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Originally Posted by Anthony_Scott
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Originally Posted by Snipey
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The last article is truly a must read. Thank you  Also, I remember someone here talking about Soviets not having NCOs, or something like that: "Andrei: Typically 22 people or somewhere around there. There were five officers, 4 NCO's, and the rest sergeants and privates. " |
I am referring to the lack of long-service NCO's like we have in the West. Those men tend to be the backbone of a long-service army and RussianSoviet military doctrine of the time put many of the duties associated with low- to mid-ranking corporals and sgts into the hands of very junior lieutenant ranks. To my knowledge that practice has not changed. |
In the early 1970's the Soviets reintroduced the
praporshchik rank. Sort of an ensign or warrant officer. [Isby, weapons and tactics of the Soviet Army, p65]
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Praporishchiki are trained in one-year courses and enjoy many of the privileges of officers ... have developed much of the aura of respect and competence of the Anglo-American warrant officer ...
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Isby also mentions that there is also a route for NCO conscripts to remain in the army by enlisting for extended service, those not deemed quite good enough to become Praporishchiki remain as plain NCOs. However, only about 1-2% would extend after their 2 years conscript service. Most Russians would rather be out of the army!.
Isby gives 5% of the Soviet Army as being long-service NCOs. This is minuscule by comparison with Western armies, even those which bulked up their "other-ranks" volume with national service conscripts.
Also, Praporishchiki were often employed as e.g helicopter pilots, missile system operators or similar to-task specialists, rather than as line (e.g motor rifle) unit SNCOs. So the Soviets were not really using these as a "Backbone" to the army as Company(+) sergeant-majors etc.
Cheers
Andy