Polish Armed Forces rank insignia

This article presents the military ranks of the entire Polish Armed Forces as well as the rank insignia used today. The system of rank insignia is a direct descendant of various systems used throughout history by the Polish Army. Some of the grades trace their name back to the Middle Ages, for instance the rank of chorąży literally means a flag bearer or an Ensign.

Names of Polish ranks are often of foreign origin, like the ones introduced by the 17th-century mercenaries serving for the Polish Crown. These include the rank of kapral, which is a derivative of the Italian caporale - much like the English equivalent of corporal.

As the structure of Polish rank names substantially differs from the English one, it seems more appropriate to give the U.S. or U.K. equivalent ranks, based on the common NATO codes, rather than to provide a literal translation which can lead to numerous misinterpretations.

Origins edit

Most rank titles are cognates to the ones in English, with some exceptions. Notably colonel's literal meaning is regimental-leader, likewise plutonowy means platoon-leader. Also, the title equivalent to petty officer is identical to the word for boatswain, so a Bosman may or may not be a bosman.

Until World War II, each of the branches of the Land Forces used a set of different names for the same grades. For instance a sergeant was called sierżant in the infantry, ogniomistrz (literally master of fire) in the artillery and wachmistrz (from German Wachtmeister, or Master of the Guards) in the cavalry. This is similar to the German army calling a cavalry officer which is equivalent to Hauptmann a Rittmeister

Modern Polish military practices were heavily influenced by Prussian/German and Russian traditions, as most founding officers after 1918 independence were veterans of those respective armies.

Marshal of Poland edit

NATO Code OF-10
 
Marshal of Poland
 
Polish name Marszałek Polski
Abbreviation marsz.

Marshal of Poland (Marszałek Polski) is the highest rank in the Polish Armed Forces. Note that unlike the remaining ranks, it does not belong to any particular service but to the armed forces as a whole. So far only six individuals have been promoted to this rank. With the death of the last surviving holder, Michał Rola-Żymierski in 1989 the rank of Marshal of Poland has been vacant.

Customs edit

The Polish language requires the use of a prior honorific before stating the addressee's rank e.g. 'Panie Kapitanie...' (Sir Captain...). This is directly equivalent to French practice where the possessive Mon is pre-pended to the addressee's rank. During the communist period use of the formal 'Pan' (Sir) was frowned upon and 'Obywatel' (Citizen) (as in: Obywatelu Kapitanie!) was used. This has reverted to prior style in the post-communist era.

It is customary to include other titles when referring to an officer in writing. This can lead to some interesting abbreviations. For example, a Lt. Col. in the airforce by the name Nowak who is a pilot and has an MSc in engineering would be written ppłk pil. mgr inż. Nowak (LtCol plt MEng Nowak).

Uniquely, Polish forces use a two-fingered version of the salute, and the saluting custom does not allow saluting with the fingers to the head without having headgear on (cap/beret or helmet).

Land Forces, Territorial Defence Force and Special Forces edit

Commissioned Ranks edit

NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 OF(D) Student officer
  Polish Land Forces[1]
                      Various
Marszałek Polski Generał Generał broni Generał dywizji Generał brygady Pułkownik Podpułkownik Major Kapitan Porucznik Podporucznik Podchorąży
Abbreviation marsz. gen. gen.broni gen.dyw. gen.bryg. płk ppłk mjr kpt. por. ppor. pchor.
U.S./U.K. equivalent General of the Army/Field Marshal General Lieutenant
General
Major
General
Brigadier
General
,
Brigadier
Colonel Lieutenant
Colonel
Major Captain First
Lieutenant
,
Lieutenant
Second
Lieutenant

Non-Commissioned Ranks and Privates edit

NATO rank scale OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
  Polish Land Forces[1]
                     
Starszy chorąży sztabowy Starszy chorąży Chorąży Młodszy chorąży Starszy sierżant Sierżant Plutonowy Starszy kapral Kapral Starszy szeregowy Szeregowy
Abbreviation st.chor.szt. st.chor. chor. mł.chor. st.sierż. sierż. plut. st.kpr. kpr. st.szer. szer.

Military Gendarmerie edit

Officers
NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 OF(D) Student officer
  Żandarmeria wojskowa
              Various
Generał brygady Pułkownik Podpułkownik Major Kapitan Porucznik Podporucznik Podchorąży
Abbreviation gen.bryg. płk ppłk mjr kpt. por. ppor. pchor.
U.S./U.K. equivalent Brigadier
General
,
Brigadier
Colonel Lieutenant
Colonel
Major Captain First
Lieutenant
,
Lieutenant
Second
Lieutenant
Enlisted
NATO rank scale OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
  Żandarmeria wojskowa
                     
Starszy chorąży sztabowy Starszy chorąży Chorąży Młodszy chorąży Starszy sierżant Sierżant Plutonowy Starszy kapral Kapral Starszy szeregowy Szeregowy
Abbreviation st.chor.szt. st.chor. chor. mł.chor. st.sierż. sierż. plut. st.kpr. kpr. st.szer. szer.

