Under Peter the Great, military service began with the lowest ranks. To address the issue of high-quality military training, the autocrat recruited the class that best preserved military traditions and was traditionally dedicated to military service. This class consisted of nobles, for whom Peter issued a decree mandating lifelong personal service. Upon reaching the age of 16, young men were examined by special commissions. Those who failed this test were "written off as soldiers" without seniority, while those who passed were taken into the civil service: two-thirds into the military and one-third into the civil service. No one was exempt from service, so the most valuable military class was fully utilized.

Young men who successfully passed the tests and wished to become officers were sent as privates to one of the guards regiments - Preobrazhensky or Semyonovsky - formed at the end of the 17th century. After serving for five or six years, they received the rank of corporal or sergeant of the guards and were transferred to army regiments, with subsequent assignment of military ranks of ensign or lieutenant. Both of the Guards regiments were a kind of officer training school for the army, acting to some extent as military academies that provided their students with good military and combat training.

The role of the officers of the Guards and their importance in the life of the state at that time were very great. They carried out not only military service, but often carried out responsible long-term assignments of a different nature, for example, diplomatic, were the tsar's couriers, auditors. The officer of the Guards strove to imitate his sovereign, trying to be a jack of all trades. And Peter 1 could show his hands covered with calluses to everyone. According to his contemporaries, he was skilled in more than a dozen different crafts, and he was equally proficient at using an axe in a shipyard and a lathe to create intricate ivory carvings. The Tsar recognized the importance of officers in the state and sought to provide them with a privileged position. In the "Table of Ranks," military officers had advantages over civilian officials or courtiers when their ranks were equal.

The Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky regiments laid the foundation for many of the glorious military traditions of the Russian army. Sergei Bukhvostov, who expressed his desire to serve voluntarily for the glory of Russian arms, became the first soldier in the regular Russian army. In honor of the first guardsman, the tsar commissioned a bronze bust from the famous Italian sculptor Bartolomeo Rastrelli, which unfortunately has not survived. Bukhvostov participated in numerous battles and rose from a soldier to a major, serving in the army until the age of 68.

In 1700, the guards saved the Russian army from defeat at Narva. When the bridge over the river collapsed, preventing the Russian regiments from crossing, the Semenov and Preobrazhensky guards stood their ground and refused to retreat until the bridge was rebuilt and the rest of the army could cross. Despite the numerical advantage of the Swedish king, Charles XII, the guards withstood all attacks and protected the retreat of the Russian army. Since then, the king has ordered the guards to wear red stockings instead of white, as a sign that they fought at the crossing, knee-deep in blood.

The formation of the Russian officer corps is associated with the emergence of a regular army. Ivan Buturlin should be considered the first officer of this army. In the earliest list of officers of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, dating back to 1687 (the date of the transfer of the mock troops to the

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purely military service and military organization), I. Buturlin was listed as a major. Until that time, in the Peter's military formations, rank production was not regulated, and Buturlin immediately received his high rank as a person "more zealous and more accepting of Peter's studies." As for the further practice of producing officers, the autocrat, in contrast to the practice of foreign armies, where patents for officer ranks were sold for money, considered the system correct when the future officer began his service as a private.

The tradition of promotion that had been established at that time became an integral part of the officer corps's daily life. The army and navy began to develop their views on the role and significance of the officer as a commander and educator. At the same time, the concept of true officer honor was formed, which was destined to play a significant role in strengthening the state's armed forces. The Russian army grew stronger and more united, and its officers, who were raised in a Spartan spirit and with a deep love for their profession, repeatedly demonstrated their superiority over the commanding officers of foreign armies.

The remarkable quality of Russian officers is their unwavering devotion to their homeland. Peter the Great patiently and persistently encouraged his soldiers to focus all their thoughts and actions on the well-being of Russia, setting an example of selfless service to the state. On the eve of the Battle of Poltava, which began at dawn on June 27, 1709, a royal order was read to the troops: "The time has come to decide the fate of our homeland. Do not think that you are fighting for Peter, but for the state that God has entrusted to Peter, for your family, for your Fatherland, for your faith, and for the Church. And know that Peter does not value his own life, as long as Russia, its piety, glory, and prosperity, continue to exist.

