The rank of ensign in the Russian army was introduced in 1630 as the primary chief officer rank for foreign regiments, and was then enshrined in the Charter of 1647. In rank, an ensign was higher than a corporal and lower than a lieutenant. Since 1680, by decree of the then Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich, the rank of ensign was extended to all regiments, including the Streltsy, where before that an equal rank did not exist. In terms of status, the rank of ensign became higher than sub-ensign 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, and from 1884 - only hereditary honorary citizenship. In the cavalry, the rank of ensign was replaced by the rank of cornet in 1731, but was restored again in 1765 and finally abolished in 1798. In the life campaign that existed in 1741-1762, an ensign belonged to the VI class of the Table, his status was higher than a sergeant and lower than an adjutant. In other troops, the ensign was higher in status than the sergeant major (sergeant in the cavalry) and lower than the second lieutenant.
In 1765, in the artillery, bayonet cadets were recertified as ensigns from the artillery, in 1798 this rank was abolished, in 1811 the rank of ensign was returned for the artillery and pioneer troops, and assigned to the XIV class of the Table, although previously all other chief officer ranks of special troops were listed one class higher. With the formation of the “Young Guard” units in 1813, the ensigns in them were assigned to class XIII of the Table. In the company of palace grenadiers, formed in 1827, warrant officers belonged to class XI of the Table and were in status higher than sergeant majors and lower than second lieutenants, as in the entire guard. In army units, since 1826, warrant officers were higher in status than sub-ensigns (artillery conductors) and lower than second lieutenants.
Since January 1, 1827, the insignia of an ensign has been one star on the chief officer's epaulette, and since April 28, 1854, an ensign's shoulder strap has appeared. The shoulder strap had one gap, and the rank of ensign was indicated by one asterisk on this gap.
After the reform of 1884, the rank of ensign became an optional wartime rank for the army and guard, where it was restored in all units except the company of palace grenadiers. To be awarded the rank of ensign, an education of at least four years was required.
Since 1886, all warrant officers at the end of hostilities had to either be promoted to second lieutenant or midshipman, 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 and four classes at a parochial school.
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 naval personnel - to midshipman), but during the First World War this rule was occasionally violated, as a rule - in relation to ensigns who had risen from the ranks of non-commissioned officers and had no
The junior lieutenant of the Red Army in rank corresponded to the pre-revolutionary ensign of education (even elementary at the level of a two-year college or parochial school).
In the white armies, since 1919, the rank of ensign was abolished. Ensigns were subject to recertification as cornets and second lieutenants, but volunteer ensigns newly accepted into the army 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.
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. If we compare it with pre-revolutionary ranks, then the Soviet ensign was equal to the pre-revolutionary ensign (See: Table of the correspondence of military and civilian ranks of pre-revolutionary Russia to their equivalents in the armies and civil departments of the USSR and the Russian Federation). 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.
Ensign(from the Church Slavic 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 warrant officers Standard bearers began to be called, appointed from among the most courageous warriors, physically strong and battle-tested.
Peter I, creating a regular army, introduced 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 the artillery.
Since 1884, the first officer rank for graduates of military schools was second lieutenant (cornet - in the cavalry), but the rank ensign how the first officer rank was retained in the Caucasian militias for wartime; and also for reserve warrant officers. In addition, the rank of ensign was assigned to lower ranks promoted to officer for military distinction.
According to the Temporary Regulations on warrant officers of the reserve infantry and cavalry of 1886 lower ranks, enjoying benefits for education of the 1st category in accordance with the Military Regulations of 1874, had the opportunity to voluntarily take the exam for the rank of warrant officer. Subsequently, the Temporary Regulations of 1886 were extended to other branches of the military. Those who passed the exam for the rank of warrant officer were in the reserve for 12 years and were required to undergo six-week military training, which was held annually since 1893. By Order of the Military Department of 1895 No. 171, this exam was established as mandatory for all conscripts enjoying 1st category education benefits. After the publication of the Order of the Military Department of 1899 No. 104, for six-week military training they also began to call up lower ranks in the reserve from among the volunteers who met the educational qualifications of the 1st category, who at these training camps had to pass exams for the rank of warrant officer.
In 1905, those in reserve were called up for the first time for two-month military training. 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 warrant officer.
On 10/08/1912, 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 training time for officers in military schools was reduced to 8 months, graduates of such accelerated courses received the rank ensign.
