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.
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Land Forces Air Force Navy Special Forces Territorial Defence Force |
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Timeline Wars |
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Senior officers Rank insignia Awards Oaths |
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Land Forces Navy |
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
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
| NATO Code | OF-10 | |
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 Marshal of Poland |
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| 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
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
Commissioned Ranks
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Polish Land Forces[1] |
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| 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
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Polish Land Forces[1] |
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| 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
- 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Żandarmeria wojskowa |
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| 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 code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Żandarmeria wojskowa |
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| 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
Commissioned Ranks
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Polish Air Force[1] |
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| 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
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Polish Air Force[1] |
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| 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
Commissioned Ranks
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Polish Navy |
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| 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
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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
Ranks Discontinued on 1 July 2004
| NATO Code | OR-9 | OR-4 | OR-3 | ||
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| Polish Land Forces |  |
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| 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 |  |
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| 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 |  |
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| 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
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
- 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
- Hetman
- Rotmistrz
- Regimentarz
- Strażnik Wielki
- Strażnik Polny
- Pisarz Polny
- Oboźny Wielki
- Oboźny Polny
- Adiutant
- Towarzysz
- Konduktor
- Sztuk junkier
- Bosman floty
- Wachmistrz
- Ogniomistrz
- Miczman
- Bombardier
See also
- Certified officer, a title in Polish Armed Forces
- Police ranks of Poland
- Ranks and insignia of NATO Armies
- Comparative military ranks
- Polish Scouts rank insignia
Notes
References
- "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.