Frag Out! Magazine

At present, the bureau is an organizational unit directly subordinate to the MOD, re- sponsible for developing formal-legal con- siderations to establish territorial defense and for formulating organizational, logis- tical, and training assumptions regarding the functioning of the organizational units of the new type of armed forces. The bu- reau's essential objective is to develop the main directions of development of territorial defense in Poland and to come up with the ideas of tasks aimed at estab- lishing an autonomous type of the Polish Armed Forces, i.e. the so-called Territorial Defense Force (WOT; PL: WOT), including modifications of the applicable law and drafts of legal acts concerning formation of the country's defense system and terri- torial defense forces. It also participates in the process of development of the rules of functioning of territorial defense forces in peacetime, crises, and wartime. In the pur- suit of its tasks, the bureau works closely with organizational units and departments of the MOD, scientific-research institutions, state and local administration authorities, and pro-defense organizations. LEGAL BASIS The legal basis for the establishment and functioning of WOT is the Act of 21 November 1967 on universal obligation to defend the Republic of Poland, amended with respect to the said new type of armed forces on 1 January 2017. Pursuant to the act, the Territorial Defense Force is the fifth type of armed forces. Ä ●redoubling the Polish Armed Forces' deterrence potential by creating optimal conditions for taking full advantage of the combat capabilities of operational forces in defending the integrity of the borders and territory of the Republic of Poland; Ä ●achieving operational capability to conduct anti-crisis, anti-sabotage, an- ti-terrorist, and anti-misinformation op- erations to defend the civil safety and the cultural and spiritual heritage of the Polish nation; Ä ●enhancing the patriotic and Christian foundation of the country's defense sys- tem and the Polish Armed Forces so that patriotism and faith among the Polish soldiers guarantees safety and contributes to effective restoration of the military safe- ty of the Republic of Poland. COMMAND According to the amendment of the act on universal obligation to defend the Republic of Poland, the new type of armed forces is to be headed by a WOT commander, who will be the commander of the new branch of armed forces, and – like the general commander of branches of armed forces (GCBAF; PL: DGRSZ) and the operational commander of branches of armed forces (OCBAF; PL: DORSZ) – is to be responsible to the MOD. The first commander of WOT was appoint- ed in September 2016. The commander of WOT is to have a similar rank to that of other commanders of branches of armed forces. The WOT commander is to operate from WOT Command. It will be formed in 2017 on the basis of the current Bureau for Territorial Defense Force Establishment. The WOT Command will be supported in terms of logistics by the Inspectorate for Armed Forces Support. www.fragoutmag.com

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