The rank of junior non-commissioned officer then. Non-commissioned officer: rank history

Junior officers. As a rule distinguished soldiers.
Most are former peasants, not all are literate, it is those who raised the soldiers to attack by personal example.
According to the tactics of the battle of those years, they went on the attack with a chain, with an attached bayonet, catching bullets and shrapnel with their chests. Among them are many of the Cossack families, many trained in Cossack combat, scouts with the skills of trackers, camouflage skills.
It is noticeable that they feel insecure in front of the lens, although most of them had to see enemy guns. Many have awards of St. George's crosses (the highest military award of military prowess for lower ranks and soldiers). I propose to look at these simple and honest faces.

On the left is a senior non-commissioned officer of the 8th company of the 92nd Pechora infantry regiment 23 infantry division Petrov Mikhail

Senior non-commissioned officer of the 12th Starodubovsky Dragoon Regiment (or non-commissioned officer rank rider

Vasilevsky Semyon Grigorievich (02/01/1889-?). Senior non-commissioned officer L.-Guards. 3rd Infantry E.V. Regiment. From the peasants of the Samara province, Buzuluk district, Lobazinsky volost, the village of Perevozinka. He graduated from the parochial school in the village of Perevozinka. Called for service in 1912 in the Leningrad Guards. 3rd Strelkovy E.V. regiment. In the regiment he listened to the course of the training team. Awards - St. George's Cross 4th Art. No. 82051. and St. George medal No. 508671. On the same sheet there are inscriptions in pencil “G. Cr. III Art. Presented to G. Cross. II and I degrees. Above the text is a handwritten inscription in pencil “Write down the number of crosses of the 3rd, 2nd and 1st st.” and a resolution in two lines: “Verified. / Sh-K. Ko... (inaudible)

The grenadier is the one who during the assault threw the enemy with hand grenades.
Non-commissioned officer of the 8th Grenadier Moscow Grand Duke of Mecklenburg - Schwerin Friedrich - Franz IV Regiment, in winter dress uniform of the 1913 model. The non-commissioned officer is dressed in a marching uniform with a fastened dark green collar and a yellow lapel. A non-commissioned officer galloon is sewn along the upper edge of the collar. Peacetime shoulder straps, yellow with light blue piping. On shoulder straps the monogram of the chief of the regiment of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg - Schwerin is applied. On the left side of the chest, attached to the marching uniform, a regimental badge for the lower ranks, approved in 1910. On the lapel - a sign for excellent shooting from a rifle of the 3rd degree and a medal: in memory of the 100th anniversary of the Patriotic War of 1812 on the Vladimir ribbon (1912), in memory of the 300th anniversary of the reign of the Romanov dynasty (1913) on the ribbon state colors. Approximate shooting period 1913-1914

Senior non-commissioned officer, telegraph operator, Cavalier of the St. George Cross, 4th degree.

Art. non-commissioned officer Sorokin F.F.

Glumov, senior non-commissioned officer of the Life Guards of the Finnish Regiment.

Selected military units designed to protect the person and residence of the monarch
Zhukov Ivan Vasilyevich (05/08/1889-?). Junior non-commissioned officer L.-Guards. Keksgolmsky regiment. From the peasants of the Kaluga province, Medynsky district, Nezamaevsky volost, the village of Lavinno. He studied at the parochial school in the village of Dunino. Called for military service in 1912 in the Leningrad Guards. Kexholm regiment. He served in the 5th company, and since 1913 - in the machine gun team. He was awarded the St. George medal of the 4th class, as well as two St. George's crosses of the 4th class. No. 2385, 3rd st. No. 5410, medals "In memory of the 100th anniversary Patriotic War 1812”, “In commemoration of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty” and “For labors on the mobilization of 1914”. Signs on the left side of the chest: L.-Guards. Keksholmsky regiment and “In memory of the 200th anniversary of the L.-Guards. Keksholmsky regiment.

From wealthy peasants, if he received a home education.
Stetsenko Grigory Andreevich (1891-?). Junior non-commissioned officer L.-Guards. 2nd Infantry Tsarskoye Selo Regiment. From the peasants of the Kharkov province, Kupyansky district, Svatovolutsk volost, Kovalevka farm. Home education. Called for service in the fall of 1911 in the Leningrad Guards. 2nd Tsarskoye Selo Rifle regiment. All the time he served in the L.-Guards. 2nd Rifle Regiment of Tsarskoye Selo, only at the beginning of mobilization in 1914 - he served in the Preobrazhensky Regiment for two months. Awarded with St. George's medals of the 4th class. No. 51537, 3rd st. No. 17772, 2nd st. No. 12645, 1st st. No. 5997, St. George's crosses of the 4th class. No. 32182 and 3rd Art. No. 4700, Presented to the St. George Crosses of the 2nd and 1st Art.

Efremov Andrei Ivanovich (27.11.1888-?). Junior non-commissioned officer L.-Guards. Kexholm regiment. From the peasants of the Kazan province, the Sviyazhsky district, the Shirdan volost, the village of Vizovy. Competent sailor by occupation. He was called up for military service on November 2, 1912 in the Leningrad Guards. Kexholm regiment. He has two St. George's crosses of the 4th century. No. 3767 and 3rd Art. No. 41833. On the left side of the chest, the badge of the L.-Guards. Kexholm regiment

Gusev Kharlampiy Matveyevich (02/10/1887-?). Junior non-commissioned officer of the 187th Avar Infantry Regiment. From the peasants of the Kharkov province, the Starobelsky district, the Novo-Aidar volost, the village of Novo-Aidar. Before the service - a laborer. On July 1, 1914, he was called up from the reserve and enrolled in the 187th Avar Infantry Regiment. (From recruitment, he served in the 203rd Sukhum Infantry Regiment, from which he was transferred to the reserve on November 12, 1910). In February 1916 he was enlisted in the 3rd Reserve Infantry Regiment. He was awarded the St. George Cross 4th Art. No. 414643.

Porfiry Panasyuk. He was taken prisoner by the Germans and tortured.
The Germans cut off his ear piece by piece. He said nothing, according to the press about this case.

Alexey Makukha.
On March 21 / April 3, 1915, during one of the battles in Bukovina, the Austrians managed to capture one of the Russian fortifications defended by the fighters of the Caspian regiment. During this battle, which preceded the shelling of our position by enemy artillery, almost all the defenders of the fortification were killed or wounded. Among the latter was the telephonist Alexei Makukha. Hoping to get valuable information about the location of our troops in this sector of the front from the Russian telephone operator, who had access to valuable information by the nature of his service, the Austrians took him prisoner and interrogated him. But just like Porfiry Panasyuk, Makukha refused to tell his enemies anything.

