It is not easy to accept a general nomination in the times in which we live erstwhile there is simply a real full-scale war going on abroad. You know what the work is – said president Andrzej Duda at the General nomination ceremony. Today, the commander of the armed forces besides awarded soldiers for combat actions.
On the eve of the Polish Army in the Presidential Palace there was a ceremony of awarding acts of appointment on general degrees. At the request of the National Defence Minister, president Andrzej Duda promoted nineteen officers. General Stanisław Czosnek, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army, was appointed to the highest degree – in this case the Lieutenant General. Thirteen officers received their first general star today.
– It is not easy to accept the general nomination in the times in which we live, erstwhile for the first time in decades there is simply a real full-scale war with hundreds of killed soldiers, the crying of raped women, with the death of children, with destroyed settlements and cities," said president Andrzej Duda. “You know the responsibility,” he added. The commander of the armed forces stressed the large experience in the service that promoted officers present can boast, including combat ones. “I have no uncertainty that you have worked well and will be able to do the tasks that are set before you”, said the President.
In his speech, Andrzej Duda besides addressed Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who was present at the ceremony. The president thanked for the arms contracts concluded in fresh days for the acquisition of Apache helicopters, Patriot launchers and Kleszcz's reconnaissance transporters and recalled the co-operation of MON in drafting the bill reforming the command strategy of the Polish Army. The Parliament is presently working on this paper and the president has one more time stressed the request for them to be completed quickly. “Our task is to guarantee that the soldier serves in the safest possible conditions, due to the fact that it is crucial to return home,” said Andrzej Duda.
– present you are even more liable for your subordinates, for the Polish Army, for the Homeland. From now on, you take large responsibility. We are arrogant of you, and thank you for proving that you have earned these promotions over the years of your service – he said to the promoted officers Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamish. The head of the MON besides stressed the importance of an agreement over political divisions in defence matters of the country. In the face of a real threat from the East, it is all the more necessary. “It was possible in 1920 and it is always possible erstwhile we fight for the sacred Polish cause,” the Deputy Prime Minister pointed out.
Awards for combat actions and for “friend of Poland”
The ceremony at the Presidential Palace was besides an chance to award soldiers and officers for combat actions. 8 soldiers of peculiar troops and military peculiar services and st. chor. staff. Andrzej Woltmann, among others a associate in the defence of the City Hall in Iraqi Karbala, was honored with the Order of the Military Cross, the highest military discrimination awarded in peace. Due to the nature of their service, the names of most of the distinguished soldiers were not made public. They're not nameless. But their names must be guarded so that they can defend the Polish state," said Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamish.
On the another hand, the Commander's Cross with the Star of the Order of Merit of Poland was decorated with Add. Rob Bauer, head of the NATO Military Committee. The president stressed that the Dutch officer was at the head of NATO's most crucial advisory secretary-general body in the hardest time since the end of the Cold War. "Thank you, Admiral, for your service to the Alliance and the Republic as part of it and the Republic as a liable and faithful ally, which besides serves with all its forces the common security," said Andrzej Duda. Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamish, congratulating the Admiral received the award, called him “a large friend of ours”.
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The rank of Lieutenant General has been appointed:
General Stanislaw Czosnek – Deputy Head of the General Staff of the Polish Army
The following were appointed to the rank of Major General:
Brig-Gen Piotr Fajkowski – Commander of the 11th Armoured Cavalry Division
Brig-Gen Piotr Kriese – Training Inspector, Armed Forces General Command
Brig-Gen Michał Rohde – Deputy Commander of the 2nd Polish Corps – Landing Component Command
Brig. Gen. Bogdan Rycerski – Head of the Multinational office of the North-East Corps
Brig. Gen. Marek Wawrzyniak – Head of the Board of Military Engineering, Deputy Inspector of Military Types, General Command of Armed Forces Types
The following were appointed as Brigadier General:
Colonel Witold Bartoszzek – Commander of the 1st Logistics Brigade
Colonel Tomasz Biedziak – Commander of 20th Mechanized Brigade
Colonel Mieczysław Bieniek – Head of the Board of Intelligence and Exploratory Analysis – P2, General Staff of the Polish Army
Colonel Mirosław Bodnar – advisor to coordinator, General Command of Armed Forces Types
Colonel Marek Brzezicha – Commander of the 3rd Radiotechnic Brigade
Colonel Jarosław Chojnacki – Head of the Unit – Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Operations Command of Armed Forces Types
Colonel Piotr Iwasko – Commander of 1st Tactical Aviation Wing
Colonel Jerzy Jankowski – coordinator, Office of the Minister of National Defence
Colonel Grzegorz Kaliciak – Commander of the 15th Mechanized Brigade
Colonel Grzegorz Kołodziejczyk – Commander of the 3rd Wings of Transport Aviation
Colonel Damian Matysiak – Deputy Commander of the Warsaw Garrison
Colonel Piotr Saniuk – Commander of 1st Land Army Aviation Brigade
Colonel Arkadiusz Fordel – Head of Military Control Inspectorate
