of a thousand rubles.

It should be borne in mind that since 1826 in the guard (in the so-called "old guard") ensigns were equal to army 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 as senior. Since 1843, in legal terms, junkers have been equated with ensigns and the same insignia has been established for them - epaulets trimmed along the edge with a narrow gold galloon. Sub-ensigns (usually from the nobility) appointed to act as officers (commanders of separate units, etc.) wore a belt with a chief officer galloon and an officer's lanyard on edged weapons, and until 1907 were called sword-ensigns or, in the absence of grounds for subsequent promotion to chief officer - warrant officer (until 1884), although, contrary to common misconception, this was not a separate rank or position at that time. According to the status of the harness-ensign was equal to the harness-junker. Despite the general similarity to the point of indistinguishability of the status of the sword-belt ensign and the ordinary ensign until 1907, the fundamental difference between them was that the sword-ensign under no circumstances could wear an officer's uniform and insignia, was not titled "your honor", i.e. e. remained precisely a non-commissioned officer, albeit performing chief officer duties.

In the event that a non-commissioned officer was promoted to lieutenant for distinction or as a candidate for production to chief officer, he wore non-commissioned officer insignia on his previous rank (sergeant major or senior, separated non-commissioned officer) on the pursuit of a lieutenant over a galloon.

The epaulette of a lieutenant in the position of sergeant major. 2nd Siberian Rifle Adjutant General Count Muravyov-Amursky Regiment.

Since 1801, non-commissioned officers from the nobility, who served at least three years in the rank, received the right to be promoted to ensign upon retirement. Other non-commissioned officers, upon dismissal on indefinite leave or resignation, could be encouraged by the assignment of the next rank. In practice, non-commissioned officers were most often promoted to ensigns or conductors. The position of the guards ensigns was special - even without being promoted to the guards, ensigns could retire with an “army rank” or enter the civil service. At the same time, for example, until 1859, a lieutenant of the guard could retire or be transferred to the army as an army lieutenant. For the cavalry, such practice in the production of cornets was allowed only on condition that they passed the exam in the training program for cavalry junkers.

According to the statute of the insignia of the Military Order (St. George's Cross) of 1913, any military personnel awarded with his 1st degree were automatically made into ensigns (of course, in those branches of service and units where this title existed), and those awarded with the 2nd degree were made in ensigns upon retirement or in the reserve. With the outbreak of the First World War, this rule began to be systematically violated.

On November 23, 1917, the rank of ensign was abolished, like all other ranks, ranks and titles.

It was not possible to replace warrant officers, who were “liquidated as a class” in the Russian army in 2009, with junior officers and contract sergeants. Then, under the previous Minister of Defense, 142,000 positions of military personnel of this category were gradually reduced in the Armed Forces. They were asked to either change shoulder straps with longitudinally spaced stars to sergeant's "badges", or quit. But already on February 27, 2013, the Minister of Defense, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, returned warrant officers to the army - with the only caveat that "no warehouses, no bases." Only combat and technical positions in the troops.

Story question

In the Russian army, ensigns began to be called banner bearers (from the Church Slavonic “ensign” - banner) in 1649. The most experienced and physically strong warriors were selected in their ranks. As the first junior officer rank, the rank of warrant officer in the regular army was introduced by Peter I in 1712. In one form or another, this title lasted until 1917, but by that time, due to the accelerated graduation of military schools, the promotion of lower rank officers from the reserve during the First World War (then about 220 thousand people received shoulder straps) the title of "ensign" luster and meaning lost. In most cases, real officers from ensigns did not work out.

In the Soviet army, the title of "ensign" (in the navy - "midshipman") was revived in 1972. In 1981, for personnel growth and incentives in military service, the rank of “senior warrant officer” was introduced (in the Navy - “senior midshipman”): a third was added to two stars plus an increase in official salary. However, ensigns and warrant officers in the military environment immediately received offensive nicknames. In the army - a "piece", and in the navy - a "chest". This was due to the fact that in many cases these servicemen occupied the "sweet" positions of heads of warehouses, heads of canteens and other rear facilities of military infrastructure.