During the battle, Peter the Great was at the head of his regiments and commanded the troops. Bullets flew around him, and his saddle, hat, and coat were shot through, but fortunately, he was unharmed. By noon, the Swedish army had been defeated, and its remnants were captured. King Charles XII of Sweden, along with a small group of soldiers and the traitor Ivan Mazepa, barely managed to escape across the Dnieper River to Turkey. Few generals have achieved such a brilliant victory as Peter's at Poltava. It helped the tsar gain international attention and recognition for himself and his beloved Russia. Countries such as Poland, Denmark, France, and Prussia sought his favor and expressed their desire to form an alliance with Russia.

With the first regular military formations in Russia, the concept of officer honor began to be introduced into the emerging system of military training and education. It was intertwined with the concept of patriotism. "How can a person who fights for their own glory, rather than for the defense of their homeland, be considered a hero?" asked Peter the Great. Before the развернутыми боевыми стягами, soldiers swore an oath to "serve their homeland faithfully and obediently, and to act in accordance with the principles of honor, loyalty, and bravery."As one Russian officer rightly wrote, a state cannot exist without military force, so it is the duty of every citizen to be a good soldier and to be able to bravely defend their country.

Unfortunately, in the following years, the traditions on which Peter's officers were raised underwent significant transformation. The Russian army became filled with blind imitators of the detrimental Prussian system of military training. Protectionism and sycophancy flourished. In defiance of Peter's rule that required "knowledge of the fundamentals of soldiering" for promotion to officer ranks, parents with connections at court began enlisting their children as privates in the Guards at a young age. Having been promoted from the cradle, young men with no military experience or knowledge of service were given command of entire units, but they were unable to lead them effectively.

Fortunately, history also knows of exceptions. For example, A. Yermolov, a future military celebrity, was born in May 1777 and was already a quartermaster in the Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment the following year, and soon became a sergeant in the same regiment. At the age of 15, he was promoted to captain and appointed as a senior adjutant to General A. N. Samoilov. For his military achievements, the 17-year-old was awarded the Order of St. George, 4th class, by personal order of A. V. Suvorov. At the age of 29, Alexey Petrovich is promoted to colonel, and at the age of 31-to Major General. A. P. Ermolov is a direct participant in all the major battles of the Patriotic War of 1812. He especially distinguished himself in the battles of Vitebsk, Smolensk, and Borodino. Maloyaroslavets, Krasny, Berezina. After the Battle of Smolensk, he is awarded the military rank of Lieutenant General.

In the 18th century, the Russian officer corps was largely made up of non-commissioned officers, nobles, and low-ranking officials who were recruited. At the end of the century, the Russian army was the only one, aside from the revolutionary French army, where soldiers and non-commissioned officers had free access to officer ranks. This was the golden age of Russian officerhood. Alexander Suvorov was a popular idol. His ideas about the officer's honor quickly penetrated into the army environment, awakening memories of the glorious times of Peter the Great. After the storming of Ismail, the great commander remarked, "Kutuzov and I understand each other well. If Ismail had not been taken, neither of us would have survived." Alexander Vasilyevich expressed the commander's duty in a clear and simple manner, emphasizing that the life and valor of an officer lie in victory. Victory over enemies. Victory for the sake of the Fatherland and the Russian land.

Young people who wanted to serve in the army as officers were subject to higher requirements. It was believed that such young men "belong not to their parents, but to their country, which should be more sacred to them than anything else in the world, and their entire upbringing should be focused on making them not only fit for military service, but also excellent servants to their fellow citizens."

The public understood that military service was more difficult and demanding than other professions. The duties of the defenders of the Fatherland were so numerous that they deserved the respect of the public. This was especially true of the officers. Throughout Russia's history, the best officers served their country selflessly, as their country's well-being brought them the greatest moral satisfaction.

Therefore, it is no coincidence that the commanders of the army and navy units paid a lot of attention to the need to uphold the honor of the Russian officer. This was primarily manifested in their love for their unit and its battle flag. Traditionally, every young officer was required to know the history of their unit.

Since Peter the Great's time, each infantry and dragoon company had its own banner. The banner of the 1st company was white and was the regimental banner, while the color of the other companies was determined by the regimental commander.

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These banners were black in color. The officers and soldiers revered their banner, which was considered a relic. Many heroic deeds were performed by the officers, who defended the honor of their units and set an example of valiant service for their subordinates. The unit's banner was considered a true sacred object, and every officer was willing to sacrifice their life for it, demanding the same from their soldiers.

