Interview with Brigadier General Anatol Wojtan, Deputy Chief Planning Department - P5 at the General Staff Polish Armed Forces.
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Anna Gałyga: A representative of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces in-stead of the Land Forces Command took part in the Corps Committee meeting for the first time. What is the reason of the change?
Brigadier General Anatol Wojtan: The reason is very simple – the Polish partners want to increase the importance of the Corps Committee. The aim is to reinstate the former arrangement, according to which the Corps Committee was made up of representatives who held the rank of general. Moreover, we are trying to improve the process of carrying out our responsibilities as a framework nation. Progressing internationalisation of the Corps (signing the note of ac-cession with Romania today is a very god example of it) as well as the interdisciplinary character of issues related to its proper support and operation requires coordination in the international cooperation and operation with other institutions of the Ministry of the National Defence. As you certainly know some organization units of the Ministry of De-fence have changed their subordination relations. As a result, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces is in charge of among others the Arms Commands, Armed Forces Operational Command and Inspectorate for Armed Forces Support. Thus the General Staff is best furnished to coordinate the carrying out of responsibilities of a framework nation. That is why the changes have been made.
What does that mean for the Corps in practice?
It means that the Polish partners will solve the Corps’ problems professionally, comprehensively and on time.
How do you perceive your own role as a representative of the General Staff?
My role will not differ from the roles of my predecessors at all. I am a representative of the Minister of Defence in the Corps Committee and I am going to carry out all statutory tasks given the Polish representative in the Committee. I am going to implement the Corps Committee’s decisions, inform the Minister of Defence about the Corps’ plans, ongoing activities and needs. On the other hand, I am going to inform the Corps Com-mittee about the Minister’s decisions.
A new structure of the Corps was approved in December 2007 and some of the posts have yet not been manned. What steps is Poland going to take next?
Manning the posts in the new structure is a very important issue which is to be faced not only by the Corps Command Group but also by the armed forces of the countries con-tributing to the Corps. Presently, it is difficult to clearly determine how the posts will be manned. It is just a beginning of the process, so some issues are first to be discussed.
What challenges do you see ahead for the Corps?
I think the biggest challenge is getting the Corps prepared for a possible deployment in the ISAF operation. If the decision on the deployment is upheld, the Corps will be in charge of the ISAF operation in Afghanistan in 2010 for a second time. This is a true challenge.
Have you been to the Headquarters for the first time?
It has been my second visit here. The first one was last year when I was a post-graduate student in the Defence Policy Studies. Today I have been here for the second time but now as a Polish representative in the Corps Committee.
What are your impressions?
I know the structure, tasks and operation of the Corps very well. To us it is an example to be followed while service here is seen as a distinction. Conversations with the Corps Command Group and officers firmly confirm me in the conviction. My impressions are fantastic.