The stubbornness of the Russian telephone operator pissed off the Austrian officers, and from abuse and threats they turned to torture. One of the pre-revolutionary publications describes what happened next: “The officers threw him to the ground on his face and twisted his hands behind his back. Then one of them sat down on him, and the other, turning his head back, opened his mouth with a dagger-bayonet and, stretching out his tongue with his hand, cut him twice with this dagger. Blood gushed out of Makukha's mouth and nose...
Since the prisoner mutilated by them could no longer speak, the Austrians lost all interest in him. And soon, during a successful bayonet counterattack by the Russian troops, the Austrians were driven out of the fortification they had captured, and non-commissioned officer Alexei Makukha was again among his own. At first, the hero could not speak and eat at all? the operator's cut tongue dangled from a thin bridge, and his larynx was swollen with bruises. Makukha was hurriedly sent to the infirmary, where the doctors spent complex operation, having stitched him on a wound inflicted on 3/4 of the tongue.
When the press reported about the torments endured by the Russian telephone operator, was there no limit to the indignation of the Russian society? everyone expressed their admiration for the courage of the hero and was indignant at the atrocities committed by the representatives of the "cultured nation". The Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich, expressed personal gratitude to the hero, promoted him to junior non-commissioned officer, awarded him all the degrees of the St. George Cross and 500 rubles at once, asking the Sovereign to assign Makukha a double pension. Emperor Nicholas II supported the presentation of the Grand Duke, and a pension of 518 rubles 40 kopecks was established for the junior non-commissioned officer Makukha "as an exemption from the law" upon his dismissal from military service. in year.

Non-commissioned officer of the 10th Novgorod Dragoon Regiment. 1915

Cavalry non-commissioned officer

Vasily Petrovich Simonov, senior non-commissioned officer of the 71st Belevsky Infantry Regiment, platoon

Insignia of the ranks of the Russian Army. XVIII-XX centuries.

Shoulder straps XIX-XX centuries
(1855-1917)
non-commissioned officers

So, by 1855, non-commissioned officers, like soldiers, had soft cloth shoulder straps of a pentagonal shape 1 1/4 inches wide (5.6 cm) and shoulder-length (from the shoulder seam to the collar). The average length of the shoulder strap. ranged from 12 to 16 cm.
The lower end of the shoulder strap was sewn into the shoulder seam of the uniform or overcoat, and the upper end was fastened to a button sewn to the shoulder at the collar. Recall that since 1829 the color of the buttons is according to the color of the instrumental metal of the regiment. A number is stamped on the buttons of the infantry regiments. The state emblem was squeezed out on the buttons of the guards regiments. Describing all the changes in images, numbers and buttons within the framework of this article is simply inappropriate.

The colors of shoulder straps of all the lower ranks as a whole were determined as follows:
* Guards units - red shoulder straps without encryption,
* all grenadier regiments - yellow shoulder straps with red encryption,
* rifle units - raspberry shoulder straps with yellow encryption,
* artillery and engineering troops - red shoulder straps with yellow encryption,
* cavalry - a special color of shoulder straps is set for each regiment. There is no system here.

For infantry regiments, the color of shoulder straps was determined by the place of the division in the corps:
* The first division of the corps - red shoulder straps with yellow encryption,
* The second division in the corps - blue shoulder straps with yellow encryption,
* The third division in the corps - shoulder straps are white with red encryption.

The encryption was painted with oil paint and indicated the number of the regiment. Or it could represent the monogram of the Highest Chief of the regiment (if this monogram is in the nature of encryption, i.e. it is used instead of the regiment number). By this time, the infantry regiments received a single continuous numbering.

On February 19, 1855, it was prescribed in companies and squadrons that to this day bore the name of companies and squadrons of His Imperial Majesty, all ranks should have the monogram of Emperor Nicholas I on epaulettes and shoulder straps. However, this monogram is worn only by those ranks who served in these companies and squadrons for as of February 18, 1855 and continue to serve in them. The lower ranks newly enrolled in these companies and squadrons do not have the right to this monogram.

On February 21, 1855, the monogram of Emperor Nicholas I was forever assigned to the junkers for the shoulder straps of the Nikolaev Engineering School. They will wear this monogram until the abolition of royal monograms in March 1917.

Since March 3, 1862, the buttons in the guard with the state emblem embossed, with the grenada embossed on one fire in the grenadier regiments and smooth in all other parts.

Encryption on shoulder straps with oil paint on a yellow or red stencil, depending on the color of the shoulder strap field.

It makes no sense to describe all the changes with buttons. We only note that by 1909, in the entire Army and Guards, the buttons were with the state emblem, excluding the grenadier units and engineering units, which had their own images on the buttons.

In the grenadier regiments, the slotted cipher was replaced with oil paint only in 1874.

The height of the monograms of the Highest Chefs since 1891 has been determined in the range from 1 5/8 inches (72mm) to 1 11/16 inches (75mm).
The height of the numbered or digital encryption in 1911 was set to 3/4 inch (33 mm.). The lower edge of the encryption is 1/2 an inch (22m) from the lower edge of the shoulder strap.

Non-commissioned officer ranks were indicated by transverse stripes on shoulder straps. The patches were 1/4 wide an inch (11 mm.). In the army stripes fringe white color, in the grenadier units and in the Electrotechnical Company, a red prosnovka passed through the center of the bar. In the guards, the stripes were orange (almost yellow) in color with two red stripes along the edges.

In the picture on the right:

1. Junior non-commissioned officer of the 6th sapper His Imperial Highness Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolayevich Senior Battalion.

2. Senior non-commissioned officer of the 5th engineer battalion.

3. Sergeant Major of the 1st Life Grenadier Ekaterinoslav Emperor Alexander II Regiment.

Please pay attention to the epaulette of the sergeant major. Braided stripe of the pattern "army galloon" gold in color of the instrumental metal of the regiment. The monogram of Alexander II here, which is ciphered, is red, as it should be on yellow shoulder straps. Yellow metal button with "Grenada on one fire", which were put on the grenadier regiments.

In the picture on the left:

1. Junior non-commissioned officer of the 13th Life Grenadier Erivan Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich Regiment.

2. Senior non-commissioned officer of the 5th Grenadier Kyiv Heir to the Tsesarevich Regiment.

3. Feldwebel of the Electrical Company.

The sergeant-major's patch was not a fringe, but a galloon color on the instrumental metal of the regiment (silver or gold).
In the army and grenadier units, this patch had an "army" galloon pattern and had a width of 1/2 inch (22mm).
1st guards division, Guards Artillery Brigade, in the Life Guards Sapper Battalion, the sergeant-major patch had a galloon pattern with a "bit" width of 5/8 inches (27.75 mm.).
In the rest of the guards, in the army cavalry, in the horse artillery, the sergeant major's patch had a "half-staff" galloon pattern 5/8 inches wide (27.75 mm.).

In the picture on the right:

1. Junior non-commissioned officer of the Life Guards of the Sapper Battalion.

2. Senior non-commissioned officer of His Majesty's Company of the Life Guards of the Sapper Battalion.

3. Sergeant-major of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment of the galloon of the battle).

4. Feldwebel of the Life Guards of the 1st Infantry Regiment (haloon galloon).

Actually, non-commissioned officer stripes, strictly speaking, in themselves did not mean a rank (rank) like stars for officers, but indicated the position held:

* two stripes, in addition to junior non-commissioned officers (otherwise called separated non-commissioned officers), were worn by company captains, battalion drummers (timpani) and signalists (trumpeters), junior musicians of non-commissioned officer rank, junior salary clerk, junior medical and company paramedics and all non-combatants the lower ranks of the non-commissioned officer rank (i.e., non-combatants could not have three stripes or a wide sergeant major stripe on shoulder straps).

