Military ranks of the KGB (1955–1991)

After the Armed forces' ranks and rank insignia of the Soviet Armed Forces between 1955 and 1991 were reorganized after the death of Stalin, The KGB, along with its branches, the MVD, and the Border Troops, underwent the same reorganization of ranks, completely removing the regimental numbering of 1943-1955.

Changes to distinction insignia

Shoulder straps to field use In December 1956 the colored border piping on officers' shoulder straps was changed.

Enlisted men, non-commissioned officers, and warrant officers

Security forces Rank groupWarrant officersNon-commissioned officersEnlisted menParade Shoulder boards (Committee of State Security Forces, KGB)Parade Shoulder boards (Border Troops)Parade Shoulder boards (Internal Troops)US equivalentChief warrant officerWarrant officerCommand sergeant majorSergeant majorMaster sergeantSergeantPrivate first classPrivate Colors by type of troops:

State security troops (KGB troops) – dark blue, instead of the letters "СА" (SA; , Sovetskaya Armiya, 'Soviet Army') the letters "" (GB; , Gosudarstvennaya Bezopasnost – State Security); Internal troops (Interior Ministry troops) – crimson (dark red), instead of the letters "СА" the letters "" (VV; , Vnutrenniye Voyska); Border troops – green, instead of the letters "" the letters "" (, Pogranichnyye Voyska).

Letter codes from 1972 onward

– (VV; ) – Internal Troops – (GB; ) – Committee for State Security (KGB) – (K; ) – higher military college student – (PV; ) – border troops

Army officers and generals (all services) Rank groupGeneral officersSenior officersJunior officersOfficer cadetParade Shoulder boards (Committee of State Security forces, KGB)Parade Shoulder boards (Border Troops)Parade Shoulder boards (Internal Troops)US equivalentGeneralLieutenant generalMajor generalBrigadier generalColonelLieutenant colonelMajorCaptainFirst lieutenantSecond lieutenantCadet / Officer candidate

Military ranks of the KGB (1955–1991)

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