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

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:

• for soldiers: vojnik (private), razvodnik (lance corporal), desetar (corporal) and mlađi vodnik (junior sergeant),
• for non-commissioned officers: vodnik (sergeant), vodnik prve klase (sergeant first class), stariji vodnik (senior sergeant), stariji vodnik prve klase (first sergeant), zastavnik (warrant officer), zastavnik prve klase (chief warrant officer),
• for officers: potporučnik (second lieutenant), poručnik (lieutenant), kapetan (captain), kapetan prve klase (senior captain), major (major), potpukovnik (lieutenant colonel), pukovnik (colonel) and
• for generals: general-major (major general), general-potpukovnik (lieutenant colonel general), general-pukovnik (colonel general) and general vojske (army general).^[1][2]

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)

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)

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

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)

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)

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

• Army of Republika Srpska

References

1. "Vojska Republike Srpske i priključenija". Vreme (in Serbian). April 17, 2008.
2. "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).