* three stripes, in addition to senior non-commissioned officers (otherwise called platoon non-commissioned officers), were also worn by senior salary clerks, senior medical assistants, regimental signalmen (trumpeters), regimental drummers.

* a wide sergeant-major patch was worn except for company (battery) sergeants (foremen of the company - speaking modern language), regimental drum majors, senior clerks, regimental storekeepers.

Non-commissioned officers serving in training units (officer schools), like the soldiers of such units, wore "training tape".

Like soldiers, non-commissioned officers on long or indefinite leave wore one or two black stripes wide at the bottom of the shoulder strap. 11mm.

In the picture on the left:

1. Junior non-commissioned officer of the Automobile Training Company.

2. Senior non-commissioned officer of the 208th Lori Infantry Regiment on a long vacation.

3. Sergeant Major of the 1st Life Grenadier Ekaterinoslav Emperor Alexander II Regiment on indefinite leave.

The non-commissioned officers of the army dragoon and lancer regiments in the period under review, excluding the period from 1882 to 1909, did not have shoulder straps, but epaulettes on their uniforms. Guards dragoons and lancers in the period under review had epaulettes on their uniforms all the time. Shoulder straps of dragoons and lancers were worn only on overcoats.

In the picture on the left:

1. Non-commissioned officer of the guards cavalry regiment.

2. Junior sergeant-major of an army cavalry regiment.

3. Senior Wahmister of the Guards Cavalry Regiment.

Note. In the cavalry, non-commissioned officers were called a little differently than in other branches of the military.

End of note.

Persons who entered the military service as hunters (in other words, voluntarily) or volunteers receiving non-commissioned officer ranks, they kept the epaulette trim with a tricolor garus cord.

In the picture on the right:

1. Hunter sergeant major of the 10th Novoingermanland infantry regiment.

2. Voluntary rank junior non-commissioned officer of the 48th Infantry Odessa Emperor Alexander I Regiment.

From the author. It was hardly possible to meet a volunteer with the rank of sergeant major, since after a year of service he already had the right to pass an exam for an officer's rank. And in a year to rise to the rank of sergeant major was simply unrealistic. And it is unlikely that the company commander will appoint a "freelancer" to this difficult position, requiring great experience services. But it was possible to meet a volunteer who found his place in the army, that is, a hunter and rose to the rank of sergeant major, although rarely. Most often, sergeant majors were re-enlisted.

In a previous article about soldier's epaulettes, it was said about stripes indicating special qualifications. Having become non-commissioned officers, these specialists kept these stripes.

In the picture on the left:

1. Junior sergeant major of the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment, qualified as a scout.

Note. In the cavalry, such longitudinal stripes were also worn by non-commissioned officers who were qualified fencing teachers and riding teachers. According to some reports, they also had a "training tape" around the shoulder strap, as shown in the shoulder strap 4.

2. Junior fireworker of His Majesty's battery of the 1st Guards Artillery Brigade, qualified as a gunner.

3. Junior fireworker of the 16th artillery brigade, qualified as an observer.

4. Qualified non-commissioned officer rank rider.

The lower ranks who remained for long-term service (as a rule, in ranks from corporal to senior non-commissioned officer) were called extra-long-term servicemen of the 2nd category and wore along the edges of the epaulette (except for the bottom edge) galunny sheathing from a harness galloon 3/8 inch wide (16.7mm. ). The color of the galloon is according to the color of the instrumental metal of the regiment. All other stripes are the same as those of the lower ranks of military service.

Unfortunately, it is not completely clear what the stripes of the 2nd category extra-enlisted servicemen were according to their ranks. There are two opinions.
The first is that the stripes by rank are completely similar to the stripes of military service ranks.
The second is gold or silver galloon stripes of a special pattern according to ranks.

The author is inclined to the first opinion, relying on Sytin's Military Encyclopedia of the 1912 edition, which describes all types of galloons used in the Russian Army with indications of where this or that type of galloon is used. There I did not find either this type of galloon, or indications of what galloons are used for the stripes of re-enlisted men. However, even the well-known uniformist of that time, Colonel Schenck, more than once indicates in his works that it is simply impossible to put together all the Highest Commands regarding the uniform, and the orders of the Military Department issued on their basis, there are so many of them.

Naturally, the above stripes for special qualifications, black vacation stripes, encryption and monograms were also fully used by re-enlisted.

In the picture on the right:

1. Extra-conscript of the 2nd category, junior non-commissioned officer of the Life Guards of the Sapper Battalion.

2. Extra-conscript 2nd category senior non-commissioned officer of the 7th Kinburn Dragoon Regiment.

3. Senior fireworker of the 20th artillery brigade, super-conscript of the 2nd category, qualified as an observer.

4. Senior fireworker of the 1st battery of the 2nd Guards Artillery Brigade with the qualification of a gunner.

One rank belonged to the extra-conscripts of the 1st category - ensign. Their shoulder straps were not in the form of a pentagonal shoulder strap, but a hexagonal one. Like the officers. They wore a 5/8 inch wide (27.75mm) longitudinal stripe of harness galloon in the color of the instrumental metal of the regiment. 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.

Note. The term "commander" currently used in our army refers to all military personnel who command military formations from squad to corps, including educatively. Above, this position is called "commander" (army commander, district commander, front commander, ...).
In the Russian Army until 1917, the term "commander" was used (in any case officially) only in relation to persons who command a company, battalion, regiment and brigade and their equal formations in artillery and cavalry. The division was commanded by a "division chief". Above - "commander".
But the persons who commanded the squad and platoon were called, if it was about the position they held, a separated non-commissioned officer and a platoon non-commissioned officer, respectively. Or junior and senior non-commissioned officer, if it was in the understanding of the rank. In the cavalry, if it was a rank, non-commissioned officer, junior sergeant major and senior sergeant major.
I note that the officers did not command platoons. They all had the same position - junior officer of the company.

End of note.

Encryption and special signs (who are supposed to) ensigns wore metal overhead officers in the color of the instrumental metal of the regiment.

In the picture on the left:

1. Lieutenant of the company of His Majesty the Life Guards Sapper Battalion as a detached non-commissioned officer.

2. Ensign as a platoon non-commissioned officer of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment.

3. Ensign at the position of sergeant major of the 5th aviation company.

4. Subensign at the position of senior sergeant major of the 3rd Novorossiysk Dragoon Regiment.

Until 1903, graduates of the cadet schools, released as ensigns and serving in units in anticipation of being assigned an officer rank, wore cadet epaulets, but with the encryption of their unit.

Completely falling out general view the shoulder strap of ensigns was the shoulder strap of a lieutenant of the Engineering Corps. It looked like a volunteer's epaulette and had a sheathing of silver army galloon 11 mm wide.

Explanation. Corps of Engineers is not military formation, but a generalizing name for officers and non-commissioned officers who are specialists in the field of fortification, underground mines, and who serve not in engineering units, but in fortresses and units of other military branches. This is a kind of advisers to combined arms commanders in engineering.

