Military ranks of Republika Srpska

Military ranks and insignia of Republika Srpska show military rank hierarchy and insignia system in Republika Srpska during existence of Army of Republika Srpska (Војска Републике Српскe, Vojska Republike Srpske) from May 12, 1992 to January 1, 2006, when it was merged into Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In period of existence of Army of Republika Srpska there was three periods of changing ranks:

  • Period of same as Yugoslav People's Army ranks (1992–1997),
  • Period of first change and modernization (1997–2000) and
  • Last changes before merging into Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2000–2006).
Emblem of Serbian army and left arm patch of the Army of Republika Srpska from 1997-2006

1992–1997

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Left arm patch of the Army of Republika Srpska from 1992-1997.
 
Helmet decal of the Army of Republika Srpska from 1992-1995.

This period is considered as war-time and post-war. Ranks in these period are first military ranks in Republika Srpska. During war and because of link between Army of Republika Srpksa and Yugoslav People's Army, these two armies had identical ranks system. Army almost always used field ranks because of situation and the fact that it was worn only combat uniform by soldiers and officers. According to Article 4 of "Decision of founding Army of Serb Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina" on May 12, 1992 ranks were same as in the JNA:

Ranks were worn on combat uniform above the left breast pocket on part of canvas with velcro behind. Above the rank it was a insignia of branch. Usually high officers had it on their ranks.[3]

Insignia on uniform was round-shaped flag with Cyrillic title Army of Republika Srpska (Војска Републике Српске, translit. Vojska Republike Srpske) worn on left arm.[2]

Generals and officers (1992-1997)

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Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  Republika Srpska                      
General vojske
Генерал војске
General-pukovnik
Генерал-пуковник
General-potpukovnik
Генерал-потпуковник
General-major
Генерал-мајор
Pukovnik
Пуковник
Potpukovnik
Потпуковник
Major
Мајор
Kapetan prve klase
Капетан прве класе
Kapetan
Капетан
Poručnik
Поручник
Potporučnik
Потпоручник
Usual Translation Army general Colonel general Lieutenant colonel general Major general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Senior captain Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant

Non-commissioned officers (1992-1997)

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Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  Republika Srpska             No insignia
Zastavnik prve klase
Заставник прве класе
Zastavnik
Заставник
Stariji vodnik prve klase
Старији водник прве класе
Stariji vodnik
Старији водник
Vodnik prve klase
Водник прве класе
Vodnik
Водник
Vojnik
Војник
Usual Translation Chief warrant officer Warrant officer First sergeant Senior sergeant Sergeant first class Sergeant Private

1997–2000

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After the war, the Army of Republika Srpska's administration modernized the look of ranks in the army. Despite a more modern design, they incorporated style elements and names according to Serbian military tradition and history. One change was that general ranks changed names (general to đeneral). The new ranks came into effect in 1997, when new uniforms came into service. Ranks from that period were:

  • for soldiers: vojnik (private), vojnik prve klase (1st class private) and mlađi vodnik (junior sergeant),
  • for non-commissioned officers: vodnik (sergeant), stariji vodnik (senior sergeant), zastavnik (warrant officer),
  • for officers: poručnik (lieutenant), kapetan (captain), major (major), potpukovnik (lieutenant colonel), pukovnik (colonel),
  • for generals: đeneral-major (major general), đeneral-potpukovnik (lieutenant colonel general), đeneral-pukovnik (colonel general) and đeneral Vojske (army general).[4][5]

Generals and officers (1997–2000)

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Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  Republika Srpska No insignia                
Đeneral Vojske
Ђенерал војске
Đeneral-pukovnik
Ђенерал-пуковник
Đeneral-potpukovnik
Ђенерал-потпуковник
Đeneral-major
Ђенерал-мајор
Pukovnik
Пуковник
Potpukovnik
Потпуковник
Major
Мајор
Kapetan
Капетан
Poručnik
Поручник
Usual Translation Army general Colonel general Lieutenant colonel general Major general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant

Non-commissioned officers (1997–2000)

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Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  Republika Srpska       No insignia No insignia No insignia
Zastavnik
Заставник
Stariji vodnik
Старији водник
Vodnik
Водник
Mlađi vodnik
Млађи водник
Vojnik prve klase
Војник прве клас
Vojnik
Војник
Usual Translation Warrant officer Senior sergeant Sergeant Junior sergeant Private first class Private

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Vojska Republike Srpske i priključenija". Vreme (in Serbian). April 17, 2008.
  2. ^ a b "Одлука о формирању Војске Српске Републике Босне и Херцеговине". Wikisource (in Serbian).
  3. ^ "Republic of Srpska ranks". kokosar.com (in Serbian).
  4. ^ "Činovi u VRS u periodu 1997-2000". Pitomci VRS (in Serbian). December 14, 2019.
  5. ^ "Vojska Republike Srpske". Srpska enciklopedija (in Serbian).