Air Force edit

Commissioned Ranks edit

NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 OF(D) Student officer
  Polish Air Force[1]
                      Various
Marszałek Polski Generał Generał broni Generał dywizji Generał brygady Pułkownik Podpułkownik Major Kapitan Porucznik Podporucznik Podchorąży
Abbreviation marsz. gen. gen.broni gen.dyw. gen.bryg. płk ppłk mjr kpt. por. ppor. pchor.
U.S./U.K. equivalent General of the Air Force/Marshal of the Air Force General Lieutenant
General
Major
General
Brigadier
General
,
Brigadier
Colonel Lieutenant
Colonel
Major Captain First
Lieutenant
,
Lieutenant
Second
Lieutenant

Non-Commissioned Ranks and Airmen edit

NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
  Polish Air Force[1]
                     
Starszy chorąży sztabowy Starszy chorąży Chorąży Młodszy chorąży Starszy sierżant Sierżant Plutonowy Starszy kapral Kapral Starszy szeregowy Szeregowy
Abbreviation Senior Staff Warrant Officer. Senior Warrant Officer. Warrant Officer. Junior Warrant Officer. Senior Sergeant. Sergeant. Master Corporal. Senior Corporal. Corporal. Private 1st Class. Private.

Navy edit

Commissioned Ranks edit

NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 OF(D) Student officer
  Polish Navy[2]
                      Various
Marszałek Polski Admirał Admirał floty Wiceadmirał Kontradmirał Komandor Komandor porucznik Komandor podporucznik Kapitan marynarki Porucznik marynarki Podporucznik marynarki Podchorąży
Abbreviation marsz. adm. adm.fl. wadm. kadm. kmdr kmdr por. kmdr ppor. kpt.mar. por.mar. ppor.mar. pchor.
U.S./U.K. equivalent Fleet Admiral/Admiral of the Fleet Admiral Vice
Admiral
Rear
Admiral
Rear
Admiral
(lower half)
/
Commodore
Captain Commander Lieutenant
Commander
Lieutenant Lieutenant
(junior grade)
/
Sub-lieutenant
Ensign

Petty Officers and Seamen edit

NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
  Polish Navy[2]
                     
Starszy chorąży sztabowy marynarki Starszy chorąży marynarki Chorąży marynarki Młodszy chorąży marynarki Starszy bosman Bosman Bosmanmat Starszy mat Mat Starszy marynarz Marynarz
Abbreviation st.chor.szt.mar. st.chor.mar. chor.mar. mł.chor.mar. st.bsm. bsm. bsmt st.mat mat st.mar. mar.

Obsolete Ranks edit

Ranks Discontinued on 1 July 2004 edit

NATO Code OR-9 OR-4 OR-3
Polish Land Forces          
chorąży
sztabowy
młodszy
chorąży
sztabowy
starszy
sierżant
sztabowy
sierżant
sztabowy
starszy
plutonowy
Abbreviation chor.szt. mł.chor.szt. st.sierż.szt. sierż.szt. st.plut.
Polish Air Force          
chorąży
sztabowy
młodszy
chorąży
sztabowy
starszy
sierżant
sztabowy
sierżant
sztabowy
starszy
plutonowy
Abbreviation chor.szt. mł.chor.szt. st.sierż.szt. sierż.szt. st.plut.
Polish Navy          
chorąży
sztabowy
marynarki
młodszy
chorąży
sztabowy
marynarki
starszy
bosman
sztabowy
bosman
sztabowy
starszy
bosmanmat
Abbreviation chor.szt.mar. mł.chor.szt.mar. st.bosm.szt. bosm.szt. st.bosmat

Other changes after July 1, 2004 edit

Until 2004 the ranks of chorąży (OR-9 and OR-8) constituted a separate group, roughly corresponding to U.S. Warrant Officers. On July 1, 2004, the number of these ranks was reduced and they were included in the group of non-commissioned ranks.

Pay Grade changes on July 1, 2004 edit

  • starszy chorąży/starszy chorąży marynarki: OR-8 to OR-9
  • młodszy chorąży/młodszy chorąży marynarki: OR-8 to OR-7
  • starszy Kapral/starszy mat: OR-3 to OR-4

On January 1, 2014, all reserve NCOs, holders of the rank of chorąży sztabowy / chorąży sztabowy marynarki and młodszy chorąży sztabowy / młodszy chorąży sztabowy marynarki were promoted to the rank of starszy chorąży sztabowy / starszy chorąży sztabowy marynarki; holders of the rank of starszy sierżant sztabowy / starszy bosman sztabowy and sierżant sztabowy / bosman sztabowy were promoted to the rank of młodszy chorąży / młodszy chorąży marynarki; and holders of the rank of starszy plutonowy / starszy bosmanmat were promoted to the rank of sierżant / bosman.

Thus the ranks discontinued on July 1, 2004, were officially abolished in the Polish Armed Forces.

Historical Ranks in the Polish Armed Forces edit

See also edit

Notes edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Sposób noszenia odznak stopni wojskowych na umundurowaniu wojsk Lądowych i sił Powietrznych" (PDF). wojsko-polskie.pl (in Polish). Armed Forces Support Inspectorate. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Sposób noszenia odznak stopni wojskowych na umundurowaniu Marynarki Wojennej" (PDF). wojsko-polskie.pl (in Polish). Armed Forces Support Inspectorate. Retrieved 7 June 2021.