End of explanation.

In the picture on the right:

1. Lieutenant of the Life Guards Sapper Battalion.

2. Ensign of the Engineering Corps.

3. Feldeger.

There was a so-called. The courier corps, the main task of the ranks of which was the delivery of especially important and urgent mail (orders, directives, reports, etc.) from headquarters to headquarters. Couriers wore shoulder straps similar to those of ensigns, but the longitudinal galloon stripe of the harness galloon had a width not of 5/8 inch (27.75 mm), but only 1/2 inch (22 mm).

T Since 1907, the same stripes have been worn by candidates for a class position. Until that time (from 1899 to 1907), the candidate on the chase had a stripe in the form of a corner made of galloon "page gimlet".

Explanation. A candidate for a class position is a lower rank who undergoes appropriate training so that, at the end of active military service, he becomes a military officer and continues to serve in this capacity.

End of explanation.

In the picture on the left:

1. Ensign of the 5th East Siberian Artillery Brigade, graduate of the cadet school (until 1903).

2. Senior non-commissioned officer of the 5th engineer battalion, who is a candidate for a class position (1899-1907).

In 1909 (Order V.V. No. 100), bilateral shoulder straps were introduced for the lower ranks. Those. one side of instrumental cloth of the color assigned to this part, the other of khaki cloth (overcoat on overcoat), with two rows of glued lining canvas between them. The buttons in the guard are the same color as the instrumental metal of the regiment, in the army they are leather.
When wearing a uniform in everyday life, shoulder straps are worn with the colored side out. When speaking on a campaign, shoulder straps are turned over with the protective side out.

However, ensigns, like officers, did not receive marching epaulettes in 1909. Marching shoulder straps for officers and ensigns will be introduced only in the autumn of 1914. (R.V.V. No. 698 dated 10/31/1914)

Shoulder strap length. The width of the shoulder strap of the lower ranks is 1 1/4 inches (55-56mm.). The upper edge of the epaulette is cut off with an obtuse equilateral angle and put on with a stitched loop (stitched) on a leather button (in the guard - metal), sewn tightly to the shoulder at the collar. The edges of the shoulder strap do not bend, they are sewn with a thread. A cloth tongue is sewn into the lower edge of the shoulder strap (between the upper cloth and the hemming) throughout the entire width of the shoulder strap, for threading through a cloth jumper (1/4 inch wide) sewn onto the shoulders of the uniform.

In the figure on the left (drawing of letters and numbers according to the order of V.v No. 228 of 1912)

1. Junior non-commissioned officer of the Life Guards of the Izmailovsky Regiment.

2. Senior non-commissioned officer of the 195th Orovai Infantry Regiment.

3. Sergeant major of the 5th separate scooter company.

4. Freely determined non-commissioned officer rank of the 13th Dragoon Regiment.

5. Ensign as sergeant major of the 25th artillery brigade.

6. Ensign in the officer position of the 25th artillery brigade.

What can be said about this. Here is a quote from the Order of the Military Department No. 698 of 10/31/1914:

"2) For ensigns - to install also protective shoulder straps with a sewn longitudinal wide dark orange braid, with transverse stripes of dark orange braid according to the positions (non-commissioned officer or sergeant major) or with one oxidized star (for those appointed to officer positions)."

Why so, I do not know. In principle, a lieutenant could be either in non-commissioned officer positions and wear transverse stripes for the position other than his longitudinal one, or in officer positions. Others simply do not exist.

On both sides of the epaulettes of non-commissioned officers of army units, an encryption is painted with oil paint 1/3 of an inch (15 mm) above the bottom edge. Numbers and letters have dimensions: in one line 7/8 inch (39mm.), And in two lines (with an interval of 1/8 inch (5.6mm.)) - the bottom line is 3/8 inch (17mm.), Top 7 / 8 inches (39mm.). Special signs (who are supposed to) are made up above the encryption.
At the same time, on the marching shoulder straps of ensigns, encryption and special signs are overhead metal oxidized (dark gray) like those of officers.
In the guards, ciphers and special signs are not allowed on shoulder straps, with the exception of the imperial monograms in the companies of His Majesty.

The colors of the ciphers on the protective side of the shoulder straps of non-commissioned officers (except for ensigns) are set according to the branches of the military:
* infantry - yellow,
rifle units - raspberry,
* cavalry and horse artillery - blue,
*foot artillery - red,
* engineering troops - brown,
* Cossack units - blue,
* railway troops and scooters - light green,
* fortress parts of all types of weapons - orange,
* convoy parts - white,
* quartermaster parts - black.

The number code in the infantry and cavalry indicated the regiment number, in foot artillery to the brigade number, in horse artillery to the battery number, in the engineering troops to the battalion or company number (if the company exists as a separate unit), the letter cipher indicated the name of the regiment, which in general, it was characteristic of the grenadier regiments. Or on shoulder straps there could be the monogram of the Highest Chief, which was assigned instead of a numbered encryption.

Because each type of cavalry had a separate numbering, then after the regiment number there was an italic letter indicating the type of regiment (D-Dragoon, U-Ulansky, G-hussar, Zh-Gendarme squadron). But these letters are only on the protective shoulder strap!

According to the order of V.V. No. 228 of May 12, 1912 on the protective side of the shoulder straps of army units there could be colored piping of the same color as the piping on the colored side of the shoulder straps. If the colored shoulder strap does not have edgings, then the marching shoulder strap does not have them either.

It remains unclear whether the lower ones had marching epaulets in training parts Yves Electrotechnical company. And if there were, what kind of stripes did they have. I believe that since, by the nature of their activity, such units were not supposed to go on a campaign and include them in the Active Army, they did not have marching epaulettes either.
It was also not supposed to wear black stripes on the protective side of shoulder straps, indicating being on a long or indefinite leave.

But the lining of shoulder straps with a cord of volunteers and hunters was also available on the protective side of the shoulder straps.

In artillery and cavalry, the stripes of scouts, observers and gunners are only transverse.

And:
* in the artillery, non-commissioned officers with the qualifications of observers have a stripe according to the color of the encryption below the non-commissioned officer stripes. Those. in the artillery the patch is red, in the horse artillery it is light blue, in the fortress artillery it is orange.

* in artillery, non-commissioned officers with a gunner's qualification have a patch not under non-commissioned officer patches stripe, and in the lower part of the epaulette in foot artillery dark orange, in horse artillery light blue.

* in the cavalry non-commissioned officers scouts have a stripe not longitudinal, but transverse in the lower part of the epaulette light blue.

* In the infantry, non-commissioned officers of scouts have a longitudinal dark orange stripe.