Before the mobilization of 1914, officers were everyone who held officer positions in the army and navy or was enlisted in the reserve or retired after service, there were also reserve warrant officers. 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 and 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 warrant officers and have passed exams according to a certain program. In wartime, it was also possible to assign the rank ensign for military distinction (without an exam) to non-commissioned officers who had a higher or secondary education. Usually warrant officers were appointed platoon commanders and to their corresponding positions.
After the October Revolution of 1917, in a number of white armies the rank « ensign » was abolished, but all ensigns who voluntarily joined the armies wore it for some time before being promoted to second lieutenant.
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 retained, but completely different sleeves were introduced for him insignia .
Sub-ensigns
Ensign- military rank, until 1907 the highest non-commissioned officer rank in Russia, in rank above sergeant major and below warrant officer (in 1907−1917 below the average warrant officer). Corresponds to modern rank foreman .
The position of ensign appeared in the Russian Streltsy army soon after the appearance of ensigns themselves - junior chief officers who were initially responsible in battle for the movement and safety of the banner (ensign). Due to the high responsibility of the task performed, the most intelligent non-commissioned officers were appointed as assistants to the warrant officer, which led to the fact that lieutenant officers began to be considered the most senior among non-commissioned officers.
In Russia in the 17th–20th centuries, lieutenant officer is one of the non-commissioned officer ranks:
· from 1826 until the introduction of the rank of ordinary warrant officer in 1907 - the highest non-commissioned officer rank
· in 1880−1903, the rank of those who graduated from infantry cadet schools before being awarded the rank of officer;
· in 1906−1917 the rank of long-term non-commissioned officers.
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 equal to sub-ensigns and the same standards have been established for them. insignia - shoulder straps, edged with narrow gold braid. Sub-ensigns appointed to perform the duties of officers (plutong commanders, etc.) wore a sword belt and an officer's lanyard on bladed weapons, and until 1907 were called sword belts-ensigns, although contrary to popular belief this was not a separate title or position at that time. In terms of status, the belt-ensign was practically equal to the belt-cadet.
Ordinary warrant officers
Zuryad-ensign- from 1907 to 1917 in the Russian army the highest military rank for non-commissioned officers. Rank insignia for rank and file ensigns were established shoulder straps ensign with a large (larger than an officer's) star in the upper third of the shoulder strap on the line of symmetry. The rank was awarded to the most experienced long-term non-commissioned officers; with the beginning of the First World War, it began to be assigned to ensigns as an incentive, often immediately before the assignment of the first chief officer rank (ensign or cornet).
Until 1907, contrary to a common misconception, the rank of ordinary ensign did not exist, nor did the position; this was the name given to sub-ensigns who performed the duties of officers and, in their legal status, were equal to ensign sword belts, but for some reason did not wear an officer's sword belt.
The ordinary warrant officers had an officer's uniform, but without epaulettes and with special distinctions on the shoulder straps; they received allowances according to their officer position; They had disciplinary power on an equal basis with junior officers, and they themselves were subject to the penalties established for officers. Upon demobilization, all ordinary warrant officers, not excluding those who had not served their mandatory terms of active service, were given the opportunity to take advantage of transfer to the reserve, or - having an educational qualification and not having passed the age of 28 - to enter the cadet schools to acquire the right to become an officer, or enter sergeant major positions in the army. In the latter case, they retained their rank and uniform and at the same time acquired the right to maintenance and benefits assigned to long-term service sergeants.
USSR
In 1917−1946 in the Red Army, then until 1972 in the Soviet Army rank ensign or similar to it did not exist.
In the Armed Forces of the USSR the rank 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 ).
Russian Federation
Story
In the modern Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (Russian Armed Forces), the rank of pre-revolutionary ensign corresponds to the rank junior lieutenant .
Modern Russian warrant officers (and midshipmen) represent a separate category of military personnel. In terms of their official position, duties and rights, they occupy a place close to junior officers, are their closest assistants and superiors for soldiers (sailors) and sergeants (foremen) of the same unit.
Since the beginning of 2009, the gradual liquidation of the institution of warrant officers and midshipmen in the RF Armed Forces began. It was assumed that the warrant officers would be replaced by professional contract sergeants, the federal target training program for which had already been approved.
