Polish Generals Call for Military Command Reforms

The news in Polish

1. konferencja  (f.)
   Spotkanie, na którym omawia się określone tematy. ↩︎
2. reforma  (f.)
   Zmiana mająca na celu poprawę w planie lub systemie. ↩︎
3. nieodpowiedni
   Niezgodny z wymaganiami lub potrzebami. ↩︎
4. współczesny
   Dotyczący czasów obecnych, nowoczesny. ↩︎
5. dowództwo  (n.)
   Grupa osób lub jednostka sprawująca władzę w wojsku. ↩︎
6. ustawa  (f.)
   Akt prawny uchwalany przez parlament. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: What event discussed the need for military reforms in Poland?

Question 2: What is one of the planned changes for the Polish military?

Vocabulary

Polish	English
konferencja  (f.)	conference
reforma  (f.)	reform
nieodpowiedni	inadequate
współczesny	contemporary
dowództwo  (n.)	command
ustawa  (f.)	law

Read the full story

During the recent Defence24 Days conference held on Tuesday, Poland’s top military leaders and the head of the National Security Bureau (BBN) discussed essential reforms needed for the Polish Armed Forces. The focus was on the necessity to update the command structure to address current global threats more effectively.

General Wiesław Kukuła, the Chief of the General Staff, emphasized that the existing system, operational since 2014, is based on the “force provider” and “force user” model. While this setup was suited for international missions like counter-terrorism, it doesn’t meet Poland’s present defence requirements. The system is considered by many within the military, including General Kukuła, as “completely inadequate” for modern needs.

Echoing these sentiments, General Dariusz Łukowski, head of BBN, pointed out structural weaknesses rather than leadership deficiencies as reasons for systemic inefficiency. He noted absurdities in the command chain, such as the Naval Inspector’s lack of real authority over the Navy, exemplifying the need for reform.

The military’s future vision includes establishing a Joint Operations Command that would maintain readiness across all armed forces divisions and coordinate actions, especially during wartime. In parallel, the proposed Transformation Command aims to facilitate continuous innovation and training for individual soldiers, easing the transition between peacetime and potential military conflict.

General Kukuła underscored the importance of these changes, stating, “We are preparing for war,” highlighting the constitutional responsibilities resting on the military. In agreement, General Łukowski stressed that the discussion isn’t about “if” but “when” the new system should be implemented, asserting the urgency echoed by the military community.

The propositions for reform, now included in a draft law supported by President Andrzej Duda’s administration, are pending parliamentary deliberation. These measures, developed by defence experts, aim to simplify the military structure, ensuring efficiency and adaptability under changing global conditions.

As Poland looks to advanced its military capabilities, these proposed changes are part of a broader strategy to fortify the country’s defence posture in a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape.

Info: ‘Polish Learner News’ is a service from ‘Let’s Learn Polish’, a dedicated language school offering a wide range of online courses. Our programme includes Polish language classes designed to suit various learning preferences and schedules.