We all know that the designation of differences in ranks through the use of certain marks and the distribution of ranks are generally characteristic of the structure of the Russian army. However, epaulets are not only military. The police ranks and shoulder straps are also running categories.
Historical reference
The first analogue of modern epaulettes with stars, vaguely reminiscent of the current version, appeared in the Russian Empire in the middle of the 19th century. Historians attribute its emergence to the establishment of new models of uniforms for the military, namely the appearance of the overcoat now quite familiar to us. Stars and galloons were sewn on shoulder straps, and shoulder straps themselves were fixed on a uniform in the shoulder area. Interestingly, in size absolutely all officer epaulets, including the highest ranks, were identical.
The Bolshevik perception of epaulettes with asterisks as a relic and a symbol of autocracy and the era of tsarism in Russia led to the abolition of epaulettes in principle. This happened immediately after the Great Socialist Revolution of 1917. However, after some time, the military Soviet leadership decided to return the insignia, familiar from a historical point of view. The first sign of this is the appearance of sleeve patches. Already after the stripes in 1943, shoulder straps were officially returned as a mandatory element of a military uniform.
Military and police ranks
Special ranks in the police of the Russian Federation can only be awarded to citizens of the Russian Federation appointed to relevant posts in the internal affairs bodies. Individual ranks are officially established for all ranks. The location and number of bows or gaps, as well as stars on uniform and police ranks are inextricably linked.
In the field of placing stars and other elements on epaulettes, the police turned out to be unoriginal. Placement of decals completely coincides with the army. The same can be said about special ranks. In police, they generally repeat the military ranks used in the hierarchy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, with the only exception that you will not find the rank of corporal and Marshal of the Russian Federation in the police.
In the corresponding federal law, in order to distinguish between special military and police ranks, the definition of “police” (for example, police lieutenant) is added to the names of the latter. For those who are retired for one reason or another, the addition of “retired” (major general retired) is characteristic.
Please note: the following are the ranks in the police in order in accordance with the increase in weight and authority in the bodies (from the lowest to highest rank).
Private police
The button is the main distinguishing element for the shoulder strap of an ordinary policeman. Next to the button is the law enforcement emblem with the meaningful inscription "police". For police cadets, the letter “K” is added to the button and logo to indicate their current position in the police hierarchy.
Junior commanding staff
To begin with, we’ll look at what ranks in the police are included in the broad concept of “junior commanding officers,” and note that this category is the most numerous. These are all sergeants, that is, junior and senior, and just sergeants, as well as foremen, ensigns and senior ensigns. The shoulder straps of all ranks are characterized by the presence of rectangular bows located not along the shoulder straps (in length), but across (in width). The difference is in the number of these bastards.
Epaulettes, owned by junior sergeants, contain two leashi. Sergeants are distinguished by the presence of three. Senior sergeants are singled out in a special way: on their epaulets flaunts along one wide transverse tab. In the latter case, it is important to focus on the position of this strip of fabric, since exactly the same wide tab is worn by foreman with the difference that in the latter case it is located vertically (along the shoulder strap).
Warrant officers have special distinctive signs: their shoulder straps are made out with small stars in a vertical arrangement. Warrant officers wear epaulets with two such stars, while senior warrant officers have three stars.
The average commanding staff
The average commanding staff under the law includes the rank of junior lieutenant, lieutenant, senior lieutenant and captain. On the shoulder straps of the police data ranks is a vertical strip of red, which is commonly called "clearance". Enlightenment is accompanied by small stars.
Junior lieutenants awarded one star placed directly on the red strip. Police lieutenants have already earned two stars, separated from each other by a transverse clearance. As you probably guessed, there were already three stars for senior lieutenants, but with a very interesting arrangement: two of them frame a red ribbon on the sides (like the lieutenants), and the third sits right in the gap. Captains walk with four stars, of which two parallel - on the sides of the lumen, and two nearby - directly on the strip.
Senior commanding staff
The senior commanding staff includes majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels. Rates are increased, and a second one is added to one lumen, and red strips of fabric are located on the pursuit vertically (along the entire length). The clearance is accompanied by large size stars in different numbers.
The majors have on their shoulder straps one large star, which is located in the center, exactly between two gaps. The rank of lieutenant colonel suggests the presence on the shoulder straps of not one but two large stars located directly on the parallel red stripes themselves opposite each other. For colonels, epaulets are made with three large stars, two of which, as you may have already understood, are placed parallel to each other in the gaps, and another one is between the strips, slightly in front (so that the stars make up some kind of triangle).
Supreme commanding staff
First of all, let us single out the titles of the highest commanding staff. These include a major general, lieutenant general, colonel general and, in fact, general. All general uniforms are equipped with stars of the largest (relative to all previous ranks) sizes, which are arranged vertically. Shoulder straps of generals of all variations have no gaps. A separate emphasis should be placed on the fact that in the police hierarchy, the lieutenant general is superior to the major general, although the lieutenant in its purest form is the rank of middle commanding officer, and the major is senior. It is logically very difficult to explain this, therefore, as usual, just remember.
Major Generals march with one star, located in the middle of the epaulette. Lieutenant Generals were awarded two stars. Colonel General, as you might guess, the lucky owners of three stars.
We pass to the top of the police hierarchy, a sort of cherry on the cake from the ranks of the Russian police. The general can safely put on a uniform with epaulettes, on each of which one (the largest) star and the Russian coat of arms flaunt in the form of the three-headed eagle known to all. Generals are a rarity in the service hierarchy. Only a few manage to rise to this honorary title in the police.