Kursant

A Kursant is a higher military college student, officer-student of the police, or a military trainee of the Russian Armed Forces (курсант). The term is frequently used as well in other countries of the former Soviet Union to refer those training to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee or cadet, e.g. in the Nakhimov Cadet Corps in Saint Petersburg.

The equivalent to this rank might be Cadet in the US, or Fenrik in German speaking countries. However, Kursant ranks are often mixed up e.g. to the rank of an ensign in the British Army, which is that of an already commissioned officer.

Etymology
The term comes from the Russian word "kurs", which refers to people taking courses in the education context. The term is used in civilian contexts, and in other national armed forces as well, but its meaning may vary between countries.

History
The term was use first in the Soviet Union in 1917. It was introduced from 1945 in quite a number of countries occupied by the Red Army. In the Soviet occupation zone, the term Kursant was used as status description of an officer-student of the Volkspolizei and Kasernierte Volkspolizei.

In the middle of the 1950s, the term was replaced by the rang Offiziersschüler, which was the East German equivalent for officer-student. It was the equivalent to the officer candidate of the German Wehrmacht and the Bundeswehr.

However, in the Russian armed forces the term Kursant is used even today. The military people of a military high school wear on the shoulder a strap to the uniform with the golden letter "K" for Kursant. , extra shoulder straps have been introduced.