In the picture on the left:

1. Junior fireworker of the 25th artillery brigade, qualified as a gunner.

2. Junior sergeant major of the 2nd horse artillery battery, qualified as a gunner.

3. Senior Wahmister of the 11th Lancers, qualified as a scout.

4. Senior fireworker of the 25th artillery brigade, qualified as an observer. .

5. Non-commissioned officer of the 2nd horse artillery battery, qualified as an observer.

6. Hunter senior non-commissioned officer of the 89th Infantry Regiment, qualified as a scout.

7. Sergeant Major of the 114th Infantry Regiment, 2nd category.

In military schools that trained officers, junkers were considered lower ranks with the rights of volunteers. There were also junkers who wore non-commissioned officer stripes. However, they were called differently - junior junker belt, senior junker belt and sergeant major. These stripes were similar to the stripes of non-commissioned officers of the grenadier units (bad white with a red stripe in the middle). The edges of the shoulder straps of the junkers were sheathed with a galloon, like those of the second-class conscripts. However, the galloon drawings were completely different and depended on a particular school.

Junker shoulder straps, due to their diversity, require a separate article. Therefore, here I show them very briefly and only on the example of engineering schools.

Note that these shoulder straps were also worn by those who studied at ensign schools during the First World War (4-9 months). We also note that the junkers did not have marching shoulder straps at all.

Nikolaev and Alekseevsky engineering schools. Braid pattern "army" silver. In the picture on the left:
1. Juncker of the Nikolaev Engineering School.

2.Junker of the Alekseevsky Engineering School.

3. Junker of the Nikolaev Engineering School, who was a volunteer before entering the school.

4.Junior harness-junker of the Nikolaev Engineering School.

5. Senior harness-cadet of the Alekseevsky Engineering School.

6. Junker sergeant major of the Nikolaev Engineering School.

It remains unclear whether the non-commissioned officers who entered the schools retained their non-commissioned officer stripes on cadet shoulder straps.

Reference. The Nikolaev Engineering School is considered the oldest officer school in the country, whose history began at the beginning of the 18th century and which exists today. But Alekseevskoye was opened only in 1915 in Kyiv and managed to make only eight issues of wartime engineering ensigns. The events of the revolution and civil war destroyed this school, leaving no trace of it.

End of help.

By the decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of December 16, 1917 (already by the new Bolshevik authorities), all the above-described insignia of the lower ranks, like all others, were abolished due to the abolition of all ranks and titles. The military personnel of the military units, organizations, headquarters and institutions that still survived at that time had to remove shoulder straps from their shoulders. It is difficult to say to what extent this decree was implemented. Here everything depended on the mood of the soldier masses, their attitude towards the new government. And the attitude of local commanders and authorities also influenced the execution of the decree.
Partially, shoulder straps were preserved during the Civil War in the formations of the White Movement, however, local military leaders, taking advantage of the fact that the higher command did not have enough power over them, introduced their own versions of shoulder straps and insignia on them.
In the Red Army, which began to be created in February-March 1918, they completely and categorically abandoned shoulder straps, seeing in shoulder straps "signs of autocracy." The running system will be restored in the Red Army only in January 1943, i.e. after 25 years.

From the author. The author is aware that in all articles on the shoulder straps of the lower ranks there are both minor inaccuracies and serious errors. There are also missed moments. But the system of insignia on the shoulder straps of the lower ranks of the Russian Army was so diverse, confusing and changed so often that it was impossible to trace all this thoroughly. In addition, a number of documents of those times available to the author contain only the text part without figures. And this gives rise to different interpretations. Some primary sources contain references to previous documents of the type: ".... like the lower ranks ..... regiment", which could not be found. Or it turns out that they were canceled before they are referenced. There is also such a thing - something was introduced by order of the Military Department, but then comes the Order of the Main Quartermaster Directorate, on the basis of the Highest Command, canceling the innovation and introducing another.

In addition, I highly recommend not to take my information as absolute truth in its ultimate instance, but to get acquainted with other sites on uniformitarianism. In particular, with the site of Alexei Khudyakov (semiryak.my1.ru/) and the site "Mundir" (vedomstva-uniforma.ru/mundir).

Sources and literature

1.A.Kersnovsky. History of the Russian Army 1700-1881. Rusich. Smolensk. 2004
2.A.Kersnovsky. History of the Russian Army 1881-1916. Rusich. Smolensk. 2004
3. M. M. Khrenov and others. Military clothing of the Russian Army. Military publishing house. Moscow. 1994
4.O.Leonov, I.Ulyanov. Regular infantry 1855-1918. AST.Moscow. 1998
5.I.Golyzhenkov, B.Stepanov. European soldier for 300 years. Isographus. Eksmo-Press. Moscow. 2001
6. Military encyclopedia. Company of I.D. Sytin. St. Petersburg. 1912
7.O.Leonov, I.Ulyanov. Regular infantry 1855-1918. AST.Moscow. 1998
8. V.K. Shenk. Rules for wearing uniforms by officers of all types of weapons. St. Petersburg. 1910
9. V.K. Shenk. Tables of uniforms of the Russian Army. St. Petersburg. 1910
10. V.K. Shenk. Tables of uniforms of the Russian Army. St. Petersburg. 1911
11. V.V. Zvegintsov. Forms of the Russian Army. Paris. 1959
12.V.M. Glinka. Russian military costume of the 18th-early 20th century. Artist of the RSFSR. Leningrad. 1988
13. Poster "External distinctions of officials and ranks of the military and naval departments". 1914
14. Site "Insignia of the Russian Imperial Army in 1913" (semiryak.my1.ru/).
15. Historical description of clothing and weapons of the Russian troops. T.28. Artillery Museum. Novosibirsk, 1944
16.Historical description of clothing and weapons of the Russian troops. T.30. Artillery Museum. Novosibirsk, 1946
17. Magazine "Tseikhgauz" No. 3-2000 (12).
18. Website "Mundir" (vedomstva-uniforma.ru/mundir)
19. Warehouse website (www.bergenschild.narod.ru/Reconstruction/depot/1912-18/mundir_pohod.htm).
20. Magazine "Tseikhgauz" No. 1-2003 (21).
21. Magazine "Tseikhgauz" No. 4 (1/1995).

The article is devoted to the study of the emergence, formation and significance of the non-commissioned officer corps in the army in the mid-19th - early 20th centuries. The relevance of the work is determined by the importance of the role of the army in the history of Russia, the modern challenges facing our country, which determines the need to refer to the historical experience of organizing army life. The purpose of the work is to consider the formation, functioning and significance of the non-commissioned officer corps in Russian army pre-revolutionary period.

Training, education and education of personnel in the army has always been a difficult task in military construction. Non-commissioned officers from the moment of their appearance played an important role in training the lower ranks in military affairs, maintaining order and discipline, education, moral and cultural education. The significance of the non-commissioned corps in the Russian army in the period of the mid-19th - early 20th centuries is revealed, when it had to solve a dual task - an assistant officer and the role of the closest commander for the lower ranks, especially during the years of severe military trials. The historical experience of creating, functioning and improving the institute of the non-commissioned officer corps has great importance in military construction and deserves further study. Key words: Russia, army, 19th century, early 20th century, non-commissioned officers, everyday life.

AT recent decades the class structure of the Russian Empire in the 19th and early 20th centuries is intensively studied. At the same time, some significant segments of the population did not attract the attention of researchers. This applies in particular to the military. Different categories of the military had their own specific legal status and often constituted a significant part of the population.