Such cinema

Proximity to material wealth, with a certain weakness of human nature, explains why ensigns soon became the main characters in army jokes, and then in soldier's "creativity": "Here they sat in warehouses, glorious parasites of Russia ... folklore, and from it - to the cinema. The most “famous” are Shmatko and Danilyuk from the series “Soldiers”, Zadov from the humorous television series “Beware, Zadov!”, Kazakov from the film “DMB”.

However, if we continue the theme of "ensign in art", then we can recall the positive, even heroic images of military personnel in this rank. The "Chief Ensign of the Airborne Forces" is still considered the Moldovan actor Mihai Volontir, who brilliantly played in the cult Soviet films "In the Zone of Special Attention" and "Retaliation". It was really the image of a hardened campaigner, combining all the positive qualities of a military man: both a father to soldiers and a mentor to a young officer, and a real fighter who was able to repel real criminals.

The positive image of the ensign, albeit with a tragic tinge, was realized in the films "Checkpoint" (Ilyich - Andrey Krasko), "9th Company" (Dygalo - Fedor Bondarchuk), the series "Special Forces" (Khrustalev - Igor Lifanov, Shakhmametyev - Andrey Zibrov, Kobrin - Alexander Nosik). By the way, in the same "Soldiers" actress Svetlana Permyakova embodies the image of an honest and kind ensign Zhanna Topalova, who went through "hot spots" and became the soul of the military unit team.

Backlog on perspective

Of course, all these assessments of the activities of the former institute of ensigns in our army are “lyrics”. Fortunately, now the status of the military rank "ensign" has changed dramatically and is now considered honorary and revered in the troops.

In the modern Russian army, the system for training this category of military personnel has also changed. Now they are going through a system of study practically at the level of cadets of higher military schools. And some graduates of ensign schools will even receive diplomas of higher education and a bachelor's degree after almost four years of study (to be exact: 3 years and 10 months).

In this case, we are talking only about aviation "techies", who are being trained at the 183rd training center of the Aerospace Forces (VKS) of Russia in Rostov-on-Don. It trains highly qualified specialists in the maintenance of on-board radio-electronic systems, communication and control systems of the latest aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. Each of them must have a higher education and, in the future, may receive an officer's rank in the future. This is subject to the availability of additional education and service experience in the position held.

The prospect of career growth, you see, for a military man is important. Napoleon's words that every soldier carries a marshal's baton in his knapsack have not lost their meaning even now. Today, in the Russian army, every warrant officer has the right to improve the level of his military education, become an officer and grow to high ranks and ranks.

entrust the banner

There are currently 13 ensign schools in the military training system for the Russian Armed Forces of mid-level military specialists. They are deployed in various cities of Russia, for the most part "attached" to training centers or to military schools. At the end of last year, the aforementioned “training school” for ensigns in Rostov-on-Don, which will graduate bachelors, was added to this list at the end of last year. It is likely that in the near future other schools that train specialists in technical specialties may move to a similar level of training for ensigns.

The most famous of the currently existing training systems for the training of ensigns can be called a school based on the Ryazan Higher Military Airborne Command School named after General of the Army V.F. Margelov (RVVDKU).

Initially, here, in the course of the reforms of the Russian army, courses for professional sergeants were launched. Then, instead of contractors, they began to train ensigns for the Airborne Forces, who are taught for 2 years and 10 months. Moreover, out of 17 specialties, most of the technical profile is radio communication, telecommunications, operation and repair of automotive equipment. The RVVDKU also trains junior commanders, as well as intelligence officers, who also graduate with the rank of ensign. In 2014, the first graduation took place, which sent 140 people to the troops, whose level of training was practically not inferior to that of an officer.

Now in the RVVDKU the so-called "sergeant's school", whose graduates receive the title of "ensign", even slightly exceeds the "lieutenant's school" in numbers. Yes, and competitions for admission to both streams of study are almost the same - both are high.

We summarize: the title of "ensign" in the Russian army is completely "rehabilitated". Moreover, he was returned the status of combat and technical use. This middle link, which performs high-level tasks, cannot be dispensed with.

The ensign is again, as under Peter the Great, an exemplary soldier who can be trusted to carry the banner.