“The institution of warrant officers, which amounted to 142 thousand people, has been eliminated in the army,” assured the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Army General Nikolai Makarov. “We had 142 thousand warrant officers. As of December 1, 2009, there were none left.” Approximately 20 thousand warrant officers who held command positions were appointed, the rest were dismissed or transferred to sergeant positions.
According to assumptions, from December 2010, in January-March, persons with the rank of ensign or senior warrant officer, and those whose contract had not yet expired served in their previous rank while maintaining their rank and insignia.
At the same time, the abolition of the institution of warrant officers did not affect the Internal Troops Ministry of Internal Affairs, Border Service, FSB , FSO, Troops Ministry of Emergency Situations and other military formations other than the Russian Ministry of Defense, in addition, in law enforcement agencies there is a special rank ensign .
In army jargon, an ensign was called a “piece,” and a midshipman was called a “chest.”
On February 27, 2013, at an expanded board of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Russian Defense Minister S. Shoigu announced the return of the institution of warrant officers and midshipmen to the Russian Armed Forces.
On July 1, the Ministry of Defense introduced a new staffing table, in which for the first time in five years special positions appeared for warrant officers and midshipmen. According to the head of the Main Personnel Directorate (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 positions - “no warehouses, no bases” was the main requirement of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. These positions are generally divided into commander's (commander service platoon, commander combat group, combat vehicle, combat post) and technical (company technician, head of the radio station, electrician, paramedic, head of the repair shop, head of the technical unit, etc.). From December 1, 2008, these positions were considered sergeant positions. State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense Nikolai Pankov said that the positions of warrant officers require special education, but “do not reach” the level of officers.
Heroes of Russia
In modern Russia there are many warrant officers of the Russian Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Internal Affairs Russia was awarded the high title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
· Barinov Sergey Mikhailovich - policeman-driver
Garmash Artyom Vladimirovich - sniper mobile special forces unit
· Dneprovsky Andrey Vladimirovich - commander grenade-machine gun platoon
· Katunkin Artyom Viktorovich - employee of the special purpose 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 depicting warrant officers can be distinguished. Leo Tolstoy in his stories “The Raid” and “Sevastopol in August” shows warrant officers as young, talented officers. In both stories warrant officers are dying. On the contrary, Chekhov (the story “Abolished!”) portrays the hero- ensign petty and vain.
Since 1914−1915. in Russia there is a different perception of the word « ensign » . Since during the First World War, accelerated courses in military schools and schools warrant officers about 220,000 people graduated, the concept « ensign » often became a derisive designation for a narrow-minded, poorly educated officer from the “lower classes.” Ditties appeared: “I used to be a janitor, everyone called Volodya, but now I ensign- your honor! Due to the haste of military educational and military training, they were jokingly defined with 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 assets and actively appropriating and selling these values. A similar stereotype is often reflected in art and the media, for example, in the series “Soldiers” - the images of warrant officers Anatoly Danilovich Danilyuk and Oleg Nikolaevich Shmatko (even whose last name contains an allusion to the contemptuous nickname: “ shmat"in Ukrainian means "piece"). For the sake of fairness, it is worth noting that in the same series, Sr. 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, is shown to be an intelligent person, but with too soft a character.
Satirically evil, practically mocking ensign vividly represented in the humorous television series “Caution, Modern! 2" and "Careful, Zadov!" ( ensign Vasily Petrovich Zadov performed by Dmitry Nagiyev). The same example is the “wild ensign” Kazakov from the film “DMB” (the role is played by Sergei Artsibashev).
Shown completely 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 a guard ensign airborne troops Volentir, who personifies the combination of all the positive qualities of a real military man and is the complete opposite of the characters of the above-mentioned modern military-themed series. He teaches by his personal example private conscripts and, being older in age and worldly wiser, helps in the professional and personal development of a young officer who has just come from a military school (which most future officers entered after graduating from school, having bypassed military service in the armed forces).
In a similar form, but with a more tragic accent, the images of warrant officers are realized in the films “Checkpost” ( ensign Ilyich) and “9th company” ( ensign Dygalo). Without denying the positive qualities of a military man, these images demonstrate a person, a fighter, who took on the burden of 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.
