Post-1969 Officer Pattern Shoulder Boards
for Greatcoat and Jacket (Four sided)

This section displays the typical four-sided rank boards worn by officers of the Soviet ground forces between 1979 and 1991.  These rank boards were worn with all suit jackets and greatcoats in accordance with military regulations.  These long four-sided boards were typically sewn directly onto the shoulders of each jacket or coat.

The rank shoulder boards of this time were issued in four distinct variations: Parade, Service, Greatcoat, and Field.  Parade rank boards were worn with the formal wave green uniforms.  Until 1980, those boards worn by army branch members differed from those of support service members by being gold rather than silver.  The secondary color of the support service members included magenta, where the army used only black and red.  These were abolished in 1980.  The members of the medical and veterinary services transitioned to red boards identical to those used by motor rifle troops.  All others used rank boards according to the other branches such as armor or artillery.

Service rank boards were used for everyday functions and occasionally in the field.  The grey boards worn with the greatcoat were used in cold weather environments.  Field boards before 1986 were identical to service boards but used green painted stars in place of the shiny gold colored ones.  After 1986 only green painted stars were worn by officers.  These were attached directly to the uniform's faux shoulder board loops or to the uniform itself when it lacked them.

With respect to the rank table below it should be mentioned that Marshals and Chief Marshals were only appointed to Artillery, Armor, Signals, Engineering, and Aviation.  The technical troops (road building, railroad, chemical, motor, and topographic) did not have designated marshal or chief marshal over their services. <4>

The highest ranks were unavailable to members of the support services.  The highest rank within the administrative service was colonel, the veterinary service could only attain the rank of lieutenant general, while the others could reach the rank of colonel-general.  Officers who desired to promote above these ranks would have to change their billet within the unit and progress from that point. <4>

 Generals and Marshals

Coming Soon!

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 Coming Soon!
(except Administrative)

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 Senior Officer

Post-1969 Officer Shoulder
Boards for Shirt (Six-sided)

In this section you will find the shoulder rank boards that were worn by officers, generals, and marshals on the shirt sleeve uniforms established in 1966.  Prior to 1986 the only shirt sleeve uniform was the green M-66 service shirt.  This uniform used the service (everyday) shoulder boards shown below.  It was the only shirt sleeve uniform authorized by the army.  This changed in early 1986 when the parade version of the M-66 shirt was authorized.  A new series of white parade rank boards were also established to be worn with the new white shirt.

As with all shoulder boards of this type, they were designed to be slipped through loops on the shoulders of a uniforms and secured by a 14mm button pushed through the board and sewn directly to the shirt.  The gold colored button featured a star with hammer and sickle design on it.  Furthermore, the officer's branch of service was indicated by a branch of service pin placed on the board just below the button.  This can be seen in our examples below.

 Generals and Marshals

 Senior Officer

 Junior Officer

Post-1971 Warrant Officer Shoulder
Boards for Greatcoat and Jacket (Four sided)<3>

Warrant officer (praporchik) shoulder boards for the greatcoat and jacket remained identical to those established in 1971.  These boards came in four distinct versions, but all were designed to be sewn directly onto the shoulders of the uniform in a manner identical to that of the officer rank boards.

Color of the rank boards varied depending on whether they were everyday dress, for the greatcoat, or for field use.  Furthermore, the everyday rank boards differed in color depending on what branch of the army the soldier belonged to.  Those in motor rifle, medical, or band units wore red boards with their everyday uniform, while all others wore black boards.  The rank boards worn with the great coat were grey.  The stars of all the boards were gold in color.

Prior to 1986, shoulder boards worn by praporchiks in the field were green with green painted stars (although it was common to see boards with gold stars as well).  After 1986 praporchiks wore two or three green painted stars on the faux shoulder boards built into their uniforms.  Even so, it was common to see praporchiks wearing parade/everyday boards with green or gold stars in the field.

 Warrant Officer

Post-1971 Warrant Officer
Shoulder Boards for Shirt (Six-sided) <3>

Here we have the shoulder boards worn by praporchiks on the green each day shirt sleeve uniform after their establishment in 1971.  Initially, these rank boards came only in green everyday versions, but in 1986 white parade boards were authorized.  These were worn with the white shirt sleeve uniform.

These boards were designed to be slipped through loops on the shoulders of a uniforms and secured by a 14mm button pushed through the board and sewn directly to the shirt.  The gold colored button featured a star with hammer and sickle design on it.  In contrast to the officer boards of this type, a the branch of service pin was not worn by warrant officers on these shoulder boards.

 Warrant Officer