Soviet ranks separated conscripts from professional sailors

In the Soviet system, ordinary matros grades largely covered naval conscripts, whose service terms were longer than those in the army. Senior matros often marked a sailor in the final quarter of compulsory service. The starshina grades marked the beginning of the professional enlisted cadre. Conscription coexisted with volunteer NCOs and officers, and officer training attracted applicants because commissioned service offered greater prestige and a better quality of life. The balance between volunteers and conscripts varied between armed forces.