Praporshchik

Praporshchik in Russia

Rang insignia

Russian Imperial Army

Introduction

19th century

Rang group

Praporchik

Army/ Ari Force

Praporchik

Navy

Michman

lower:
higher:

Starshina

Senior praporchik

NATO
equivalent

WO-1 to WO-2 comparabal

Navy rank

Michman

Russian raporshchik about 1852.

Praporshchik (Russian: пра́порщик, pronounced [ˈprapərɕɪk]) was a rank in the Russian military, though may still be used in other uniformed services of the Russian government such as the Police.

Imperial Russia [edit]

Praporshchik was originally a name of a junior commissioned officer rank in the military of the Russian Empire equivalent to ensign. The rank was abolished 1917 by Bolsheviks (but still existed in 1917 - 1921 in the White Army) and restored in 1970s in the former USSR for non-commissioned officers and was equivalent to Warrant Officer rank.

It was first introduced in Strelets New Regiments. The name originates from Slavonic prapor (прапор), meaning flag; the praporshchik was a flag-bearer in Kievan Rus troops. In the New Regiments of the Streltsy and the new army of Peter the Great, praporshchik was ranked as commissioned officer of the lowest grade; this was legalised by the Table of Ranks of 1722. By the 19th century, the rank was given to senior non-commissioned officers of the Russian army upon their retirement and also reserve/volunteer officers with no previous service (from then on commissioned officers started service as podporuchik (Sub-Lieutenant).

In spite of this, podpraporshchik (Sub-Ensign) was one of the NCO-grades, originally below the Sergeant and Feldwebel. From 1826 to 1884 it became the highest non-commissioned rank of the infantry, cavalry and the Leib Guard. From 1884 podpraporshchik ranked below the newly introduced NCO-grade Zauryad Praporshchik (Deputy Ensign).

Soviet Army and Police [edit]

In the Soviet Army, the reintroduction of Praporshchik rank in 1972, along with Midshipman rank in the Soviet Navy, marked the attempt to recreate a corps of contract non-commissioned officers similar to Master Sergeants and Chief Petty Officers, the role that was previously reserved to senior drafted personnel. Contrary to Western practice of assigning the senior Sergeant ranks to veteran soldiers, the Soviet ranks of Starshina and Sergeant were routinely assigned to 20 year old soldiers at the end of their 2-year draft. The Praporshchiks were aged volunteers and were expected to have more authority over draftsmen than similarly aged Sergeants; they are placed in a separate category of Master non-commissioned officers (Praporshchiks and Midshipmen).

from 1971	Ground Forces (Army)		Air Force		Navy		Police

	Senior praporshchik (1981-1994)	Praporshchik (1971-1994)	Senior praporshchik (1981-1994)	Praporshchik (1971-1994)	Senior michman (1981-1994)	Michman (1971-1994)	Senior praporshchik	Praporshchik

Carey Schofield's Inside the Soviet Army c.1990 provides a good description of the place of the praporshchik within the Soviet military system.

Praporshchik rank of the Russian Federation [edit]

The Praporshchik rank continues to be used in the Russian Army and armies of ex-USSR states. However in the Russian army the number of Praporshchiks has been reduced from 90,000 to zero, as a result of the 2008-2011 defence reform. Also, all 50,000 Michman posts have been eliminated.^[1]

Praporshchik and michman ranks oft the Russian armed forces from 1994 [edit]

1994-2010	Ground Forces (Army)				Air Force		Airborne Troops		Navy

	Senior praporshchik (WO-2)	Praporshchik (WO-1)	Sen. prap. field uniform	Praporshchik field uniform	Sen. prap. (WO-2)	Praporshchik (WO-1)	Sen. prap. (WO-2)	Praporshchik (WO-1)	Senior michman (WO-2)	Michman (WO-1)
from 2010	Ground Forces (Army)				Air Force		Airborne troops		Navy

	Senior praporshchik (WO-2)	Praporshchik (WO-1)	Sen. prap. field uniform	Praporshchik field uniform					Senior michman (WO-2)	Michman (WO-1)

Fenrik ranks of the East German National People's Army [edit]

	Land forces and Border troops				Volksmarine

	Senior-staff-fenrik (WO-4) (Armored troops)	Staff-fenrik (WO-3) (Engineer troops)	Senior-fenrik (WO-2) (Parachute troops)	Fenrik (WO-1) (Border troops)	Senior-staff-fenrik (WO-4)	Staff-fenrik (WO-3)	Senior-fenrik (WO-2)	Fenrik (WO-1)