Polish Armed Forces rank insignia

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Origins

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. 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.

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.

Land Forces

Officers

NATO Code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	-	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
Land Forces
	Marszałek Polski1	Generał2	Generał broni	Generał dywizji	Generał brygady		Pułkownik	Podpułkownik	Major	Kapitan	Porucznik	Podporucznik
English equivalent	Marshal of Poland	General	Lieutenant General	Major General, Divisional General	Brigadier, Brigade General		Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant
Abbreviation	marsz.	gen.	gen. broni	gen. dyw.	gen. bryg.		płk	ppłk	mjr	kpt.	por.	ppor.
1 not used currently 2 Generał Armii (General of the Army) to 2002

Warrant officers

NATO Code	OR-9	OR-8
Land Forces
	Chorąży	Chief Warrant Officer	Warrant Officer Class 1	Warrant Officer Class 2	First Warrant Officer
Abbreviation	st. chor. szt.	st. chor.	chor.	mł. chor.

Non Commissioned Officers and Privates

NATO Code	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
Land Forces
	Sierżant	Plutonowy	Kapral	Szeregowy
	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant	Master Corporal	Corporal	Lance Corporal	Private 1st Class	Private
Abbreviation	st. sierż.	sierż.	plut.	st. kpr	kpr.	st. szer.	szer.

Air Forces

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.

Warrant officers

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

Non-commissioned officers and privates

NATO Code	OR-7	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	Airman 1st Class	Airman	Airman Basic
Abbreviation	st. sierż.	sierż.	plut.	st. kpr	kpr.	st. szer.	szer.

Navy

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

Warrant officers

NATO Code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-8	OR-8
Navy
	Starszy chorąży sztabowy marynark	Starszy chorąży marynarki	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.

Non-commissioned officers and sailors

NATO Code	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
Navy
	Starszy bosman	Bosman	Bosmanmat	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]

Historical ranks

Abolished on July 1, 2004

NATO Code	OR-9						OR-7						OR-5|
Polish rank	Senior Warrant Officer	Senior Warrant Officer	Senior Warrant Officer	Second Warrant Officer	Second Warrant Officer	Second Warrant Officer	Sergeant Major	Senior Master Sergeant	Command Master Chief Petty Officer	Master Sergeant	Master Sergeant	Master Chief Petty Officer	Lance Sergeant	Senior Staff Sergeant	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.

Other

• Hetman
• Rotmistrz
• Regimentarz
• Strażnik Wielki
• Strażnik Polny
• Pisarz Polny
• Oboźny Wielki
• Oboźny Polny
• Towarzysz

See also

• Wojsko Polskie (Polish Armed Forces)
• Ranks and insignia of NATO Armies
• Comparative military ranks
• Military Rank
• Polish Scouts rank insignia