ORDERS AND DECORATIONS OF POLAND
Republic of Poland since 1990
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Ministry Decorations for the Uniformed Services (2)

1.Badge (silver) - People's Poland
2.Badge 1999

Exemplary Commander Badge

(Odznaka "Wzorowy Dowodca")

Instituted by Minister of National Defense in 1973, reinstituted in a new form on September 14, 1999. Conferred in a three classes, to young officers (up to the rank of captain) for exemplary, at least 2 year long service.

Badge 1973-99: gold, silver or bronze round plaque, 35 mm in diameter. In the center there is a red enameled shooting target with a silver military eagle on it (until 1992 the eagle had no crown). Around there is a white ring inscribed WZOROWY : DOWODCA. The reverse has a screw for mounting. The badge was worn on the left chest pocket.

Badge 1999: oval openwork plaque, 35 x 45 mm, with a silver eagle inside, sitting on a white enameled bar with gold letters "WD" and crossed saber and marshal's baton behind, surrounded by a gold laurel wreath with a white and red enameled scrolls at the bottom. The badge is worn on a pad of the same color as that of the uniform, when awarded for a second time, and on a silver one for the ground and air forces and golden for the navy, when awarded for a third time. The reverse has a mounting pin. The badge in worn on the right chest pocket.

Ribbon: none.


1.Badge (silver) - People's Poland
2.Badge 1999

Exemplary Sub-unit Leader Badge

(Odznaka "Wzorowy Szef Pododdzialu")

Instituted by Minister of National Defense in 1982, reinstituted in a new form on September 14, 1999. Conferred in three classes, to professional NCOs for at least 2 years of exemplary service.

Badge 1982-99: gold, silver or bronze round plaque, 30 mm in diameter. In the center there is the emblem of the quartermaster's service, which is half gearwheel, half laurel wreath, with the crossed sword and corn spike, and white and red background, the whole being circumscribed WZOROWY : SZEF PODODDZIALU. The reverse has a screw for mounting. The badge was worn on the left chest pocket.

Badge 1999: oval openwork plaque, 35 x 45 mm, with a silver eagle inside, sitting on a white enameled bar with gold letters "WS", surrounded by a gold laurel wreath with a white and red enameled scrolls at the bottom. The badge is worn on a pad of the same color as that of the uniform, when awarded for a second time, and on a silver one in the ground and air forces or a golden one in the navy, when awarded for a third time. The reverse has a mounting pin. The badge is worn on the right chest pocket.

Ribbon: none.


1.Badge (silver) - People's Poland
2.Badge 1999

Exemplary Cadet Officer Badge

(Odznaka "Wzorowy Podchorazy")

Instituted by Minister of National Defense in 1973, reinstituted in a new form on September 14, 1999. Conferred originally in three classes, reduced to two in 1999, to cadet officers who have completed at least 4 semesters in the academy, and displayed outstanding educational output and exemplary service.

Badge 1982-99: gold, silver or bronze round plaque, 30 mm in diameter. In the center there is the head of a soldier in a helmet adorned with oak leaves, facing left, on white and red background, all circumscribed WZOROWY : PODCHORAZY. The reverse has a screw for mounting. The badge was worn on the left chest pocket.

Badge 1999: oval openwork plaque, 35 x 45 mm, with a silver eagle inside, sitting on a white enameled bar with gold letters "WP", surrounded by a silver laurel wreath with a white and red enameled scrolls at the bottom. The badge is worn on a pad of the same color as that of the uniform, when awarded for a second time. The reverse has a mounting pin. The badge is worn on the right chest pocket.

Ribbon: none.


1.Badge - People's Poland
2.Badge 1999

Exemplary Cadet Badge

(Odznaka "Wzorowy Kadet")

Instituted by Minister of National Defense in 1982, reinstituted in a new form on September 14, 1999. Conferred originally in three grades, reduced to one in 1999, to cadets of warrant officer schools who have completed at least one year of course and have displayed outstanding educational output and exemplary service.

Badge 1982-99: gold, silver or bronze hexagonal plaque, 27 x 26 mm. In the center there is the head of a soldier in a helmet with oak leaves on it, facing left, on white and red background, and with the inscription WZOROWY KADET below. The reverse has a screw for mounting. The badge was worn on the left chest pocket.

