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WARSAW, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz on Friday presented 57 officers with appointments to top military posts, according to Polish Press Agency.
Among the new appointees are General Wojciech Grabowski who will serve as the inspector for land forces, General Slawomir Kowalski who was elevated to the post of inspector for branches of the armed forces. Colonel Cezary Wisniewski will take over as inspector for the air force. Changes also took place inside the General Staff.
Presenting the appointments, Macierewicz said this is the "most numerous change that has taken place inside the Polish Armed Forces command structures for years." He added that the changes are taking place in "a very special situation."
The minister stressed that the army is undergoing extensive changes with regard to staff and structure and changes linked with the 2017-beginning presence of allied forces in Poland.
The organisation of cooperation with allies and preparation for new tasks will be among the tasks of the newly appointed officers, said the minister.
The defence minister stressed that the army must be modernized not only in a technical sense but also as regards staff and structure. "We want the Polish army in a short time to number at least 150,000 soldiers in time of peace."
"This is not a challenge exceeding our possibilities, it is a minimal level for an army of a country as big as Poland and a country which is in a difficult situation, like Poland is now," said Macierewicz. Enditem
