The training of non-commissioned officers in the Siberian rear during the First World War

In this article the non-commissioned officers (NCOs) of the Russian Army's Siberian rear during the years of the First World War are considered. This article marks one of the rare times when their training is given a special attention rather than discussing it as part of a larger matter. For this end, the information on the 17th and the 21st Siberian infantry reserve battalions of the 4th Siberian Rifle Reserve Brigade, as well as the 18th and 38th Siberian infantry reserve battalions of the 5th Siberian Rifle Reserve Brigade is analyzed. This information is found in some of the documents of the Novosibirsk Oblast State Archive. An examination is given to different occurrences of anything related to the NCOs, such as their being sent to study, participating in conflicts between soldiers or taking part in training recruits. The author's research allows drawing a conclusion that non-commissioned officers and gefreiters really played an important role in the army. The duties of NCOs were diverse. They were primarily engaged in the maintenance of cleanliness and order in companies' quarters. Along with the aforementioned maintenance of order they were often tasked with training of new recruits. For example, during field exercises NCOs led groups of soldiers or helped the officers to command. Sometimes they also had to use tactical skills. It was them who trained new recruits in the officers' absence which happened a lot if their commanding officer was not dutiful enough. Most of the non-commissioned officers and gefreiters had to go through a 2.5-month course of the training team at some point. At the announcement of the selection of candidates for the training team made by the commander a certain number of people from each company was selected, including those of the regular replenishment companies. The best soldiers were sent to the training team; in particular, candidates had to have completed a full course of shooting exercises. Despite the existence of corresponding regulations, they were not always carried out. On entering the training team, candidates had to pass eight entrance exams. There were also thirteen final exams. Both the discipline and training of these soldiers were not perfect, with the reason for this being not only themselves, but also their commanders who bore responsibility for it. Despite careful selection and preparation, frequent violations were committed by the commanders of lower ranks in relation to subordinates, as well as other offenses or manifestations of negligence. It happened that the commanders of lower ranks committed assaults against subordinates. Sometimes it provoked a response from the subordinates. That might be a matter of a separate research.

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