The positive image of the warrant officer in the post-Soviet period is also shown in the series "Special Forces" using the example of special forces warrant officers Khrustalev (call sign "Khrust"), Shakhmametyev (call sign "Shah") and Kobrin (call sign "Snake") (roles played by Igor Lifanov, Andrey Zibrov and Alexander Nose). The complete opposite in the series are ensigns Funtasov and Agaptsev (appear in the series "Broken Arrow")
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 thousand military positions in this category were gradually reduced in the Armed Forces. They were asked to either change their shoulder straps with longitudinally spaced stars for sergeant's "badges" or resign. But already on February 27, 2013, Defense Minister 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, standard bearers began to be called ensigns (from the Church Slavonic “prapor” - banner) in 1649. The most experienced and physically strong warriors were selected into their ranks. As the first junior officer rank, the rank of ensign in the regular army was introduced by Peter I in 1712. In one form or another, this rank existed until 1917, but by this time, due to accelerated graduation from military schools, the promotion to officers of lower ranks from the reserve during the First World War (about 220 thousand people then received shoulder straps) was given the rank of “ensign” lost its shine and meaning. In most cases, real officers did not emerge from warrant officers.
In the Soviet army, the rank 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” (in the Navy - “senior midshipman”) was introduced: a third was added to two stars plus an increase in official salary. However, warrant officers and midshipmen immediately received offensive nicknames in the military environment. In the army it is a “piece”, and in the navy it is a “chest”. This was due to the fact that in many cases these servicemen occupied the “sweet” positions of warehouse managers, managers of canteens and other rear military infrastructure facilities.
This movie
Proximity to material wealth, coupled with a certain weakness of human nature, explains why warrant officers soon became the main characters in army jokes, and then in soldiers’ “creativity”: “Here they sat in warehouses, glorious parasites of Russia... Soon all this smoothly flowed into the folk folklore, and from it - into cinema. The most “famous” were 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 topic of “ensign in art,” then we can also recall positive, even heroic images of military personnel in this rank. The “Chief Warrant Officer 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 “Return Move.” This was truly the image of a seasoned 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 fight back against real criminals.
The positive image of the ensign, albeit with a tragic connotation, was realized in the films “Checkpost” (Ilyich - Andrey Krasko), “9th Company” (Dygalo - Fyodor Bondarchuk), the TV 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 the honest and kind warrant officer Zhanna Topalova, who went through “hot spots” and became the soul of the team of the military unit.
Backlog for perspective
Of course, all these assessments of the activities of the former institution of warrant officers in our army are “lyrics”. Fortunately, now the status of the military rank of "ensign" has changed dramatically and is now considered honorable and revered by the troops.
In the modern Russian army, the training system for this category of military personnel has also changed. Now they are undergoing a training system almost at the level of cadets at higher military schools. And some graduates of warrant officer schools will even receive, after nearly four years of study (to be precise: 3 years and 10 months), higher education diplomas and a bachelor’s degree.
In this case, we are talking only about aviation “technicians” who are trained at the 183rd training center of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) in Rostov-on-Don. It trains highly qualified specialists in servicing onboard 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 rank in the future. This is subject to additional education and service experience in the position held.
The prospect of career growth, you see, is important for a military man. 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 rise to high ranks and titles.
Trust the banner
In the system of military training for the Russian Armed Forces, mid-level military specialists currently operate 13 schools for warrant officers. They are stationed in various cities of Russia, mostly “attached” to training centers or military schools. At the end of last year, the mentioned “training” for warrant officers 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 warrant officers.
The most famous of the currently existing educational systems for training warrant officers can be called the school based on the Ryazan Higher Military Airborne Command School named after Army General V.F. Margelov (RVVDKU).
Initially, during the reforms of the Russian Army, courses for professional sergeants were launched here. Then, instead of contract soldiers, they began to train warrant officers for the Airborne Forces, who are trained for 2 years and 10 months. Moreover, of the 17 specialties, most of the technical profile is radio communications, telecommunications, operation and repair of automotive equipment. The RVVDKU trains junior commanders, as well as reconnaissance officers, who are also graduated with the rank of warrant officer. In 2014, the first graduation took place, sending 140 people into the troops, whose level of training was practically not inferior to that of an officer.
Now in the RVVDKU the so-called “sergeant school”, the graduates of which receive the rank of “warrant officer”, is even slightly larger in number than the “lieutenant school”. And the competition for admission to both streams of study is almost the same - both are high.
To summarize: the rank of “warrant officer” in the Russian army has been completely “rehabilitated.” Moreover, it was returned to the status of combat and technical use. It is impossible to do without this middle level, which performs high-level tasks.
