Poland announces new military structure

Poland changed the way organising its military forces, launching the General Command of All Armed Forces to replace the separate commands of various military forces.

As of Jan. 1, 2014, the armed forces’ seven commands are replaced by the General Command and the Operational Command that will be tasked with coordinating Poland’s military actions in armed conflicts and foreign military missions.

“I believe it is one of the milestones of our defence,” Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said at the launching ceremony.” “We have created a good, flexible structure which should be a comprehensive response to the threats to Poland’s security,”.

The defence minister said 2014 would be the second year of implementing a 10-year technical modernisation plan and the year when the ISAF Afghan mission would be ended.

Komorowski also officially appointed the new Chief of the Operational Command, Lt. Gen. Marek Tomaszycki. The commanders of the Land Forces Command, Air Force Command, Navy Command, Special Forces Command and the Inspectorate of Armed Forces’ Support were dismissed by the president.

With the ongoing reorganization of the Polish armed forces, the General Staff — which until now had been the most important military structure — will become primarily focused on strategic planning and advising. It will continue to be headed by Lt. Gen. Mieczyslaw Gocul.

The military command reform, which was initiated by the president, puts land, air, naval and special forces under the General Command of All Armed Forces in peacetime and the Operational Command of All Armed Forces in times of crisis or in event of war.

Inspectorates in the General Command will represent the various types of military forces. The General Staff will now focus on strategic planning and advising the defence minister, prime minister and president under the new law.

Source: Macedoniaonline.eu & Polish MoD web