Polish Armed Forces rank insignia

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This article involves the ranks of the entire Polish Armed Forces as well as the rank insignia used today.

[edit] Origins

The present Polish system of rank insignia is a direct descendant of various systems used in the past in the Polish Army. Some of the grades trace their name back to Middle Ages, for instance the rank of chorąży literally means a flag bearer or literally, an Ensign. Other names of Polish ranks are of foreign origin and were in most cases introduced by 17th century mercenaries serving for the Polish Crown. These include the rank of kapral is a derivate of Italian caporale - much like the English equivalent of corporal.

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 directly equivalent to the German army calling a cavalry 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.

[edit] 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 a M.Sc. 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 insists one is saluting the eagle (pinned to almost all headwear) rather than the counterparty, therefore one doesn't salute superiors if they aren't wearing a cap/beret etc.

[edit] Marshal of Poland

NATO Code	OF-10
Land Forces
	Marszałek Polski
English equivalent	Field Marshal
Abbreviation	marsz.

Marshal of Poland (Marszałek Polski) is the highest rank in the Polish Armed Forces. It has been granted to only six officers and is not used currently. At present, this rank is equivalent to a Field Marshal or General of the Army (OF-10) in other NATO armies.

[edit] Land Forces

[edit] Officers

NATO Code	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
Land Forces
	Generał¹	Generał broni	Generał dywizji	Generał brygady	Pułkownik	Podpułkownik	Major	Kapitan	Porucznik	Podporucznik
English equivalent	General	Lieutenant General	Major General, Divisional General	Brigadier, Brigade General	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant
Abbreviation	gen.	gen. broni	gen. dyw.	gen. bryg.	płk	ppłk	mjr	kpt.	por.	ppor.
¹ Generał Armii (General of the Army) to 2002

[edit] Warrant officers

NATO Code	OR-9		OR-8	OR-7
Land Forces
	Starszy chorąży sztabowy	Starszy chorąży	Chorąży	Młodszy chorąży
	Chief Warrant Officer, Staff Ensign	Warrant Officer Class 1, Ensign Senior Grade	Warrant Officer Class 2, Ensign	First Warrant Officer, Ensign Junior Grade
Abbreviation	st. chor. szt.	st. chor.	chor.	mł. chor.

[edit] Non Commissioned Officers and Privates

NATO Code	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4		OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
Land Forces
	Starszy sierżant	Sierżant	Plutonowy	Starszy kapral	Kapral	Starszy szeregowy	Szeregowy
	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant	Master Corporal	Corporal	Lance Corporal	Private 1st Class	Private
Abbreviation	st. sierż.	sierż.	plut.	st. kpr	kpr.	st. szer.	szer.

[edit] Air Forces

[edit] Officers

NATO Code	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
Air Forces
Polish rank	Generał	Generał broni	Generał dywizji	Generał brygady	Pułkownik	Podpułkownik	Major	Kapitan	Porucznik	Podporucznik
English equivalent	General	Lieutenant General	Major General, Divisional General	Brigadier, Brigade General	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant
Abbreviation	gen.	gen. broni	gen. dyw.	gen. bryg.	płk	ppłk	mjr	kpt.	por.	ppor.

[edit] Warrant officers

NATO Code	OR-9		OR-8	OR-7
Air Forces
	Starszy chorąży sztabowy	Starszy chorąży	Chorąży	Młodszy chorąży
	Chief Warrant Officer	Warrant Officer Class 1	Warrant Officer Class 2	First Warrant Officer
Abbreviation	st. chor. szt.	st. chor.	chor.	mł. chor.

[edit] Non-commissioned officers and airmen

NATO Code	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4		OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
Air Forces
Polish rank	Starszy Sierżant	Sierżant	Plutonowy	Starszy Kapral	Kapral	Starszy Szeregowy	Szeregowy
	Technical Sergeant	Flight Sergeant	Staff Sergeant	Senior Airman, Corporal	Airman 1st Class, Lance Corporal	Airman	Airman Basic
Abbreviation	st. sierż.	sierż.	plut.	st. kpr	kpr.	st. szer.	szer.

[edit] Navy

[edit] Officers

NATO Code	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
Navy
Polish rank	Admirał	Admirał floty¹	Wiceadmirał	Kontradmirał	Komandor	Komandor porucznik	Komandor podporucznik	Kapitan marynarki	Porucznik marynarki	Podporucznik marynarki
English rank	Admiral	Fleet Admiral¹	Vice Admiral	Rear Admiral, Counter Admiral	Captain, Commodore	Commander, Lieutenant Commodore	Lieutenant Commander, Sublieutenant Commodore	Lieutenant, Ship Captain	Lieutenant (junior grade), Ship Lieutenant	Ensign, Ship Sublieutenant
Abbreviation	adm.	adm. fl.	wadm.	kadm.	kmdr	kmdr por.	kmdr ppor.	kpt. mar.	por. mar.	ppor. mar.
¹ introduced in 2002

[edit] Warrant officers

NATO Code	OR-9		OR-8	OR-7
Navy
	Starszy chorąży sztabowy marynark	Starszy chorąży marynarki	Chorąży marynarki	Młodszy chorąży marynarki
	Chief Warrant Officer, Chief Midshipman	Warrant Officer Class 1, Senior Midshipman	Warrant Officer Class 2, Midshipman	First Warrant Officer, Junior Midshipman
Abbreviation	st. chor. szt. mar.	st. chor. mar.	chor. mar.	mł. chor. mar.

[edit] Non-commissioned officers and sailors

NATO Code	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4		OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
Navy
	Starszy bosman	Bosman	Bosmanmat	Starszy mat	Mat	Starszy marynarz	Marynarz
	Senior Chief Petty Officer, Senior Boatswain	Chief Petty Officer, Boatswain	Petty Officer 1st Class, Junior Boatswain	Petty Officer 2nd Class	Ordinary Seaman	Seaman Apprentice	Seaman Recruit
Abbreviation	st. bsm.	bsm.	bsmt	st. mat	mat	st. mar.	mar.

All naval rank and insignia information is referenced from the Official Website of the Polish Navy [1]

[edit] Historical ranks

[edit] Abolished on July 1, 2004

NATO Code	OR-9						OR-7						OR-4

Polish rank	Chorąży sztabowy (Army)	Chorąży sztabowy (Air force)	Chorąży sztabowy marynarki (Navy)	Młodszy chorąży sztabowy (Army)	Młodszy chorąży sztabowy (Air force)	Młodszy chorąży sztabowy marynarki (Navy)	Starszy sierżant sztabowy (Army)	Starszy sierżant sztabowy (Air force)	Starszy bosman sztabowy (Navy)	Sierżant sztabowy (Army)	Sierżant sztabowy (Air force)	Bosman sztabowy (Navy)	Starszy plutonowy (Army)	Starszy plutonowy (Air Force)	Starszy bosmanmat (Navy)
English rank	Senior Warrant Officer	Senior Warrant Officer	Senior Warrant Officer	Master Warrant Officer	Master Warrant Officer	Master Warrant Officer	First Sergeant	Senior Master Sergeant	Command Master Chief Petty Officer	Master Sergeant	Master Sergeant	Master Chief Petty Officer	Lance Sergeant	Chief technician	Chief Petty Officer 2nd class
Abbreviation	chor. szt.	chor. szt.	chor. szt. mar.	mł. chor. szt.	mł. chor. szt.	mł. chor. szt. mar.	st. sierż. szt.	st. sierż. szt.	st. bsm. szt.	sierż. szt.	sierż. szt.	bsm. szt.	st. plut.	st. plut.	st. bsmt.