# 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 group | Warrant officers | Warrant officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Enlisted men | Enlisted men |
| Parade Shoulder boards (Committee of State Security Forces, KGB) | | | | | | | | | |
| Parade Shoulder boards (Border Troops) | | | | | | | | | |
| Parade Shoulder boards (Internal Troops) | | | | | | | | | |
| | (introduced 1981) | (introduced 1971) | (from 1964) | (until 1963) |
| | Ста́рший пра́порщик Stárshiy práporshchik | Пра́порщик Práporshchyk | Старшина́ Starshyná | Старшина́ Starshyná | Ста́рший сержа́нт Stárshiy serzhánt | Сержа́нт Serzhánt | Мла́дший сержа́нт Mládshiy serzhánt | Ефре́йтор Efréĭtor | Рядово́й Ryadovóy |
| US equivalent | Chief warrant officer | Warrant officer | Command sergeant major | Command sergeant major | Sergeant major | Master sergeant | Sergeant | Private first class | Private |
Colors by type of troops:
* State security troops (KGB troops) – dark blue, instead of the letters "СА" (Советская Армия) the letters "ГБ" (Государственная Безопасность – State Security);
* Internal troops (Interior Ministry troops) – crimson (dark red), instead of the letters "СА" (Советская Армия) the letters "ВВ" (Внутренние Войска);
* Border troops – green, instead of the letters "СА" (Советская Армия) the letters "ПВ" (Пограничные Войска).

### Letter codes from 1972 onward

* ВВ – (Russian: Внутренние Войска, romanized: Vnutrennie voiska) – Internal Troops
* ГБ – (Russian: Госуда́рственной Безопа́сности, romanized: Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti) – Committee for State Security (KGB)
* К – (Russian: Курсант, romanized: Kursant) – higher military college student
* ПВ – (Russian: Пограничные войска, romanized: Pogranichnye voiska) – border troops

### Army officers and generals (all services)

| Rank group | General officers | General officers | General officers | General officers | General officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet |
| Parade Shoulder boards (Committee of State Security forces, KGB) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Parade Shoulder boards (Border Troops) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Parade Shoulder boards (Internal Troops) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (from 1974) | (until 1974) |
| | Генера́л а́рмии Generál ármii | Генера́л а́рмии Generál ármii | Генера́л-полко́вник Generál-polkóvnik | Генера́л-лейтена́нт Generál-leytenánt | Генера́л-майо́р Generál-mayór | Полко́вник Polkóvnik | Подполко́вник Podpolkóvnik | Майо́р Majór | Kапита́н Kapitán | Старший лейтена́нт Stárshiy leytenánt | Лейтенант Leytenant | Mла́дший лейтена́нт Mládshiy leytenánt | Курсант Kursant |
| US equivalent | General | General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier general | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | First lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Cadet / Officer candidate |