President Andrzej Duda, on the eve of Polish Armed Forces Day, presented general nominations and state decorations. As he said, accepting the general nomination “is not only prestige and a summary of the service to date, but above all it is a commitment for the future, to even more strenuous and more responsible service”.
On Wednesday, the president Andrzej Duda in the courtyard of the Presidential Palace he presented generals' nominations and state decorations. It took place on the eve of Polish Army Day.
During Wednesday's ceremony, eight soldiers of the Special Forces and military special services were honored with the Order of the Military Cross, the highest military decoration awarded in times of peace, for their heroic combat deeds for their actions during combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Senior Warrant Officer Andrzej Woltmann, who, among other things, participated in the defense of the City Hall in Karbala, was also awarded the Order.
The president presented general nominations and military decorations
The president also presented generals' nominations. Stanisław Czosnek, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army, was promoted to the rank of general.
Czosnek is the deputy commander general of the armed forces, former commander of the 11th Lubuska Armored Cavalry Division; in 2013-16 he commanded the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade. He served in Afghanistan as deputy commander of the Eastern Region for coalition forces ISAF.
President Andrzej Duda during the presentation of generals' nominationsRadek Pietruszka/PAP
The following were promoted to the rank of major general: Piotr Fajkowski – commander of the 11th Armored Cavalry Division, Piotr Kriese – training inspector at the General Command of the Armed Forces, Michał Rohde – deputy commander of the 2nd Polish Corps – Land Component Command, Bogdan Rycerski – chief of staff of the Multinational Corps Northeast and Marek Wawrzyniak – head of the Military Engineering Directorate, deputy Inspector of the Branches of Troops at the General Command of the Armed Forces.
A dozen or so colonels were promoted to the rank of brigadier general. Among them was the commander of the 15th Giżycko Mechanized Brigade Grzegorz Kaliciak. A former vice-rector of the Military University of Technology for military affairs, a veteran of missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, he became famous as the commander of the defense of the town hall in Karbala by Polish and Bulgarian soldiers against Shiite fighters. He commanded the 6th Mazovian, and later the newly formed 14th West Pomeranian Territorial Defense Brigade.
The President awarded the Commander's Cross with the Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland to the head of the Military Committee. NATO Admiral Rob Bauer, who is the honorary guest of this year's Polish Armed Forces Day celebrations.
The President presented general nominations and state decorations TVN24
President: Accepting the general's nomination is a commitment
During the speech, the president said that “generals know what responsibility it is to accept a general's nomination”. – Whether it is to the next general's rank, (rank – ed.) command, responsibility for the security of the homeland, for planning, for commanding large armed formations, or joining the generals' corps – listed Andrzej Duda.
Because – as he added – “it is not only prestige, it is not only a summary of the service to date, an honorable, exemplary emphasis on its character, as excellent for the Republic of Poland and in its opinion, but it is also and above all an obligation for the future”. – To even more strenuous, even more responsible service, with taking on an even greater burden and readiness – the president emphasized.
President: the Polish Armed Forces are being continuously modernized
The President thanked the Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his associates for signing contracts, among others, for the delivery of 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to the Polish Army and 28 Kleszcz light armoured reconnaissance personnel carriers.
He assessed that American helicopters “will take our air force to a completely different world level”. He also said that Polish army needs as many combat vehicles as possible, “preferably those produced in our country” so that in the future they will be “our export brand”. According to the president, the Polish Armed Forces are currently undergoing continuous modernization. – We also have a reform of the command and control system ahead of us. We have many changes that should be introduced – he said.
One of these changes is to be the presidential bill on the actions of state authorities in the event of an external threat to state security, which changes the structure of management and command of the Polish Armed Forces. – I hope that (the bill) will quickly become part of our system – added the president.
Main image source: Radek Pietruszka/PAP