President promotes nine officers to ranks of general and admiral
President Andrzej Duda has officially handed over the appointments to the first and subsequent general ranks, and to the admiral rank, to nine Polish Army officers.
The ceremony was held in the Presidential Palace on Saturday, the day before the 100th anniversary of Poland regaining its independence.
"Such promotions will be embedded in the history of the state," the president said.
The promoted officers include Jarosław Gromadziński, the commander of the recently formed fourth division of operational forces, Jarosław Ziemiański, the Navy inspector, and Dariusz Malinowski, the head of the Aerial Operations Centre.
Brigadier Generals Jarosław Gromadziński and Dariusz Malinowski have been promoted to the rank of major general. Counter Admiral Jarosław Ziemiański has been promoted to rank of vice admiral.
Six colonels - Artur Dębczak, Sławomir Drumowicz, Robert Kosowski, Jacek Ostrowski, Ireneusz Starzyński and Radosław Jeżewski - have been promoted to the rank of brigadier general.
Andrzej Duda thanked the officers for their hitherto service, which, as he pointed out, earned them today's promotions. "This is not a gift, it's the result of many years of service. (...) You are proven soldiers of the Polish Republic," the president stressed.
As he added, despite the technological development of the army, a soldier will always be needed, "because a machine will never have a heart".
Source: PAP