Polish Army Day
“We stand here to bow to the shadows of soldiers who were fighting all wars and all battles. Without their sacrifice, there would be no Poland, not least the one we have today: free, sovereign and democratic”, noted the President in his address at the Pilsudski Square in Warsaw.
In recognition of their dedication and heroism, the President paid tribute and highest regard to the soldiers of the 1920 war, as well as to war veterans of many other fronts and battles. “Their attitude is a role model to be adopted by our contemporary Armed Forces. Nowadays, it is their turn to serve their Country, as it is amply exemplified by their participation in dangerous missions beyond Poland’s border”, he added.
Bronislaw Komorowski went on to say that the Polish Army Day provides an excellent opportunity to thank our Armed Forces for their services rendered to Poland today, for the risks and challenges shouldered.
Nowadays, in President’s view, the Armed Forces are by and large assessed through the prism of an ongoing debate about reasons behind the Smolensk plane crash and of the findings of Minister Miller’s Commission. “The plane crash in Smolensk brought to light some significant shortcomings of command and control system in the Polish Armed Forces, the system that has been prevailing for many years”, pointed out the President.
It is essential, the President continued, to integrate the command and control system on the central level. It should centre around three basic functions: strategic planning, current command and operational command. Moreover, as the President noted, it will be necessary to carry out a military training reform, the initiative that has been envisaged some time ago and postponed ever since.
For the sake of honesty and to stay true to facts, it must be remembered that even before the publication of Minister Miller’s report, a whole range of conclusions and recommendations have been adopted, noted President Komorowski. Fitting into a logic sequence of remedial action, they were instituted by the Army themselves immediately in the aftermath of the dramatic plane crash.
The President underscored that security and defence should be a uniting factor, they should be discussed and decided upon in an apolitical and non-partisan manner. Moreover, added the President, the Country’s security and military service must not be a bargaining card in any election campaign and must not be subordinated to any particular interests of political parties.
“A modern Poland must have a readily available modern army”, said the President. He went on to recall the days of the launch of the six-year plan in the army paving the way for a number of difficult, even very difficult reforms to fulfil Poland’s NATO obligations. Bronislaw Komorowski, back then the Minister of Defence, had then stated the following: ”We are at the turning point. Either we develop a stage-by-stage repair plan for the Polish Armed Forces, or we indulge in an illusion that a miracle would happen to us. The latter is of no interest to me”. “Ten years down the road that conclusion continues to be valid”, opined Bronislaw Komorowski.
In this connection, President Komorowski expressed his very high assessment of the courageous decision to depart from conscription-based army to a professional one. “Nonetheless, it must be remembered, that there is a number of components that will add up to full professionalism of the armed forces. These include a professional soldier, modern equipment, perfect training and modern command”, said the President.
In President’s view, these are the very areas where main challenges lie in store for the new Minister of National Defence. Embracing those challenges, the Minister may count on full support and involvement of President as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, declared Bronislaw Komorowski.