Contemporary conditions of organization and functioning of the Command and Control System of the Polish Armed Forces

Abstract

The Command and Control System of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland constitutes an essential element of the State Defense System. Its primary function is to enable decision-makers and commanders at all levels to make decisions and to create systems of actions that, in the course of the operation, achieve strategic, operational and tactical goals. Various external factors and internal conditions influence the structure and then the functioning of this system. This system is subject to continuous evaluation and, consequently, changes that are to lead to its improvement, so that the assumed goals are achieved efficiently and effectively. The article discusses three groups of conditions directly, and with certain factors indirectly, affecting the organization of the command and control system as well as its functioning. The first one concerns the change in the nature of modern security threats. With regard to the short characterization of hybrid activities, subliminal actions, and asymmetric threats, it was indicated how they determine the requirements regarding the organization and functioning of the Armed Forces Command and Command System adequate to such situations. The findings of the 2016 Strategic Defense Review and its result document – the Defense Concept of the Republic of Poland constitute the second group of factors. In the consequence of strategic analysis, the conclusions and recommendations included in the Concept should be taken into account when introducing changes to the command and control system. In the last part, it was pointed out how the decision to establish the Territorial Defense Forces (WOT) and the organizational assumptions resulting from it concerning their structure, tasks, and rules of operation influenced the changes in the Command and control System of the Polish Armed Forces. The conditions presented in particular parts of the study should be considered during the forecasted and partially implemented organizational and functional improvements to the Polish Armed Forces Command and control System.