Reforma systemu dowodzenia i struktur Sił Zbrojnych RP w latach 2009-2018

On 16 January 2009, the Minister of National Defence, Bogdan Klich delivered a lecture for the National Defence University’s (AON) staff and students concerning the reform of the Polish Armed Forces Command System and Structures in 2009 - 2018. The minister underlined the necessity of creating a system that would enable the unity of command and at the same time the division of planning and command functions which is connected with establishing the position of the Chief of Defence (The Chief of General Staff would be the First Deputy of the Chief of Defence). Moreover, the Board of the Commanders of Armed Forces' Branches, as an advisory body, would be called but the autonomy of respective armed forces’ commanders would be preserved. The Chief of the Board would be rotated every year. Such a structure is to modernize the system of command. The concept does not provide setting up a new level of command and maintains the president's competence as the Armed Forces’ Supreme Commander and Defence Minister taking civil control of the army. The new concept also stipulates the increase of combat units in relation to support units, as well as integration of similar structures, which consequently is to improve the effectiveness of conducted tasks. The minister mentioned also the necessity to decentralize the commands of the Polish Armed Forces' Branches which is connected with moving the Land Forces’ Command to Wrocław and Air Force Command to Poznań.