Podporuchik (потпоручник,, , , , ) is the most junior officer in some Slavic armed forces, and is placed below the rank of lieutenant, typically corresponding to rank of second lieutenant in English-speaking countries.

Russia and Russian imperial armed forces

The rank was introduced first by Peter the Great in 1703 as an officer rank of the so-called ober-officer rank group. It belonged to rank class XIII (infantry), class XII (artillery, and engineer troops), and class X (guards) until 1884. In line with the military reforms in 1884, podpraporshik became in peace time. However, in the guards and the cossacks armed forces Cornet and Chorąży remained the lowest officer rank. The equivalent to podpraporshik was Michman in the Imperial Russian Navy, and governmental secretary in the civil administration.

Poland

In Poland, the rank of Podporucznik (lit. 'sub-lieutenant'; abbreviated "ppor.") is the lowest officer rank used within the Polish Army. It is roughly equivalent to the military rank of the Second lieutenant in the armed forces of English-speaking countries. Graduates of military schools are awarded the rank of podporucznik by the office of the President of Poland upon the request of the Ministry of National Defence (Poland). The rank may also awarded by the way of a promotion provided certain conditions. The rank of podporucznik also exists in the Border Guard, Prison Service, the State Protection Service, Foreign Intelligence Agency, Military Intelligence Service (Poland), the Military Counterintelligence Service, the Internal Security Agency, and in the Polish Navy.

Possible rank sequence

A possible sequence of ranks (ascending) might be as follows:

Podporuchik insignia

Army

Navy