The historical literature contains only a few notes concerning the military estate of the second half of the 19th century, mainly in works devoted to the size and composition of the population. Considerable attention is paid to the soldier class in his numerous works by modern Russian historian B.N. Mironov. Among the few works of foreign authors, one can note R.L. Garthoff. Interest in the study of the soldier class, emerging in last years, just dictated by the fact that historical science has so far paid little attention to this stratum. It is obvious that a comprehensive study of soldiers as a special social group, revealing their role and place in the social and economic system of society.

The relevance of the work is determined by the importance of the army in the history of Russia, the modern challenges facing our country, which determines the need to refer to the historical experience of organizing army life. The purpose of the work is to consider the formation, functioning and significance of the non-commissioned officer corps in the Russian army in the pre-revolutionary period. Methodological basis work is the theory of modernization. The work used a variety of scientific principles (historical-comparative, historical-systemic, analysis, synthesis) and special methods for analyzing historical sources: methods for analyzing legislative acts, quantitative methods, methods for analyzing narrative documents, etc. In the period of the mid-19th - early 20th centuries, despite the abolition of serfdom, Russia remained a predominantly illiterate peasant country, the recruitment of whose army fell primarily on the shoulders of the village community.

After the introduction in 1874 of universal military service, the lower ranks of the army were also presented mainly as peasants. And this meant the need for primary education a recruit in primary literacy, training him in general education, and only then only direct training in military affairs. In turn, this required trained non-commissioned officers in the army, who needed appropriate training. The first non-commissioned officers in Russia appeared under Peter I. The military regulations of 1716 referred to non-commissioned officers as a sergeant in the infantry, a sergeant major in the cavalry, a captain, a lieutenant, a corporal, a company clerk, a batman and a corporal. According to the charter, they were entrusted with the initial training of soldiers, as well as monitoring compliance with the lower ranks of the internal order in the company. Since 1764, legislation has assigned to the non-commissioned officer the obligation not only to train the lower ranks, but also to educate them.

However, it is impossible to talk about full-fledged military education at that time, since for the most part representatives of the non-commissioned officer corps were poorly trained and mostly illiterate. In addition, drill was the basis of the educational process in the army of that period. Disciplinary practice was based on cruelty, and corporal punishment was often used. Among the non-commissioned officers of the Russian army, a sergeant major stood out. This is the highest non-commissioned officer rank and position in infantry artillery and engineering units. The duties and rights of a sergeant major in the Russian army at that time were much broader than in European armies. The instruction issued in 1883 determined him to be the head of all the lower ranks of the company.

He was subordinate to the company commander, was his first assistant and support, was responsible for order in the platoon, morality and behavior of the lower ranks, for the success of training subordinates, and in the absence of the company commander, he replaced him. The second most important was the senior non-commissioned officer - the head of all the lower ranks of his platoon. The non-commissioned officer corps was recruited from soldiers who expressed a desire to remain in the army for hire after the expiration of their military service, i.e. overtime employees. The category of extra-conscripts, according to the plan of the military command, was to solve the problem of reducing the shortage of rank and file and the formation of a reserve of non-commissioned officers. The leadership of the War Ministry strove to keep as many soldiers (corporals) as possible in the army, as well as urgent non-commissioned officers for extended service, provided that, in terms of their service and moral qualities, they would be useful for the army.

At this time, the military department noted the need to create a layer of experienced instructors in the troops, necessary for those short terms service and high demands placed on the lower ranks in the army after the military reform. “... from a good non-commissioned officer, the troops will require a certain amount of development: good service knowledge, both practical and theoretical; necessary morality and good behavior; and most importantly, a well-known temperament and ability to manage people subordinate to him and the ability to inspire complete confidence and respect in them, - this is how army officers who were interested in the problem of training non-commissioned officers wrote on the pages of the Military Digest ... ". The selection of long-term non-commissioned officers was carried out very seriously.

Special attention was paid to the soldier designated as a candidate, he was tested in all positions future activities. “So that the lower ranks receive practical training in a team, for this it is necessary that it has its own separate household, of course, at the same time it is necessary to add to the permanent frame one non-commissioned officer, correcting the position of captain, and four privates for the positions of clerk, groom, baker and cook; all the lower ranks of the variable composition are seconded to these persons in turn and correct their positions, under the supervision and responsibility of personnel officials. Until the middle of the XIX century. there were no special schools or courses for non-commissioned officers, so there was nowhere to train them specially. From the end of the 1860s non-commissioned officers for the Russian army were trained in regimental training teams with a training period of 7.5 months. The lower ranks were sent to these training units, who showed the ability to serve, did not have disciplinary offenses and were literate if possible, and also "received distinction in battles."

Teaching was predominantly practical. Leading role in educational process the non-commissioned officer was played by an officer. M.I. Dragomirov, a military theorist and educator of the second half of the 19th century, who successfully applied in the army the principles of training and education of troops developed by him, wrote about this: “An officer needs to work hard; first, in order to form a non-commissioned officer, and then in order to tirelessly monitor the activities of these inexperienced and constantly changing assistants ... What he himself will not do, will not explain, will not indicate, no one will do for him. At the end of their studies, the lower ranks returned to their units. It was primarily about non-commissioned officers who had undoubted advantages in comparison with non-commissioned officers of military service: “The shortened terms of service are of great importance in this matter, that the training time of a non-commissioned officer should be possibly short ... more long service, of course, is also necessary for the non-commissioned officers themselves, since service experience, of course, significantly contributes to their improvement. The financial resources allocated by the military department for the creation of a stratum of non-commissioned officers were relatively small. Therefore, the lag in the training of such personnel was very noticeable. Thus, in 1898, there were 65,000 non-commissioned officers on duty in the field: in Germany, 65,000; in France, 24,000; in Russia, 8,500. .

At the same time, the army was interested in long-term servicemen, so it took care of them with the help of sufficient provision from the state treasury. For example, the Regulations on the extended service of the lower ranks in the border guards of 1881 ordered the lower ranks of the border guards to increase the official authority of the non-commissioned senior ranks of the long-term service to ensure their higher material life and social status. According to him, the extra-term lower ranks of the border guards of the non-commissioned officer rank, including senior and junior sergeant majors (sergeant majors) in detachments and training teams, and non-commissioned officers holding the positions of other junior commanders, received a monetary reward and additional salary to the regular content. In particular, in the first year after entering the long-term service, the senior sergeant was entitled to 84 rubles, the junior sergeant - 60 rubles; in the third year - for the senior sergeant 138 rubles, for the junior sergeant - 96 rubles; in the fifth year - 174 rubles for the senior sergeant, 120 rubles for the junior sergeant.

In general, the living conditions of non-commissioned officers, although they differed in better side from those of the rank and file, but were quite modest. In addition to the additional salary established above, each senior and junior sergeant-major who had been in the above positions continuously for two years was given a lump-sum allowance of 150 rubles at the end of the second year of extended service, as well as 60 rubles each. annually. After the defeat of the Russian army in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. the issue of staffing the army with non-commissioned officers from among the extra-enlisted personnel became even more urgent. The annual additional salary increased to 400 rubles. depending on the rank and duration of service, other material advantages were provided; housing money in the amount of half of the norms for officers; pension for 15 years of service in the amount of 96 rubles. in year . In 1911, military schools were introduced for non-commissioned officers, in which they prepared for the rank of ensign.

