Polish Armed Forces rank insignia

Last updated October 20, 2024

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.

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...' (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).

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

NATO code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
Polish Land Forces ^[1] v t e
Polish Land Forces ^[1] v t e	Marszałek Polski	Generał	Generał broni	Generał dywizji	Generał brygady	Pułkownik	Podpułkownik	Major	Kapitan	Porucznik	Podporucznik
Żandarmeria wojskowa v t e
Żandarmeria wojskowa v t e					Generał brygady	Pułkownik	Podpułkownik	Major	Kapitan	Porucznik	Podporucznik
Polish Air Force ^[1] v t e
Polish Air Force ^[1] v t e	Marszałek Polski	Generał	Generał broni	Generał dywizji	Generał brygady	Pułkownik	Podpułkownik	Major	Kapitan	Porucznik	Podporucznik
Polish Navy ^[2] v t e
Polish Navy ^[2] v t e	Marszałek Polski	Admirał	Admirał floty	Wiceadmirał	Kontradmirał	Komandor	Komandor porucznik	Komandor podporucznik	Kapitan marynarki	Porucznik marynarki	Podporucznik marynarki

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

NATO code	OR-9		OR-8	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3		OR-2	OR-1
Polish Land Forces ^[1] v t e
Polish Land Forces ^[1] v t e	Starszy chorąży sztabowy	Starszy chorąży	Chorąży	Młodszy chorąży	Starszy sierżant	Sierżant	Plutonowy	Starszy kapral	Kapral	Starszy szeregowy	Szeregowy
Żandarmeria wojskowa v t e
Żandarmeria wojskowa v t e	Starszy chorąży sztabowy	Starszy chorąży	Chorąży	Młodszy chorąży	Starszy sierżant	Sierżant	Plutonowy	Starszy kapral	Kapral	Starszy szeregowy	Szeregowy
Polish Air Force ^[1] v t e
Polish Air Force ^[1] v t e	Starszy chorąży sztabowy	Starszy chorąży	Chorąży	Młodszy chorąży	Starszy sierżant	Sierżant	Plutonowy	Starszy kapral	Kapral	Starszy szeregowy	Szeregowy
Polish Navy ^[2] v t e
Polish Navy ^[2] v t e	Starszy chorąży sztabowy marynarki	Starszy chorąży marynarki	Chorąży marynarki	Młodszy chorąży marynarki	Starszy bosman	Bosman	Bosmanmat	Starszy mat	Mat	Starszy marynarz	Marynarz

Obsolete Ranks

Ranks Discontinued on 1 July 2004

NATO code	OR-9		OR-5		OR-3
Polish Land Forces
Polish Land Forces	Chorąży sztabowy	Młodszy chorąży sztabowy	Starszy sierżant sztabowy	Sierżant sztabowy	Starszy plutonowy
Polish Air Force
Polish Air Force	Chorąży sztabowy	Młodszy chorąży sztabowy	Starszy sierżant sztabowy	Sierżant sztabowy	Starszy plutonowy
Polish Navy
Polish Navy	Chorąży sztabowy marynarki	Młodszy chorąży sztabowy marynarki	Starszy bosman sztabowy	Bosman sztabowy	Starszy bosmanmat

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

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References

1 2 3 4 "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.
1 2 "Sposób noszenia odznak stopni wojskowych na umundurowaniu Marynarki Wojennej" (PDF). wojsko-polskie.pl (in Polish). Armed Forces Support Inspectorate. Retrieved 7 June 2021.

External links

"Republic of Poland (since 1989)". Uniform Insignia. The International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignia.

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[Poland_Army&AirForce-1] 1 2 3 4 "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.

[Poland_Navy-2] 1 2 "Sposób noszenia odznak stopni wojskowych na umundurowaniu Marynarki Wojennej" (PDF). wojsko-polskie.pl (in Polish). Armed Forces Support Inspectorate. Retrieved 7 June 2021.

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