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

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.

Customs

The Polish language requires the use of a prior honorific before stating the addressee's rank e.g. 'Panie Kapitanie...' (Mr 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).

Marshal of Poland

NATO Code	OF-10
Polish Armed Forces
Polish name	Marszałek Polski
Abbreviation	marsz.
English name	Marshal of Poland
U.K. equivalent	Field Marshal
U.S. equivalent	General of the Army

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.

Army (Land Forces) 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
Poland (Edit)																									No equivalent
	Marszałek Polski[note 1]		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.
U.S./U.K. equivalent	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

Uniform of a Major of the Polish Army

NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Poland (Edit)
	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
Poland (Edit)																									No equivalent						Various
	Marszałek Polski^1		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.
U.S./U.K. equivalent	Field Marshal		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
Poland (Edit)
	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.

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
Poland (Edit)																									No equivalent						Various
	Marszałek Polski[note 1]		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.
U.S./U.K. equivalent	Fleet Admiral/Field Marshal		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
Poland (Edit)
	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 July 1, 2004

NATO Code	OR-9		OR-7		OR-4
Army
Polish name	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.
U.S./Commonwealth equivalent	Command Sergeant Major	First sergeant	Sergeant 1st Class	Sergeant 1st Class	Corporal, Corporal First Class
Air Force
Polish name	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.
U.S./Commonwealth equivalent	Command Chief Master Sergeant	Chief Master Sergeant	Senior Master Sergeant	Master Sergeant	Senior Airman (Sergeant till 1990)
Navy
Polish name	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
U.S./Commonwealth equivalent	Command Master Chief Petty Officer Fleet Chief Petty Officer	Master Chief Petty Officer	Command Senior Chief Petty Officer	Chief Petty Officer	Petty Officer Third Class Master Seaman

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
• Ranks and insignia of NATO Armies
• Comparative military ranks
• Polish Scouts rank insignia

Notes

1. Title; Honorary or posthumous rank; war time rank; ceremonial rank

References

• Polish Armed Forces Insignia in the International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignia