On 2 August at the Hall of Tradition of the Academy of War Art (ASzWoj) a ceremony of handing over and taking over duties as Dean of the Academy Military Department took place.
Colonel Dr. Jacek Joniak, after over 3 years of duties as Dean of the Military Department, transferred duties to his successor Dr. Krzysztof Motacki, a divisional general at rest.
The command transfer ceremony began by reading an order to change the position of Dean of the Military Division. An crucial minute of the ceremony was the handover by Colonel Jack Joniak of dean insignia, which included the duties of Dr. Krzysztof Motackie, General Dyw. in st. spocz.
Rector of the Academy Dr Mieczysław Gocuł, General in Retired, thanking Colonel Jack Joniak for his erstwhile service as Dean of the Military Department, noted: - The work and service of the Colonel besides translated into the teaching work of Colonel Joniak, for which on behalf of the full faculty, the community of the Academy, but besides the students I have the right and work to thank the Colonel for his work and achievements.
While thanking Colonel Joniak for his tasks as Dean of the Military Department, the Rector of the Academy besides stressed the availability and readiness to carry out his tasks. - For not only doing his occupation in those hours as Dean of the Military Department, but he was always there where the situation required it, where the minute required it. (...)I had the chance to observe the actions of Colonel Joniak in our global Joint Resolve exercise, in the preparation and implementation of this exercise, and yet I besides became acquainted with the opinions of our allies. For all these accomplishments, those I have not mentioned, which I do not know, and which are most likely somewhere with the Lord, I thank the Lord. A part of good work and service – General Gocuł summarized in his speech on the work done so far.
In welcoming the staff of the Academy of the fresh Dean of the Military Division, General Gocul emphasized the tremendous baggage of experience and practice he accumulated over the years of his military service Dr. Krzysztof Motacki, a divisional general at rest. "We had the chance with Mr General to carry out tasks in the General Staff of the Polish Army, erstwhile Mr General was the head of the board of P3 and P7 erstwhile we carried out joint hard tasks preparing us for the NATO Summit in Newport, later for the NATO Summit in Warsaw. Together we agreed on the concept of the functioning of the global Division. (...) General Krzysztof Motacki had the opportunity, and I was pleased to carry out joint tasks besides during our global cooperation. Together we visited our allies, visits to our heads of defence of friendly states – emphasized the Rector of the Academy.
Presenting the figure of the fresh Dean of the Military Division, General Gocuł besides emphasized the rich achievements of the experience that General Motacki gained during his service abroad, on military missions. "The rich experience is not just the work on the general, it's not just the work on the brigade commander's position or on the division commander's position. It is besides a immense baggage of applicable experience in carrying out tasks abroad. It's a immense baggage of experience that there's no substitute. It is an experience that cannot be exchanged, which cannot be read from a book that cannot be memorized during classes. (...)Both Lebanon, like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq and Afghanistan are very utmost places," General Gocul said.
Summarizing his message on the extraordinary experience that General Motacki can boast – both during his service in the country and in global structures, General Gocul emphasized the awareness of the change and request to rise the teaching level in the Academy to a higher level, by gaining experienced staff. "This baggage of experience, this practice, which General Motacki is carrying, is what I anticipate at the Academy and the figure of the General, who in my categories of values meets these standards on which I am betting," said Rector Gocul.
Wishing many achievements and satisfaction in the implementation of tasks in a fresh role, the Rector of the Academy asked those gathered for the ceremony to support the fresh Dean of the Military Department – the key department for the Rembert Academy, which educates officers for key positions in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland and conducts expert and investigation and investigation activities in areas of interest of the Polish Armed Forces. "I ask for full support for General Motacki – not only as a support for man, but as a support for the full organization, the full crucial organism, which is the Military Department and the full Academy – concluded his speech by General Gocul.
After giving him a material award and a diploma of recognition, his service as Dean of the Military Department was summed up by Colonel Joniak. - I had the honor and privilege of commanding the Military Division for over 3 years. This was during a hard period (covid pandemic) – it required us to replan, change many projects, change erstwhile plans. But I assure you, Mr Dean, that with this individual composition which is at the moment, which has proven itself during this hard period can be further developed and faced with further challenges – he addressed his successor Colonel Joniak. At the end of the speech, Colonel Joniak thanked all the subordinates, superiors and colleagues for their cooperation so far, while declaring their assistance and support for their follow-up and readiness to carry out further challenges and tasks.
In his speech he stressed the prestige but besides the large work of carrying out tasks in the fresh position. - Taking over the duties of the Dean of the Military Department is simply a large honor, due to the fact that it is an honor to run specified a large squad that my predecessor leaves me, and for that, Colonel, I sincerely thank you. But this is also, above all, a large responsibility. We live in bad times, dangerous times, and combat preparedness is primarily people. And although all human being is important, peculiar work rests on the commanders, leaders or graduates of our Academy and I am full aware of that. My last task in active service was to form, train and global certification and to accomplish full readiness by the command of the North-East Multinational Division. Multinational Commands mostly have their lead thought, their motto. Given the time we were in, the short, tasks we were expected to do, I accepted the motto: “FACTA TON VERBA – deeds not words”. I think it's so universal that it'll besides be utilized here. Mr. Rector, I am convinced that the Military Department will do anything to guarantee that our graduates are full prepared for present and future challenges," General Motacki said.
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Dr. Krzysztof Motacki, Major General at Retired I am a postgraduate of the Higher Officers School of Armed Forces in Wroclaw (1984) and the National Defence Academy in Warsaw (1994). He besides graduated from the Postgraduate Management and Marketing Studies at the Gdańsk University of Technology, Postgraduate Operational and strategical Studies, Postgraduate Defence Policy Studies at the National Defence Academy, and many specialist courses in Poland and abroad.
After graduating from the Higher Officers' School, the Mechanized Army served successively as platoon commander, staff officer, company commander, and yet deputy commander of the 14th Reconnaissance Battalion in Giżyck, and then, from 1991 to 1992, deputy commander of the Military designation Training Centre. After graduating from the National Defence Academy, he assumed the position of head of S2 in the 4th Armoured Cavalry Brigade in Orzysz. From 1995 to 1996, he was an operational officer in the Polish Military Quota in Lebanon.
After his return from Lebanon, he served in many positions in the 15th Mechanized Brigade in Giżyck, among others as chief of staff – Deputy Commander and Deputy Commander. At that time he was besides Deputy Commander, and then Commander of the Polish Military Quota in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1999 – 2000) and Head of the G-7 in the Multinational Division Centre – South in Iraq (2004 – 2005). In 2006, he was appointed chief of staff in the 1st Mechanized Division in Legionowo. In 2007, he again found himself in Iraq as Chief of Staff of the Multinational Center-South Division. He then served as head of the branch at the Command of Land Forces in Warsaw.
From 2009 to 2012, he was commander of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade in Budów. At that time he was besides Deputy Commander of the east Region Coalition in the muslim Republic of Afghanistan (2010 – 2011). From 2012 to 2013 he was chief of staff – deputy commander of the 12th Mechanized Division in Szczecin. In 2013, he began to service on the P3 Operations Planning Board in the General Staff as deputy chief of the board and then as head of the board. From 2015 to 2017, he was Head of the Board of Planning of the usage of Armed Forces and Training P3/P7 in the General Staff.
In 2017, he was appointed as commander of the Multinational North-East Division in Elbląg. The command was assessed as part of the certification process by Allied Land Command (LANDCOM), located in Szmira, Turkey and on 6 December 2018 reached full operational readiness.
On November 2, 2021, he ended professional military service.
Prizes and distinctions received by General Motacki during his professional service
Orders and decorations
Credits Cross – Gold – 2004
Credits Cross – Brown – 2000
Long Service Medal - Gold - 2021
Iraq Star – 2008
Afghanistan star 2011
Medal "Armed Forces in Homeland Service" – Gold – 2009
Medal "Armed Forces in Homeland Service" – Silver – 2004
Medal “Armed Forces in Homeland Service” – Brown – 1989
National Defence Credits Medal – Gold – 2004
Medal of Merit for National defence – Silver – 1997
National Defence Credit Medal – Brown – 1990
Commemorative badge ‘Medal of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the SG WP’ – 2018
Memorial Medal of the Multinational Division Center – South in Iraq – 2004
Badge “For Credit for ZKRPiBWP” – 2012
NATO Medal for Mission to Iraq – 2005
NATO Medal for Participation in Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina – 1999
"In the Peace Service" Medal for participation in the UNIFIL mission – 1995
The Meritorious Service Medal – 2011
Other honours
Gold Medal of Merit for Clubs Friends of Schools and Monte Cassino Organisation – 2009
Gold Honorary Cross of the Association of Footballians of the Republic of Poland – 2012
Medal "60 Years of Poland's Participation in Missions Beyond the Borders of the State" – 2015
Medal “In the Service of God and Homeland” – 2018
Medal of Blessed Fr Jerzy Popieluszko – 2021
Medal of the 100th anniversary of the Evangelical Military Ministry "Soli Deo Gloria" – 2021
The Lithuanian Armed Forces Divisions Medal of discrimination - 2021
Other Highlights
Entitlement in the "Book of Honor of the Polish Army" – 2015
Honorary Chamber of the Polish Army – 2016
Honorary cord of the Armed Forces of Poland – 2011
Honorary badge of the Land Army – 2018
"Buzdigan" of Armed Poland – 2018
Text: Colonel Justyna Balik
