We all know that the designation of differences in ranks by the use of certain signs and the distribution by ranks is generally characteristic of the structure of the Russian army. However, shoulder straps are not only military. In the police, ranks and shoulder straps are also running categories.
Historical background
The first analogue of modern shoulder straps with stars, vaguely reminiscent of the current version, appeared in the Russian Empire in the middle of the 19th century. Historians associate its occurrence with the establishment of new models of uniforms for the military, namely with the appearance of the overcoat, which is now quite familiar to us. Stars and galloons were sewn onto shoulder straps, and the shoulder straps themselves were fixed on the uniform in the shoulder area. Interestingly, absolutely all officer shoulder straps, including the highest ranks, were identical in size.
The Bolshevik perception of shoulder straps with stars as a relic and symbol of autocracy and the era of tsarism in Russia led to the abolition of shoulder straps in principle. It happened immediately after the Great Socialist Revolution of 1917. However, after some time, the military Soviet leadership tookthe decision 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 an obligatory element of 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 the appropriate positions in the internal affairs bodies. Individual shoulder straps are officially established for all ranks. The location and number of badges or gaps, as well as stars on shoulder straps and police ranks are inextricably linked.
In the area of placement of stars and other elements on shoulder straps, the police turned out to be unoriginal. The placement of decals completely coincides with the army. The same can be said about special titles. In the police, they generally repeat the military ranks used in the hierarchy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, with the only exception that in the police you will not find the ranks of corporal and Marshal of the Russian Federation.
In the relevant federal law, in order to distinguish between special military and police ranks, the definition of "police" is added to the names of the latter (for example, police lieutenant). For those who are retired for one reason or another, the addition of “retired” (retired major general) is typical.
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 rank to the highest).
Ordinary police officers
The button is the main distinguishing element for the shoulder straps of an ordinary policeman. Next to the button is placed the emblem of law enforcement agencies with the significant inscription "police". Police cadets have the letter "K" added to the button and emblem to indicate their current position in the police hierarchy.
Junior officers
To begin with, let's figure out what ranks in the police are included in the broad concept of "junior commanding staff", and note that this category is the most numerous. These are all sergeants, that is, both junior and senior, and just sergeants, as well as foremen, warrant officers and senior warrant officers. For shoulder straps of all ranks, the presence of rectangular stripes is characteristic, located not along the shoulder straps (along the length), but across (in width). The difference lies in the number of these stripes.
Shoulder straps worn by junior sergeants contain two stripes. Sergeants are distinguished by the presence of three. Senior sergeants are distinguished in a special way: on their shoulder straps one wide transverse stripe flaunts. In the latter case, it is important to focus on the position of this strip of fabric, since exactly the same wide ribbon is worn by the foreman, with the difference that in the latter case it is located vertically (along the shoulder strap).
Ensigns have special distinguishing marks: their shoulder straps are decorated with small stars in a vertical arrangement. Ensigns wear shoulder straps with two such stars, whilewhile senior warrant officers are en titled to three stars.
Medium command staff
According to the legislation, the ranks of junior lieutenant, lieutenant, senior lieutenant and captain belong to the average commanding staff. On the shoulder straps of these police ranks there is a vertical strip of red color, which is commonly called "clearance". Small stars accompany the lumen.
Second lieutenants are awarded one star placed directly on the red stripe. Police lieutenants have already earned two stars, separated from one another by a transverse clearance. As you probably guessed, there were already three stars allocated for senior lieutenants, but with a very interesting arrangement: two of them frame a red ribbon on the sides (just like for lieutenants), and the third sits right in the skylight. Captains walk with four stars, two of them are parallel - on the sides of the gap, and two are nearby - directly on the strip.
Senior officers
The senior commanding staff includes majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels. The stakes are raised, and a second one is added to one gap, and the red stripes of fabric on the chase are located vertically (along the entire length). The clearance is accompanied by large stars in different quantities.
Majors have one big star on their shoulder straps, which is located in the center, exactly between two gaps. The rank of lieutenant colonel implies the presence on shoulder straps alreadynot one, but two large stars, located directly on the parallel red stripes themselves opposite each other. For colonels, on the other hand, shoulder straps are made with three large stars, two of which, as you may have already understood, are placed in the gaps parallel to each other, and one more - between the stripes, slightly in front (so that the stars form some kind of triangle).
Superior officers
First of all, let's single out the ranks of the highest commanding staff. These include major general, lieutenant general, colonel general and, in fact, general. All general epaulettes are equipped with stars of the largest (relative to all previous ranks) sizes, which are located vertically. Shoulder straps of generals of all variations do not have gaps. A separate emphasis should be placed on the fact that in the police hierarchy, the lieutenant general is higher than the major general, although the pure lieutenant is the rank of the middle commanding staff, and the major is the senior. It's hard to explain this logically, so as usual, just remember.
Major Generals march with one star located in the middle of the shoulder strap. Lieutenant generals were awarded two stars. Colonel generals, as you might guess, are the lucky owners of three stars.
Let's move on to the top of the police hierarchy, a kind of cherry on the cake from the ranks in the Russian police. The general can safely put on a uniform with epaulettes, each of which flaunts one (largest) star and the Russian coat of arms in the form of the well-known three-headed eagle. Generals -a rarity in the official hierarchy. Only a few manage to rise to this honorary rank in the police.