An ensign is again, as under Peter the Great, an exemplary military man who can be trusted to carry the banner.
Ensign - from the ancient word "ensign" - banner. In Russia, this title appeared under Alexei Mikhailovich, who began to appoint the best fighters as standard bearers as a reward for bravery. Under Peter I, junior officers of the infantry and cavalry began to be called ensigns. What was the status of a warrant officer in the Soviet army?
When did the rank of ensign appear?
In 1917, as you know, officer ranks in the Russian army were abolished. Along with other ranks, the rank of ensign was also abolished. Then officer ranks appeared in the Red Army, but the ensign was never returned. The rank of "ensign" reappeared in the Soviet army in 1972. The Ministry of Defense has come to the conclusion that the positions occupied by petty officers and junior lieutenants will be occupied by a separate category of military personnel - warrant officers (midshipmen in the navy). Thus, it turned out that the ensign in the Soviet army is a separate type of military personnel, not classified as either a soldier or an officer, but at the same time clearly delineating the boundary between them.
How to become warrant officers
The military rank of ensign was awarded to a person after graduating from special ensign schools. In them, cadets were taught the basics of martial art, military psychology and pedagogy, and the necessary subjects in military disciplines. Military rank was awarded only after graduation. People with higher education could study in these schools.
What were the responsibilities of warrant officers
The figure of the ensign entered army folklore as the image of a boring and arrogant character, located exclusively somewhere in a warehouse and engaged in speculation in army property. Of course, this also happened. However, this type has little to do with the vast majority of warrant officers in the Soviet army. Warrant officers held many different positions in the army. They could indeed manage warehouses, but in addition, they could also be clerks at the headquarters, and serve in the medical unit as paramedics. There were warrant officers and company foremen.
The responsibilities of a company sergeant major are known to be very diverse. The person holding this position oversees the performance of service by ordinary soldiers and sergeants, controls order and discipline in the company, is responsible for the safety of property, including the personal belongings of soldiers, which are stored in the storeroom until demobilization, and so on. In the event of an emergency when an officer is not present, the sergeant major must take over his duties. The sergeant major is responsible to the company commander for order and discipline in the unit. He is the direct organizer of internal regulations. The sergeant major has the right to assign punishment to soldiers and demand its implementation. Thus, the warrant officer, who is the company foreman, is, in fact, the “right hand” of the officer, a person who at any moment must be ready to take on command functions.
Actually, that’s what happened. In terms of their official position, duties and rights, warrant officers occupied a place close to junior officers; they were their closest assistants and superiors for soldiers 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 “common warrant officer.” In the navy, the rank of warrant officer corresponded to the rank of midshipman.
Current situation
In 2008, the rank of “ensign” was abolished by the Minister of Defense. Apparently, the image of a thieving warehouse manager in warrant officer's uniform still played a role, overshadowing all the undoubted benefits that smart warrant officers brought to the Armed Forces. However, at present they are going to return this rank to the army, excluding, however, the management of warehouses and bases from the staffing table.
Most people who are not related to the army have a very vague idea about warrant officers, which was formed based on watching television series or once heard jokes. For them, an ensign is, at best, an enterprising businessman in uniform who, on occasion, “will not miss his opportunity,” and at worst, a kind of stupid drinker.
But in fact, everything is completely different.
Ensign: meaning of the word
The history of the word “ensign” goes back to the Church Slavonic language, in which the banner was called “ensign”. Therefore, an ensign is a person who carries the banner. But the word “banner” comes from the lexeme “to know.” Other words came from him, such as “meaning”, “familiar”. Therefore, a banner is an attribute elevated to the level of a symbol, by which the affiliation of a military unit, its “face”, was determined. When going into battle, the standard bearer was always ahead of the advancing army, carrying a banner. Moreover, in the event of the loss of a battle flag, the military unit to which it belonged was disbanded in disgrace. Therefore, the bravest and strongest 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 kings of the Romanov dynasty, Alexei Mikhailovich. Moreover, this title was a reward, which had to be earned on the battlefield with one’s valor, dedication and courage. But Peter I, the son of Alexei Mikhailovich, who replaced him on the royal throne, when creating his new regular army, transformed the rank of ensign into a military rank in 1712. Now this is the name given to the junior officer rank in the infantry and cavalry.
