"15-year-old captain": who was given such an offensive nickname in the Soviet army

  • Mar 21, 2022
" 15-year-old captain": who was given such an offensive nickname in the Soviet army

There are such citizens among the military who receive a rather insulting, stating the fact nickname - "15-year-old captain." It is not at all difficult to guess its origin. However, another question arises. To whom and for what such nicknames were given? What a person in military service had to do or not do in order to be awarded such an “honor”. Let's try to figure it out.

Where is the cherished big star? |Photo: postimg.cc.
Where is the cherished big star? |Photo: postimg.cc.
Where is the cherished big star? |Photo: postimg.cc.

Let's start with the obvious. The nickname "15-year-old captain" in the Soviet and now Russian army was received by those who are no longer two or even three terms "proudly" wore four small captain's stars on shoulder straps and could not wait for one big one - major. And with it, the solemn inclusion in the cohort of senior officers. Very many of these citizens did not receive an additional rank even after retirement, in fact, passing their entire military career in the rank of captain. How does it happen?

A 15 year old captain will not always be a bad officer. |Photo: livejournal.com.
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A 15 year old captain will not always be a bad officer. |Photo: livejournal.com.

In fact, everything is quite simple. There are three main reasons why a soldier remains in the same rank for a long time. Let's talk about the most popular at the very end. First reason - this is the absence of a position under the next rank in the place of service. Most often, this happens when a soldier ends up serving somewhere "to hell with it", in a place that you would not want even an enemy. Most often, these are important, but extremely unpromising places for the fulfillment of duty to the Motherland.

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Drinkers are not liked anywhere, especially in the army. |Photo: X/F: DMB.
Drinkers are not liked anywhere, especially in the army. |Photo: X/F: DMB.

The second reason are conflicts with superiors. What a sin to hide in the army are the same people as elsewhere. It has its own specifics, but intrigues, squabbles, quarrels, mutual hostility, the inability to fit into the team and many others appear there just like everywhere else. Sometimes it also happens that an officer is actually good and performs his service approximately, but at the same time he does not agree with his superiors. Or he simply lacks any ambition.

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To be honest, they always drank in the army. But it was never encouraged, and those who abused were never loved. |Photo: X/F Only old men go into battle.
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Third reason is the most common. Most often, “15-year-old captains” are those officers who over and over again “mow”: they violate military regulations, dishonestly perform their official duties, they are late or even skip the service, and the worst thing is that they drink alcohol. Including directly at the location of the military unit. Those who abuse alcohol are not loved anywhere, including in the army.

If you want to know even more interesting things, then you should read about
why the red army first removed shoulder straps, and then returned under Stalin.
A source:
https://novate.ru/blogs/061221/61486/