Badge 1999: oval openwork plaque, 35 x 45 mm, with a silver eagle inside, sitting on a white enameled bar with gold letters "WK", surrounded by a bronze laurel wreath with a white and red enameled scrolls at the bottom. The reverse has a mounting pin. The badge is worn on the right chest pocket.

Ribbon: none.


1.Exemplary Soldier Badge (gold) - People's Poland
[Exemplary Seaman Badge (gold)]
2.Exemplary Soldier Badge, 1999
3.Exemplary Seaman, Badge 1999

Exemplary Soldier Badge
Exemplary Seaman Badge

(Odznaka "Wzorowy Zolnierz")
(Odznaka "Wzorowy Marynarz")

Instituted by Minister of National Defense in 1958, originally in two classes (gold and silver), with the bronze class added 1968. Reinstituted in a new form and single class on September 14, 1999. Conferred to conscript soldiers and airmen (Exemplary Soldier), or seamen (Exemplary Seaman) for at least 6 months of exemplary service.

Badge 1958-61: trapezium plaque, 30 x 42 mm. In the center there is the head of a soldier in a helmet, facing left, on white (left) and red (right) background, and with the inscription WZOROWY ZOLNIERZ or WZOROWY MARYNARZ below. The reverse has a screw for mounting. The badge was worn on the left chest pocket.

Badge 1961-68: as above, but with the helmet adorned with oak leaves.

Badge 1968-1973: as above but in three classes, and with the number of class ("1", "2" or "3") added in the lower left corner.

Badge 1973-1999: as above but reduced in size (22 x 31 mm), and with the class number being removed.

Exemplary Soldier Badge 1999: oval openwork plaque, 35 x 45 mm, with a bronze eagle inside, sitting on a bar with gold letters "WZ", with crossed rifles behind, surrounded by a bronze laurel wreath. The reverse has a mounting pin. The badge is worn on the right chest pocket.

Exemplary Seaman Badge 1999: as above, but with a bronze anchor on the eagle's chest instead of the rifles, and the letters "WM" on the bar.

Ribbon: none.


1.Badge (silver) - People's Poland

Exemplary Military Listener Badge

(Odznaka "Wzorowy Sluchacz")

Instituted by Minister of National Defense in 1982. Conferred in three classes to listeners of obligatory military training for university students who displayed high training output. Not conferred since 1992 when the military training for students was abolished.

Badge: gold, silver or bronze round plaque, 30 mm in diameter. In the center there is a red shield with a silver uncrowned state eagle, surrounded by a ring with the inscription WZOROWY SLUCHACZ. The reverse has a mounting screw.

Ribbon: none.


Exemplary Driver Badge

See Ministerial Decorations for the Non-uniformed Services


1.Obverse

Police Proficiency Badge

(Policyjna Odznaka Wiedzy i Sprawnosci Zawodowej)

Instituted by regulation of Minister of the Interior of July 4, 2000. Conferred to winner in police proficiency competition. On the police uniform the badge is worn on the right chest pocket.

Badge: oval, 45 x 65 mm, of oxidized silver metal. In the center there is a sword pointed downwards with a state eagle superimposed and silver rays on black background behind. Below the eagle there is a blue scroll with the name of the winning team and an eight-pointed police star. The whole is surrounded by a stylized laurel wreath.

Ribbon: none.


1.Badge

Exemplary Firefighter Badge

(Odznaka "Wzorowy Strazak")

Instituted by Minister of the Interior on August 31, 1959. Conferred in a single class by the Chief Commandant of the Professional Fire Services for at least five years of exemplary service and good conduct in and out of service.

Badge: silver, 30 x 43 mm. It is a round plaque depicting a fire helmet adorned with a gold laurel spray, surrounded by a red ring circumscribed STRAZAK WZOROWY. Under the helment there is a silver fire axe. A gold flame surmounts the badge. The reverse has a mounting screw. The badge is worn on the right chest pocket.

Ribbon: none.

Note: the award should not be confused with the Exemplary Firefighter Badge conferred by the Voluntary Fire Brigades' Association.


© Lukasz Gaszewski 1997, 2000
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