Changes happened again in 1884. The rank of "warrant officer" ceased to be the first among officers. In the active army, he was replaced by “second lieutenant” (“cornet” in cavalry). However, as an officer rank, it was retained for reserve military personnel and the Caucasian militia. Also, the title “ensign” could be awarded to soldiers who particularly distinguished themselves during hostilities.
Since 1886, junior military ranks had the opportunity to obtain the rank of ensign by passing special exams, but after that, already in the “reserve”, they had to undergo one and a half months annually
The next changes with the possibility of obtaining 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 graduation (after 8 months of training) in connection with mobilization into the army.
Thus, during the war of 1914-1918, “precocious” warrant officers formed the basis of the command corps leading small units or machine-gun crews.
55 years without warrant officers
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-in-Chief of the Red Army after 1917 was N.V. Krylenko, who was an ensign under Nicholas II.
For 55 years, the Soviet army existed without the institution of warrant officers, and only on January 1, 1972, by order of the USSR Ministry of Defense, this rank returned to the country. The military department considered that the positions occupied by petty officers and junior lieutenants could be filled by a separate category of military personnel - warrant officers (midshipmen in the navy). Thus, it turned out that an ensign is a separate type of military personnel who is neither a soldier nor an officer, but at the same time clearly delineates the boundary between them.
Another attempt to get rid of warrant officers
In December 2008, Anatoly Serdyukov, who at that time was the Minister of Defense, again decided to liquidate the institution of warrant officers, hoping that they could be replaced by contract sergeants with higher education. At the same time, about 140,000 military personnel with the rank of “warrant officer” were dismissed from the ranks of the Russian Armed Forces. But Sergei Shoigu, who replaced Serdyukov in April 2013, canceled this decision.
However, the staffing table was revised especially for warrant officers with the special wish of the new Ministry of Defense - “no warehouses or bases.”
New staffing table for warrant officers
Designed specifically for warrant officers (midshipmen), the new one included about a hundred positions, all of them classified as “combat.” Which were generally divided into two groups:
- Commanders (commanders: platoons, combat groups, combat posts, vehicles).
- Technical (electrician, head of a radio station, head of a repair shop, head of a technical unit, etc.).
That is, all the positions 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 assigning positions for non-commissioned officers that corresponded to their professional positions. training (squad commander, combat vehicle commander, deputy platoon commander, etc.).
But it still couldn’t do without warehouses. The position of “depot manager” for warrant officers still remained, only now it concerned exclusively military depots - weapons. As for clothing and food items, it was decided to hand them over to civilian specialists for maintenance.
How to get the rank of warrant officer in the army
Currently, there are 13 warrant officer schools in Russia, where they train specialists for the armed forces. Therefore, to obtain the rank of “warrant officer” in the army, you can use the following methods:
- Join the army for compulsory service. There, having shown yourself on the good side, make a written request to the command of the unit to be sent to study at the school of warrant officers. But there is one caveat. As a rule, the command considers reports only from those servicemen who have already served more than half of their allotted term.
- If military service is already behind you, and a reserve serviceman has a desire to re-enter the army under a contract, then he can immediately declare his desire to enter the school of warrant officers without first being sent to
- After concluding a contract, submit a report of your desire to study at the warrant officer school directly to the commander of your unit.
Also, some universities allow the admission of cadets who, even without completing conscription service, but having entered and studied at a university under a secondary specialized education program, are graduated with the rank of warrant officer. Thus, the Strategic Missile Forces Academy trains driver mechanics for mobile missile systems, since it is planned to completely eliminate the use of non-commissioned officers in this position.
Duration of training at warrant officer school
The duration of schooling directly depends on the military specialty chosen by the cadet. They can be 5-10 months if the cadet has already served his military service and already has a specialized specialty.
In the case of starting training “from scratch” (the cadet entered the study without undergoing military service or does not have a specialized military specialty), the period can reach up to 2 years 10 months.
Upon completion of the warrant officer school, military personnel enter into a contract with the Defense Ministry for a period of at least 5 years.
Ensign today
In modern realities, the existing stereotypes about warrant officers as warehouse managers have become irrelevant.
Nowadays, an ensign is a “technician” who is in charge of complex military equipment and communications equipment. He controls the transport transporting the launchers and takes up combat duty along with the officers.
The ensign in the modern Russian army has turned from a supply manager into a real military specialist.
