Command Structure.

The chain of command in the Commonwealth Military

Military Ranks

Rank Chart

A chart of the military ranks of the Commonwealth Armed Forces. The Hetman of the Commonwealth is the leader of the entire armed forces of the entire Commonwealth, and therefore the first rank insignia from the left for the Navy and Air Force is either hypothetical or rarely used. The Grand Hetman is the leader of the armed forces of a given part of the Commonwealth, so the Grand Hetman of the Crown (Poland), Grand Hetman of Lithuania (Grand Duchy of Lithuania), Grand Hetman of Muscovy (Grand Duchy of Muscovy), etc. Like with the Hetman of the Commonwealth, the second rank insignia from the left is either hypothetical or rarely used for the Navy and Air Force.

General Staff

Hetman of the Commonwealth

Hetman Wszechrzeczy (Hetman of the Commonwealth) - the person in charge of the entire armed forces of the Commonwealth. Beneath the Hetman of the Commonwealth are the seven Grand Hetmans in charge of the various parts of the Commonwealth.

The shoulder mark bears a general's line (wężyk generalski), crossed maces and a crown.

Grand Hetman

Hetman Wielki (Grand Hetman) - the person in charge of the armed forces of the parts of the Commonwealth.

There are seven Grand Hetmans in total:
  • Hetman Wielki Koronny (Grand Hetman of the Crown) - in charge of the armed forces of the Crown of Poland and, jointly, of the Duchies of Prussia and Livonia, as well as all colonial armed forces
  • Hetman Wielki Litewski (Grand Hetman of Lithuania) - in charge of the armed forces of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and, jointly, of the Duchies of Prussia, Livonia and White Ruthenia
  • Hetman Wielki Ruski (Grand Hetman of Ruthenia) - in charge of the armed forces of the Grand Duchy of Ruthenia
  • Hetman Wielki Moskiewski (Grand Hetman of Muscovy) - in charge of the armed forces of the Grand Duchy of Moscow and, jointly, of the Duchy of White Ruthenia
  • Hetman Wielki Północy (Grand Hetman of the North) - in charge of the armed forces of the Grand Duchies of Karelia and Perm
  • Ataman Wielki Wojsk Kozackich (Grand Ataman of the Cossack Hosts) - in charge of the Cossack armies of Zaporozhye, Don and Siberia
  • Ataman Wielki Tatarski (Grand Ataman of the Tatars) - in charge of the armies of the Khanates of Kazan and Crimea, as well as the armies of the Lipka, Astrakhan and Siberian Tatars

​The shoulder mark bears a general's line (wężyk generalski), crossed maces and a symbol of the army the Hetman represents (here the symbol of the Crown of Poland is displayed, other symbols include: the Vytis for Lithuania, the Trident for Ruthenia, Saint George for Muscovy, the Bear with Duelling Arms for Karelia and Perm, the Stag for the Cossacks, and the Tamga for the Tatars).

Field Hetman

Hetman Polny (Field Hetman) - the person in charge of the land forces of the parts of the Commonwealth. The Field Hetman is styled as the Field Hetman of a certain part of the Commonwealth, i.e. the Field Hetman of the Crown (Hetman Polny Koronny) for the Crown of Poland, the Field Hetman of Lithuania (Hetman Polny Litewski) for the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, etc.

There are fifteen Field Hetmans in total, from: the Crown, Lithuania, Ruthenia, Muscovy, Karelia, Perm, Prussia, Livonia, White Ruthenia, Don, Crimea, Kazan, Jaxa, Green Ruthenia and Buryatia.
  • The Field Hetman of the Crown is also in charge of the land forces in the territories and colonies of Siberia, Alaska, Madagascar, Cameroon and Morska Wola
  • The Field Hetman of Prussia is styled as Field Marshall of Prussia
  • The Field Hetman of Livonia is styled as Field Marshall of Livonia is also in charge of the forces of the Curonian Colonies
  • The Field Hetman of Jaxa is also in charge of the land forces in the territories of Yakutia and Luoravetia
  • The Field Ataman of the Cossacks is also in charge of the land forces of the Cossacks of Zaporozhye, Don and Siberia
  • The Field Ataman of the Tatars is also in charge of the land forces of the Lipka, Astrakhan and Siberian Tatars
  • All other Field Hetmans are in charge of the land forces of their respective Grand Duchies, Duchies and other parts of the Commonwealth

​The shoulder mark bears a general's line (wężyk generalski) and crossed maces.

Sea Hetman

Hetman Morski (Sea Hetman) - the person in charge of the navy of the parts of the Commonwealth. 

The Sea Hetman is styled as the Sea Hetman of a certain part of the Commonwealth, i.e. the Sea Hetman of the Crown (Hetman Morski Koronny) for the Crown of Poland, the Sea Hetman of Lithuania (Hetman Morski Litewski) for the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, etc.

There are six Sea Hetmans in total, from: the Crown, Lithuania, Ruthenia, Muscovy, Prussia and Livonia.
​
​The shoulder mark bears an admiral's bar and an arm holding a sabre.

Air Hetman

Hetman Powietrzny (Air Hetman) - the person in charge of the air force of the parts of the Commonwealth. 

The Air Hetman is styled as the Air Hetman of a certain part of the Commonwealth, i.e. the Air Hetman of the Crown (Hetman Powietrzny Koronny) for the Crown of Poland, the Air Hetman of Lithuania (Hetman Powietrzny Litewski) for the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, etc.

