Działania specjalne Żandarmerii Wojskowej

The importance of special forces and special operations has been constantly growing since the Second World War. Special forces conduct operations unassisted in conditions when the use of conventional forces is not possible or recommended due to political, military, operational or tactical reasons and in other forces’, organizations’ or institutions’ support operations. The article does not cover the whole of special forces’ subject matter as it presents only the participation of one of providing security bodies, i.e. Military Police units in accomplishing special operations tasks and the opportunities how to use Military Police in special operations and actions. The character of contemporary threats requires more significant engagement of specific military forces, special forces including and also Military Police, particularly its specialised elements. The Polish Armed Forces’ fundamental mission in peacetime is to maintain forces and capabilities necessary to carry out tasks in order to protect and ensure Poland's security and to offer necessary military assistance to civilian authorities, mainly in case of non-military threats (such as natural disasters and catastrophes). However, Poland’s admission to NATO caused that our country much more of-ten participates in peace and stabilisation missions conducted outside the territory of Poland. Although Military Police activities and operations have a special character, they differ from special forces’ military operations. The main difference is the special forces’ aim. The military policemen’s goal is not to eliminate (kill) the opponents (enemy) but to detain, arrest and take them to court.