In this regard, the following historical fact is noteworthy. In January 1881, under the command of General M.D. Skobelev, Russian troops stormed the Turkmen fortress of Geok-Tepe. At the head of one of the assault columns were the soldiers of the Apsheronsky Battalion, which had lost its banner during a recent night attack by the enemy. The officers and soldiers defended the battle flag to the last. The battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Magalov, was the first to fall, hacked to pieces by sabers. After him, two company commanders, a doctor and a battalion banner-bearer were killed. The enemy was able to capture the banner when several wounded officers and soldiers remained in the battalion, so for the Absheron people, taking the fortress was a matter of honor - the banner must be returned at any cost. After a while, a thunderous, joyful "Hurrah!" rang out over the fortress, covering the noise of the battle: it was the Absheron people who recaptured their banner from the enemy. From all sides they were answered with an equally loud victory cry.

The soldiers' joy was further enhanced by the fact that the banner had been captured by their own battalion lieutenant, Voropayev. The banner was located in a fortress, guarded by several dozen specially selected Turkmen soldiers. The brave officer and his subordinates rushed forward, overpowered the guards, and seized the banner.

The story of the loss and return of the banner of the Absheron battalion is remarkable not so much for the combat side of the matter, but for the strength of people's moral feelings. The officers were so shocked by the threat of dishonor that they managed to inspire the soldiers with the idea of rescuing the shrine at any cost. The battalion lived on one thought: to wash away the shame, to take revenge on the enemy, and Lieutenant Voropaev, moved by a sense of military honor, led the soldiers into a deadly battle to save the banner.

When the cuirassier regiments were formed in 1733, standards were introduced. The regimental standard of the guards units was a rectangular silk banner with an image of Christ. The banner was attached to a wooden carved pole with two gilded chains, topped with a golden double-headed eagle. The standard was a regimental shrine, and it was given special honors. He was sworn in by young soldiers and officers, saluted by standing at attention, even by generals. Civilians were required to remove their hats when they saw this shrine of the regiment. In the regimental formation, the standard was met with special music, when it appeared, they took "on guard", while drawing cold weapons and saluting them. In case of loss of the standard in battle, the unit was subject to disbandment.

Veterans who preserved the army's traditions and contributed to their continuation were great advocates of respect for the banners and standards of the units.

So, at one of the officer meetings of the cuirassier regiment, one of the veterans told those present that, while moving in a marching column through the streets of the town of N., the battalion commander noticed an ancient elder who, at the sight of the column, took off his cap and stood at attention, " What are you, grandfather? - the battalion commander asked, - Why are you standing still?"'But of course,' the old man replied, ' this is my native regiment, and I went to the Touretch region in such a uniform, my dear fellow&"quot;. The battalion commander turned his horse and galloped to the regimental commander. The general ordered all 16 banners to be unfurled, and the regimental units marched in a solemn procession, accompanied by music, in front of the veteran. All the soldiers were filled with a sacred fervor. The exact location and time of the meeting with the veteran were recorded in the regimental journal on the same day.

In general, the Russian army and navy had a tradition of treating veterans of regiments and ships with respect, as well as people whose combat experience deserved all kinds of respect. This was a common occurrence and a well-established norm of behavior. In the memoirs of Lieutenant General A. Ignatiev, "Fifty Years in the Ranks," the following incident is recorded. The military regulations of the last quarter of the 19th century required that at the funeral of any military personnel, regardless of rank or position, the military personnel present in full dress uniform with their medals. And when the old sergeant-major, a local celebrity of the Guards regiment, was being buried, not only all the officers of the regiment were present, but also many of the old cavalry officers, led by their former regimental commanders. After the funeral service, the coffin of the old soldier was carried by six former regimental commanders, and a platoon led by a sergeant-major performed military honors outside, accompanied by the solemn music of the regimental trumpeters.

In the guards regiments, the norms of officer honor were observed with particular scrupulousness. The fact is that the admission to service in a guards unit, even as a volunteer, ultimately depended on the decision of the general meeting of the regiment's officers. Each applicant was notified of this decision separately. No one was accepted into the guards without consideration. This was an established tradition that no one dared to violate.

One of the reasons for the strength and cohesion of the officer corps of the Russian state was the fact that its representatives sacredly preserved and multiplied the glorious military traditions that had historical roots. The observance of these sacred traditions was and still should serve as a kind of lever for the upbringing of future officers, commanders, and staff members. Therefore, we need to know the historical past of our Motherland and its glorious military forces well.

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