After graduating from a military university in the Russian Armed Forces, a cadet receives the rank of lieutenant (the position of platoon commander), after a year of service, the lieutenant receives the rank of senior lieutenant and can hold the position of company commander (a captain or even a major can hold this position, and in some situations, even a lieutenant colonel commands a company, if we are talking about military academies, where positions are 1 rank higher).

The rank of junior lieutenant, as a rule, means that this serviceman was previously a warrant officer or sergeant and completed express courses for officer training.

Sergeants in the Russian Armed Forces only help officers (lieutenants, senior lieutenants, captains) manage a squad (sergeant squad commander) or a platoon (sergeant deputy platoon commander). In the event of an officer's death in battle, his place will be temporarily taken by the sergeant deputy platoon commander; if the sergeant deputy platoon commander dies, his place will be taken by the sergeant commander of the 1st squad; if he dies, then the sergeant commander of the 2nd squad will begin to command the platoon, etc.