Shoulder straps of the RIA Infantry ensign during the First World War

With the introduction of officer shoulder straps in 1854, the combination of one lumen and one asterisk began to denote the first officer rank – the rank of ensign. After 1884, this rank was reserved only for reserve officers. Enlisted men who had served their military service and passed a special exam were promoted to ensigns. When mobilization was announced, ensigns were called up for active service to replenish the officer corps before the wartime states, as was the case in 1904 and 1914. Since the end of 1914, graduates of special military educational institutions, schools of ensigns, also began to receive the rank of ensign. School graduates were listed as "armed by type" and wore shoulder straps without ciphers, which they often continued to use even after being assigned to military units. Those who consisted of infantry and field artillery (except mounted) were entitled to shoulder straps with gold braid, a silver star, a red lumen and a red lining. A characteristic feature of shoulder straps from the period of the First World War is the lining and edging of a pile of cotton fabric. During the war, instrument cloth became more expensive very quickly, and the 300 rubles allowance given to commissioned officers for equipment was barely enough to buy everything they needed, which forced newly minted warrant officers to save literally every penny. Rare ones. Guarantee of authenticity.