There are twelve Air Hetmans in total, from: the Crown, Lithuania, Ruthenia, Muscovy, Karelia, Perm, Prussia, Livonia, White Ruthenia, Don, Jaxa and Green Ruthenia.
  • The Air Hetman of the Crown is also in charge of the air forces in the colonies of Alaska, Madagascar, Cameroon and Morska Wola
  • The Air Hetman of Livonia is also in charge of the forces of the Curonian Colonies
  • The Air Ataman of the Cossacks is also in charge of the air forces of Siberia, Crimea and Kazan
  • The Air Hetman of Jaxa is also in charge of the air forces of Buryatia, Yakutia and Luoravetia
  • All other Air Hetmans are in charge of the air forces of their respective Grand Duchies, Duchies and other parts of the Commonwealth

​The shoulder mark bears a general's line (wężyk generalski) and crossed maces.

Other Generals

Legionary Hetman

Hetman Legionowy (Legionary Hetman) - the person in charge of a legion (division) of land troops. 

The shoulder mark bears a general's line (wężyk generalski) ​and a star.

Admiral

Admirał (Admiral) - the person in charge of a flota (fleet) of ships.

​The shoulder mark bears an admiral's bar, a knot and an additional bar.

Marshal

Marszałek (Marshal) - the person in charge of a dywizja lotnicza (air division) of aircraft.

​The shoulder mark bears a general's line (wężyk generalski) and a star.

Brigadier

Brygadier (Brigadier) - the person in charge of a brygada (brigade) of land forces.

​The shoulder mark bears a general's line (wężyk generalski).

Vice-Admiral

Wiceadmirał (Vice-Admiral) - the person in charge of an eskadra (squadron) of ships.

​The shoulder mark bears an admiral's bar and a knot.

Vice-Marshal

Wicemarszałek (Vice-Marshal) - the person in charge of an grupa (group) of aircraft.

​The shoulder mark bears a general's line (wężyk generalski).​

Other Officers

Colonel/Regimentary

Pułkownik/Regimentarz (Colonel/Regimentary) - the person in charge of a pułk (regiment) of infantry/artillery - Pułkownik, or a regiment ​(regiment) of cavalry - Regimentarz. 

The shoulder mark bears a bar ​and two stars.

Counter-Admiral

Kontradmirał (Rear Admiral) - the person in charge of a flotylla (flotilla) of ships.

​The shoulder mark bears a knot and three bars.

Counter-Marshal

Kontrmarszałek (Counter-Marshal) - the person in charge of a skrzydło (wing) of aircraft.

​The shoulder mark bears a bar and two stars.

Batallion Leader

Oddziałowy (Lieutenant Colonel) - the person in charge of an oddział (battalion) of land forces.

​The shoulder mark bears bar and one star.

Commander

Komandor (Commander) - the person in charge of a grupa operacyjna (task group) of ships.

​The shoulder mark bears a knot and two bars.​

Commander

Komandor (Commander) - the person in charge of an eskadra (squadron) of aircraft.

​The shoulder mark bears a bar and one star.

Rittmaster/Standard Bearer/Major

​Rotmistrz/Chorąży/Major (Rittmaster/Standard Bearer/Major) - the person in charge of a rota (company) of infantry - Rotmistrz, a chorągiew (banner) of cavalry - Chorąży, or a bateria (battery) of artillery - Major.

​The shoulder mark bears two stars.

Captain

​Kapitan (Captain) - the person in charge of a single navy vessel.

​The shoulder mark bears a knot and one bar.

Wing Airman

​Skrzydłowy (Wing Airman) - representative of a Counter-Marshal in the air.

​The shoulder mark bears two stars.

Captain/Companion

​Kapitan/Towarzysz (Captain/Companion) - the person in charge of a poczet (retinue) of infantry - Kapitan, a poczet (retinue) of cavalry - Towarzysz, or a pluton (platoon) of artillery.

​The shoulder mark bears one star.

Deputy

​Namiestnik (Lieutenant) - second-in-command on a navy vessel.

​The shoulder mark bears a knot.

Deputy

​Namiestnik (Lieutenant) - representative of a Commander in the air.

​The shoulder mark bears one star.

Other Ranks

Section Leader/Sergeant/Ordinance Technician

Drużynowy/Zajeżdżający/Ogniomistrz (Section Leader/Sergeant/Ordinance Technician) - the person in charge of a drużyna (fellowship) of infantry - Drużynowy, a drużyna (fellowship) of cavalry - Zajeżdżający, or a sekcja ​(section) of artillery - Ogniomistrz. 

The shoulder mark bears one chevron.

Bosun

Bosman (Bosun) - the person in charge of the deck crew of a navy vessel.

​The shoulder mark bears a knot superimposed on a chevron.

Section Airman

Drużynowy (Section Airman) - the person in charge of a klucz (flight) of aircraft.

​The shoulder mark bears one chevron.

Squad Leader/Wing Leader/Fourier

Grupowy/Skrzydłowy/Furier (Squad Leader/Wing Leader/Fourier) - the person in charge of an grupa (section) of infantry - Grupowy, a skrzydło (wing) of cavalry - Skrzydłowy, or a działon (crew) of artillery - ​Furier.

​The shoulder mark bears two bars.

Mate

Mat (Mate) - a person in charge of certain specialised tasks on a naval vessel.

​The shoulder mark bears two bars.​

Flight Airman

Kluczowy (Flight Airman) - the pilot of an aircraft.

​The shoulder mark bears two bars.

Lineman/Retainer/Bombardier

​Szeregowy/Pocztowy/Bombardier (Lineman/Retainer/Bombardier) - a standard soldier of the infantry - Szeregowy, cavalry - Pocztowy, or artillery - Bombardier.

​The shoulder mark bears one bar.

Sailor

​Marynarz (Sailor) - the standard crewman of a naval vessel.

​The shoulder mark bears one bar.

Airman

​Lotnik (Airman) - the standard crew member of an aircraft.

​The shoulder mark bears one bar.
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