There they were trained to fulfill the position of squad and platoon commander, in order to replace juniors in the war, command a platoon in a combat situation, and, if necessary, a company. According to the regulation on the lower ranks of 1911, they were divided into two categories. The first is ensigns promoted to this rank from combat non-commissioned officers. They had significant rights and benefits. Lance corporals were promoted to junior non-commissioned officers and were appointed squad leaders. Super-enlisted non-commissioned officers were promoted to ensigns under two conditions: serving as a platoon officer for two years and successfully completing a course in a military school for non-commissioned officers. Volunteers could also become non-commissioned officers in the Russian army. However, the real test for the corps of the Unter-Russian army was the First World War. The problem arose already by the end of 1914, when the command, unfortunately, had not yet thought about saving personnel.

At the first mobilization in the ranks active army 97% of trained conscripts were called up, preference was given to non-commissioned officers of the reserve, who, as a rule, had better training compared to ordinary reserve officers. Therefore, a maximum of non-commissioned officers was poured into the rank and file of the first strategic echelon. As a result, it turned out that the entire valuable junior command staff was almost completely destroyed in the first military operations. Another measure with which they tried to deal with the shortage of junior commanding staff was the increase in the institution of volunteers, the so-called volunteer hunters began to be recruited into the army.

According to the imperial decree of December 25, 1914, retired ensigns and non-commissioned officers were accepted into the service by hunters. The military retreat of the Russian army in 1915 and the consequent loss of non-commissioned officers in battle further exacerbated the problem of a shortage of junior commanders in combat units. The state of military discipline in units and divisions of the Russian army in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries. rated as satisfactory. The result of this was not only the work of the officer, but also the efforts of the non-commissioned officer corps.

The main violations of military discipline in the army during this period by the lower ranks were escapes, thefts, embezzlement of state property and violations of military decency. There were insults to non-commissioned officers, in rare cases insults. In order of application disciplinary actions non-commissioned officers had the same rights as oberofficers, they were admitted to officer meetings. The deprivation of this title was carried out by the head of the division or a person of equal authority with him in compliance with the necessary legal norms for the crimes committed.

For the same reason and by the verdict of the court, the production of non-commissioned officers could also be suspended. Here is an excerpt from the verdict of the regimental court of the 9th Siberian Grenadier Regiment about the private of the 78th reserve infantry battalion: “... therefore, the court sentenced the defendant Private Alekseev to arrest on bread and water for three weeks with an increase in the mandatory stay in the category of fined for one year and six months and with deprivation, on the basis of 598 Art. Book I II part of S. V. P. 1859, the right to be promoted to officer or non-commissioned officer, except in the case of a special military feat ... ".

For better performance by non-commissioned officers of their duties, the War Ministry published a lot of different literature for them in the form of methods, instructions, and instructions. In the recommendations, non-commissioned officers were urged to “show subordinates not only strictness, but also a caring attitude”, “to prevent irritation, irascibility and shouting in dealing with subordinates, and also to keep themselves at a certain distance from subordinates”, urged “to remember that the Russian soldier in dealing with him, he loves the boss whom he considers his father.

Mastering knowledge and gaining experience, non-commissioned officers became good assistants in solving the tasks facing companies and squadrons, in particular, strengthening military discipline, conducting chores, teaching soldiers to read and write, and recruits from national outskirts - knowledge of the Russian language. Efforts bore fruit - the percentage of illiterate soldiers in the army was reduced. If in 1881 there were 75.9% of them, then in 1901 - 40.3%. Another area of ​​activity of the non-commissioned officers, where the non-commissioned officers especially succeeded, was chores, or, as they were also called, “free work”. The advantages were that the money earned by the soldiers went to the regimental treasury, and part - to officers, non-commissioned officers and lower ranks. Earned money improved the food of the soldiers. However negative side economic work was significant.

It turned out that the entire service of many soldiers took place in arsenals, bakeries, and workshops. Soldiers from many units, such as the East Siberian Military District, loaded and unloaded ships with heavy commissary and engineering cargo, fixed telegraph lines, repaired and built buildings, and performed work for the parties of topographers. Be that as it may, the non-commissioned officers of the Russian army played a positive role in the preparation, training and combat effectiveness of troops in the period of the mid-nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Thus, the preparation, training and education of personnel in the army has always been a difficult task in military development.

Non-commissioned officers from the moment of their appearance played an important role in training the lower ranks in military affairs, maintaining order and discipline, education, moral and cultural education of soldiers. In our opinion, it is difficult to overestimate the importance of the non-commissioned corps in the Russian army in the middle of the 19th - early 20th centuries, when it had to solve a dual task - an assistant officer and the closest commander for the lower ranks, especially during the years of severe military trials. The historical experience of creating, functioning and improving the institute of the non-commissioned officer corps shows its great importance in military development and deserves further study.

Bibliographic list

1. Goncharov Yu.M. Class composition of the urban population Western Siberia in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries. // Cities of Siberia XVIII - early XX centuries. : Digest of articles. - Barnaul, 2001.

2. Garthoff R.L. The Military as a Social Force // The Transformation of Russian Society: Aspects of Social Change since 1861. - Cambridge, 1960.

3. Military collection. - St. Petersburg, 1887. - T. CLХХVIII.

4. Sushchinsky F. Non-commissioned officer question in our army // Military collection. - St. Petersburg, 1881. No. 8.

5. Nikulchenko A. On the means to get good non-commissioned officers // Landmark. - 2013. - No. 7.

6. Chinenny S. Non-commissioned officers of the Russian army // Landmark. - 2003. - No. 12.

7. Goncharov Yu.M. Everyday life Citizens of Siberia in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries. : tutorial. - Barnaul, 2012. 8. Military collection. - SPb., 1892. - T. CCV.

9. Oskin M.V. Non-commissioned officers of the Russian army during the First World War // Military History Journal. - 2014. - No. 1.

The military rank of junior command staff in the army "non-commissioned officer" came to us from German - Unteroffizier - sub-officer. This institute existed in the Russian army from 1716 to 1917.

The military regulations of 1716 referred to non-commissioned officers in the infantry - a sergeant, in the cavalry - a sergeant-major, a captain, a lieutenant, a corporal, a company clerk, a batman and a corporal. The position of a non-commissioned officer in the military hierarchy was determined as follows: “Those who are below the warrant officer have their place, are called “non-commissioned officers”, i.e. lower initial people".

The non-commissioned officer corps was recruited from soldiers who wished to remain in the army for hire after the end of military service. They were called overtimers. Before the appearance of the institution of long-term servicemen, from which another institution was later formed - non-commissioned officers, the duties of assistant officers were performed by the lower ranks of military service. But the "urgent non-commissioned officer" in most cases differed little from the ordinary.

According to the plan of the military command, the institution of long-term servicemen was supposed to solve two problems: to reduce the understaffing of the rank and file, to serve as a reserve for the formation of non-commissioned officer corps.

