The ranks and insignia used by Russian Ground Forces are inherited from the military ranks of the Soviet Union, although the insignia and uniform have been altered slightly.
Civil service insignia may be confused with military insignia. Civil servants within the Russian Ministry of Defense may carry green or black service uniforms. See State civilian and municipal service ranks of the Russian Federation for a list of civil ranks.
Ranks and insignia The following is a table of ranks of the armed forces of the Russian Federation. An English translation is given first, followed by the Russian original, then by a transromanisation of the Russian.
Officers Category Troop ranks Dress uniform Everyday uniform Field uniform Supreme andgeneral officers Marshal of the Russian Federation Army general Colonel general Lieutenant general Major general Senior officersorfield grade officers Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Junior officersorcompany grade officers Captain Senior lieutenant Lieutenant Junior lieutenant Student officers Officer cadet
Other ranks Category Troop ranks Dress uniform Everyday uniform Field uniform Warrant officers Senior warrant officer Warrant officer Sergeants Sergeant major Senior sergeant Sergeant Junior sergeant Enlisted Corporal Private
Rank titles are sometimes modified due to a particular assignment, branch, or status:
The ranks of servicemen assigned to a "guards" unit or formation are preceded by the word "guards"; The ranks of servicemen in the legal, medical, and veterinary branches are followed by "of justice", "of the medical service", and "of the veterinary service", respectively; The ranks of servicemen in the reserve or retired are followed by "of the reserve" or "in retirement", respectively.
Reforms
Insignia reform (2010)
On 11 March 2010, Law No.2010-293 of the President of Russia introduced a new set of rank insignia. Privates, airmen, and seamen now wear plain shoulder epaulets. Senior NCOs had their chevrons replaced by plain bars (small horizontal bars for corporals and sergeants increasing in number with seniority, large horizontal bars for staff sergeants, and vertical bars for master sergeants). These rank badges mirror the insignia of both the Imperial Russian Army and the Soviet Army in the 1970s. Warrant officers and officers received new shoulder rank epaulettes and all general officer insignia now reflect service affiliation in the duty dress uniform. The parade dress gold epaulets have been retained. The insignia for a marshal of the Russian Federation retained the coat of arms of Russia and the marshal's star.
Rank and insignia reform (2013) In 2013, the insignia of an army general now included the marshal's star, surmounted by a red star in a wreath. In Spring 2013, the warrant officer ranks, which had been removed as a result of the 2008 Russian military reform, were reinstated.
Insignia reform (2020)
See also History of Russian military ranks List of Russian generals killed during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine Ranks and insignia of the Russian Federation's armed forces 1994–2010 Registered Cossack ranks
Explanatory notes
References Citations
General and cited references
External links Federal Law No. 58-FZ from March 12, 1998 "On military duty and military service" (in Russian) Presidential Decree No. 531 from May 8, 2005 "On military uniform, rank insignia of the servicemen and state bodies' rank insignia" (in Russian)