This article presents the military ranks of the entire Polish Armed Forces as well as the rank insignia used today. The system of rank insignia is a direct descendant of various systems used throughout history by the Polish Army. Some of the grades trace their name back to the Middle Ages, for instance the rank of chorąży literally means a flag bearer or an Ensign.

Names of Polish ranks are often of foreign origin, like the ones introduced by the 17th-century mercenaries serving for the Polish Crown. These include the rank of kapral, which is a derivative of the Italian caporale - much like the English equivalent of corporal.

Most rank titles are cognates to the ones in English, with some exceptions. Notably colonel's literal meaning is regimental-leader, likewise plutonowy means platoon-leader. Also, the title equivalent to petty officer is identical to the word for boatswain, so a Bosman may or may not be a bosman.

Until World War II, each of the branches of the Land Forces used a set of different names for the same grades. For instance a sergeant was called sierżant in the infantry, ogniomistrz (literally master of fire) in the artillery and wachmistrz (from German Wachtmeister, or Master of the Guards) in the cavalry. This is similar to the German army calling a cavalry officer which is equivalent to Hauptmann a Rittmeister

Modern Polish military practices were heavily influenced by Prussian/German and Russian traditions, as most founding officers after 1918 independence were veterans of those respective armies.

More information NATO Code, OF-10 ...

NATO Code	OF-10
Marshal of Poland
Polish name	Marszałek Polski
Abbreviation	marsz.

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Marshal of Poland (Marszałek Polski) is the highest rank in the Polish Armed Forces. Note that unlike the remaining ranks, it does not belong to any particular service but to the armed forces as a whole. So far only six individuals have been promoted to this rank. With the death of the last surviving holder, Michał Rola-Żymierski in 1989 the rank of Marshal of Poland has been vacant.

The Polish language requires the use of a prior honorific before stating the addressee's rank e.g. 'Panie Kapitanie...' (Sir Captain...). This is directly equivalent to French practice where the possessive Mon is pre-pended to the addressee's rank. During the communist period use of the formal 'Pan' (Sir) was frowned upon and 'Obywatel' (Citizen) (as in: Obywatelu Kapitanie!) was used. This has reverted to prior style in the post-communist era.

It is customary to include other titles when referring to an officer in writing. This can lead to some interesting abbreviations. For example, a Lt. Col. in the airforce by the name Nowak who is a pilot and has an MSc in engineering would be written ppłk pil. mgr inż. Nowak (LtCol plt MEng Nowak).

Uniquely, Polish forces use a two-fingered version of the salute, and the saluting custom does not allow saluting with the fingers to the head without having headgear on (cap/beret or helmet).

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

More information NATO code, OF-10 ...

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer
Polish Land Forces[1] v t e																															Various
	Marszałek Polski		Generał		Generał broni		Generał dywizji		Generał brygady		Pułkownik		Podpułkownik		Major		Kapitan		Porucznik			Podporucznik									Podchorąży
Żandarmeria wojskowa v t e																															Various
									Generał brygady		Pułkownik		Podpułkownik		Major		Kapitan		Porucznik			Podporucznik									Podchorąży
Polish Air Force[1] v t e																															Various
	Marszałek Polski		Generał		Generał broni		Generał dywizji		Generał brygady		Pułkownik		Podpułkownik		Major		Kapitan		Porucznik			Podporucznik									Podchorąży
Polish Navy[2] v t e																															Various
	Marszałek Polski		Admirał		Admirał floty		Wiceadmirał		Kontradmirał		Komandor		Komandor porucznik		Komandor podporucznik		Kapitan marynarki		Porucznik marynarki			Podporucznik marynarki									Podchorąży
U.S. Army equivalent	General of the Army		General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		First lieutenant		Second lieutenant										Cadet / Officer candidate
U.S. Navy equivalent	Fleet admiral		Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Rear admiral (lower half)		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)		Ensign										Midshipman / officer candidate

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The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

More information NATO code, OR-9 ...

NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Polish Land Forces[1] v t e
	Starszy chorąży sztabowy			Starszy chorąży			Chorąży				Młodszy chorąży						Starszy sierżant						Sierżant				Plutonowy	Starszy kapral	Kapral						Starszy szeregowy	Szeregowy
Żandarmeria wojskowa v t e
	Starszy chorąży sztabowy			Starszy chorąży			Chorąży				Młodszy chorąży						Starszy sierżant						Sierżant				Plutonowy	Starszy kapral	Kapral						Starszy szeregowy	Szeregowy
Polish Air Force[1] v t e
	Starszy chorąży sztabowy			Starszy chorąży			Chorąży				Młodszy chorąży						Starszy sierżant						Sierżant				Plutonowy	Starszy kapral	Kapral						Starszy szeregowy	Szeregowy
Polish Navy[2] v t e
	Starszy chorąży sztabowy marynarki			Starszy chorąży marynarki			Chorąży marynarki				Młodszy chorąży marynarki						Starszy bosman						Bosman				Bosmanmat	Starszy mat	Mat						Starszy marynarz	Marynarz
U.S. Army equivalent	Command Sergeant Major			Sergeant Major			Master Sergeant		Sergeant First Class											Staff Sergeant					Sergeant						Corporal				Private First Class	Private
U.S. Navy equivalent	Command master chief petty officer			Command senior chief petty officer			Senior chief petty officer		Chief petty officer											Petty officer first class					Petty officer second class						Petty officer third class				Seaman	Seaman apprentice

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• Certified officer, a title in Polish Armed Forces
• Police ranks of Poland
• Ranks and insignia of NATO Armies
• Comparative military ranks
• Polish Scouts rank insignia