There is a curious fact in the history of our army that testifies to the role of the lower commanding ranks. During the Russian-Turkish war of 1877 - 1878. Infantry General Mikhail Skobelev conducted an unprecedented social experiment in the units entrusted to him in the course of hostilities - he created military councils of sergeant majors and non-commissioned officers in the fighting units.

“Particular attention should be paid to the formation of a professional sergeant corps, as well as a link of junior commanders. At present, the staffing of such positions in the Armed Forces is a little over 20 percent.

Currently, the Ministry of Defense pays increased attention to the problems of educational work and professional junior commanders. But the first graduates of such junior commanders will enter the troops only in 2006,” said Secretary of State - Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation General of the Army Nikolai Pankov.

The leadership of the military ministry sought to leave as many soldiers (corporals) as possible in the army for extra-long service, as well as combat non-commissioned officers who had served urgent service. But on one condition: each of them had to have the appropriate service and moral qualities.

The central figure of the non-commissioned officers of the old Russian army is the sergeant major. He obeyed the company commander, was his first assistant and support. The sergeant major was entrusted with fairly broad and responsible duties. This is evidenced by the instruction issued in 1883, which read: "The sergeant major is the head of all the lower ranks of the company."

The second most important non-commissioned officer was the senior non-commissioned officer - the head of all the lower ranks of his platoon. He was responsible for order in the platoon, morality and behavior of privates, the results of training subordinates, produced outfits for lower ranks for service and work, dismissed soldiers from the yard (no later than before evening roll call), conducted evening roll call and reported to the sergeant major about everything that happened during day in the platoon.

According to the charter, non-commissioned officers were entrusted with the initial training of soldiers, constant and vigilant supervision of the lower ranks, monitoring internal order in the mouth. Later (1764), the legislation assigned to the non-commissioned officer the obligation not only to train the lower ranks, but also to educate them.

Despite all the efforts to select candidates for the service of lower commanding ranks, this area had its own difficulties. The number of conscripts did not correspond to the calculations of the General Staff, their number in the army of our country was inferior to the staffing of Western armies with conscripts. For example, in 1898 there were 65,000 non-commissioned officers in Germany, 24,000 in France, and 8,500 in Russia.

The formation of the institution of long-term employees was slow. The mentality of the Russian people affected. The soldiers, for the most part, understood their duty - to serve the Fatherland honestly and disinterestedly during the years of military service, but they consciously opposed remaining, moreover, to serve for money.

The government sought to interest those who served on conscription in long-term service. To do this, they expanded the rights of long-term employees, increased salaries, established a number of awards for service, improved uniforms, and after service they provided a good pension.

The regulation on the lower ranks of combat long service in 1911 divided non-commissioned officers into two categories. The first is ensigns promoted to this rank from combat non-commissioned officers. They had significant rights and benefits. The second - non-commissioned officers and corporals. They enjoyed somewhat fewer rights. Ensigns in combat units held the positions of sergeant majors and platoon officers - senior non-commissioned officers. The corporals were promoted to junior non-commissioned officers and appointed squad commanders.

Super-enlisted non-commissioned officers were promoted to lieutenants by order of the head of the division under two conditions. It was necessary to serve as a platoon (senior non-commissioned officer) for two years and successfully complete the course of a military school for non-commissioned officers.

Senior non-commissioned officers usually held the positions of assistant platoon commanders. The rank of junior non-commissioned officer was, as a rule, worn by squad commanders.

Military servicemen of the lower ranks for impeccable service were awarded a medal with the inscription "For diligence" and the sign of St. Anna. They were also allowed to marry and have families. Extra-conscripts lived in the barracks at the location of their companies. The sergeant major was provided with a separate room, two senior non-commissioned officers also lived in a separate room.

In order to interest in the service and emphasize the commanding position of non-commissioned officers among the lower ranks, they were given uniforms and insignia, in some cases inherent in the chief officer. This is a cockade on a headdress with a visor, a checker on a leather belt, a revolver with a holster and a cord.

Combat servicemen of the lower ranks of both categories, who served fifteen years, received a pension of 96 rubles a year. The salary of a warrant officer ranged from 340 to 402 rubles a year, a corporal - 120 rubles a year.

The head of a division or a person of equal authority had the right to deprive a non-commissioned officer of the rank.

It was difficult for commanders of all grades to train excellent non-commissioned officers from semi-literate extra-enlisted soldiers. Therefore, in our army, we carefully studied foreign experience in the formation of the institute of junior commanders, first of all, the experience of the German army.

Unfortunately, not all non-commissioned officers had knowledge of leading subordinates. Some of them naively believed that the way to ensure universal obedience was to use a deliberately harsh and rude tone. And the moral qualities of the non-commissioned officer were not always at the proper height. Some of them were drawn to alcohol, and this had a bad effect on the behavior of subordinates. Non-commissioned officers were also illegible in the ethics of relations with subordinates. Others allowed something similar to bribes. Such facts were sharply condemned by the officers.

As a result, in society and the army, demands were heard more and more insistently about the inadmissibility of an intrusion of an illiterate non-commissioned officer into the spiritual education of a soldier. There was even a categorical demand: "Non-commissioned officers should be prohibited from invading the soul of a recruit - such a tender sphere."

In order to comprehensively prepare a long-term serviceman for responsible work as a non-commissioned officer in the army, a network of courses and schools was deployed, which were created mainly at the regiments. To make it easier for a non-commissioned officer to enter his role, the military department published a lot of different literature in the form of methods, instructions, and advice. Here are some of the most typical requirements and recommendations of that time:

Show subordinates not only strictness, but also a caring attitude;

With soldiers, keep yourself at a "known distance";

In dealing with subordinates, avoid irritation, irascibility, anger;

Remember that the Russian soldier, in his treatment of him, loves the chief whom he considers his father;

Teach soldiers in battle to save cartridges, at rest - crackers;

To have a worthy appearance: “Unter is taut, like a bow is stretched.”

Training in courses and in regimental schools brought unconditional benefits. Among the non-commissioned officers there were many gifted people who skillfully explained to the soldiers the basics of military service, its values, duty and duties. Mastering knowledge and gaining experience, non-commissioned officers became reliable assistants to officers in solving the tasks facing companies and squadrons.

Non-commissioned officers played a significant role in solving such important task, as teaching soldiers to read and write, and recruits from the national outskirts - the Russian language. Gradually, this problem acquired strategic importance. The Russian army turned into " all-Russian school education". Non-commissioned officers willingly engaged in writing and arithmetic with the soldiers, although there was very little time for this. Their efforts bore fruit - the number and specific gravity in military collectives, illiterate soldiers were reduced. If in 1881 they were 75.9 percent, then in 1901 - 40.3.

In a combat situation, the vast majority of non-commissioned officers were distinguished by excellent courage, examples of military skill, courage and heroism carried the soldiers along with them. For example, during Russo-Japanese War(1904 - 1905) non-commissioned officers often acted as officers called up from the reserve.

No wonder they say that the new is the well-forgotten old. In the third millennium, our army again has to solve the problem of strengthening the institution of junior commanders. The use of historical experience Russian Armed Forces.