Praporshchik

Praporshchik (Russian: пра́порщик, pronounced [ˈprapərɕɪk]) is a rank in the Russian military and is used in other uniformed services of the Russian government such as the Police. It was a junior officer rank (comparable to NATO OF-1) in Imperial Russia and was restored in the 1970s as a separate career group between non-commissioned officers and officers (comparable to OR-9).

Praporshchik was originally an Ober-ofizer rank, in line to the Table of Ranks class XII/XIII in the military of the Russian Empire equivalent to a junior officer rank (OF-1). The rank was abolished in 1917 by the Bolsheviks (but still existed in 1917—1921 in the White Army) and restored in the 1970s in the former USSR for non-commissioned officers and became equivalent to the non-commissioned officer rank OR-9.

It was first introduced in Streltsy 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 a 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 or volunteer officers with no previous service. From then on commissioned officers started service as Podporuchik.

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