Slawomir Petelicki
Encyclopedia
Brigadier General
Sławomir Petelicki (born 1946) was the first commander
of the Polish
special forces unit GROM
from July 13, 1990, until December 19, 1995. Currently he is heading the Foundation of Former Special Forces Soldiers "GROM" .
. In 1969 he graduated from the Law Faculty of the Warsaw University. The same year he joined the I Department(Intelligence) Ministry of Internal Affairs of People's Republic of Poland
and, until 1990, he served at various posts in the intelligence
. On various posts in Polish embassies abroad he was responsible for counter-intelligence
. Since 1973 a military advisor at the Polish consulate in New York. Upon his return to Poland he continued his service in the economical intelligence. After a brief stay in Sweden
between 1983 and 1987, where he served as the head of the Polish intelligence in the embassy in Stockholm
, he returned to Poland where he was assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the commanding officer of all the security services guarding Polish embassies and consulates.
Apart from his intelligence service, Petelicki was also an active member of special forces. He gained extensive experience in reconnaissance and diversion. Very little is known of the missions he was part of, apart from the missions to North Vietnam
in 1971 and to China
the following year.
In 1990 Petelicki was assigned to a newly-formed, then top secret JW 2305 special forces
. Initially consisting only of himself, the unit was soon expanded to become the GROM
. For the first several years the unit remained completely secret. It was first reported to the press in 1992 and became known to the public in 1994, after their first major military operation in Haiti
. Dismissed on December 19, 1995, Petelicki remained unassigned.
Between May 14 and June 13 of 1996, Petelicki was the deputy Prime Minister
for fighting the organized crime
. On December 7, 1997 he was again assigned as the commanding officer of GROM unit. On August 15, 1998, the Day of the Polish Army, he was promoted by president Aleksander Kwaśniewski
to the rank of brigadier general
. On September 17, 1999 he finally gave up the command of GROM and retired.
In addition, Petelicki is an honorary member of the 5th and 10th Special Forces Groups of the American "Green Berets
" and is bearer of the Golden GROM Badge
with Wreath. During his career he accomplished parachute
, sniper
and diver
training. He also gained the I dan in Judo
and is a specialist in helicopter landing.
Popular among the journalists and mass media, Petelicki was also awarded with the title of Gentleman of the Year 2000 by the Gentleman monthly. Currently he is heading the Foundation of Former GROM Soldiers, which helps the veterans to meld into the society.
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Sławomir Petelicki (born 1946) was the first commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
of the Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
special forces unit GROM
GROM
GROM is one of five special forces units of the Polish Armed Forces. It was officially activated on July 8, 1990...
from July 13, 1990, until December 19, 1995. Currently he is heading the Foundation of Former Special Forces Soldiers "GROM" .
Biography
Sławomir Petelicki was born September 13, 1946 in WarsawWarsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. In 1969 he graduated from the Law Faculty of the Warsaw University. The same year he joined the I Department(Intelligence) Ministry of Internal Affairs of People's Republic of Poland
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
and, until 1990, he served at various posts in the intelligence
Intelligence
Intelligence has been defined in different ways, including the abilities for abstract thought, understanding, communication, reasoning, learning, planning, emotional intelligence and problem solving....
. On various posts in Polish embassies abroad he was responsible for counter-intelligence
Counter-intelligence
Counterintelligence or counter-intelligence refers to efforts made by intelligence organizations to prevent hostile or enemy intelligence organizations from successfully gathering and collecting intelligence against them. National intelligence programs, and, by extension, the overall defenses of...
. Since 1973 a military advisor at the Polish consulate in New York. Upon his return to Poland he continued his service in the economical intelligence. After a brief stay in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
between 1983 and 1987, where he served as the head of the Polish intelligence in the embassy in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, he returned to Poland where he was assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the commanding officer of all the security services guarding Polish embassies and consulates.
Apart from his intelligence service, Petelicki was also an active member of special forces. He gained extensive experience in reconnaissance and diversion. Very little is known of the missions he was part of, apart from the missions to North Vietnam
North Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
in 1971 and to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
the following year.
In 1990 Petelicki was assigned to a newly-formed, then top secret JW 2305 special forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
. Initially consisting only of himself, the unit was soon expanded to become the GROM
GROM
GROM is one of five special forces units of the Polish Armed Forces. It was officially activated on July 8, 1990...
. For the first several years the unit remained completely secret. It was first reported to the press in 1992 and became known to the public in 1994, after their first major military operation in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
. Dismissed on December 19, 1995, Petelicki remained unassigned.
Between May 14 and June 13 of 1996, Petelicki was the deputy Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
for fighting the organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
. On December 7, 1997 he was again assigned as the commanding officer of GROM unit. On August 15, 1998, the Day of the Polish Army, he was promoted by president Aleksander Kwaśniewski
Aleksander Kwasniewski
Aleksander Kwaśniewski is a Polish politician who served as the President of Poland from 1995 to 2005. He was born in Białogard, and during communist rule he was active in the Socialist Union of Polish Students and was the Minister for Sport in the communist government in the 1980s...
to the rank of brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
. On September 17, 1999 he finally gave up the command of GROM and retired.
Awards
During his military career, Sławomir Petelicki was awarded with some of the most notable military medals, including the following:- Cross of Merit for Bravery (1995)
- Golden Cross of MeritKrzyz ZaslugiThe Cross of Merit is a Polish civil state award established on June 23, 1923, to recognize services to the state.The Order has three grades:At the time of its establishment in 1923, the Cross of Merit was the highest civilian award in Poland...
- Silver Cross of MeritKrzyz ZaslugiThe Cross of Merit is a Polish civil state award established on June 23, 1923, to recognize services to the state.The Order has three grades:At the time of its establishment in 1923, the Cross of Merit was the highest civilian award in Poland...
Order of Polonia Restituta, Commanders' Cross
Order of Polonia Restituta, Officers' Cross- Golden Medal of Merit for National DefenceMedal of Merit for National DefenceThe Medal of Merit for National Defence is a decoration of the Ministry of National Defence of Poland. Established 21 April 1966 and revised in 1991, the medal recognizes meritorious service which strengthens the military of the Republic of Poland. Members of the Polish military and civilian...
- Officer of the Legion of Merit
Legion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
(USA) - Army Commendation Medal (USA)
In addition, Petelicki is an honorary member of the 5th and 10th Special Forces Groups of the American "Green Berets
United States Army Special Forces
The United States Army Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets because of their distinctive service headgear, are a special operations force tasked with six primary missions: unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action, hostage rescue, and...
" and is bearer of the Golden GROM Badge
Gapa
Gapa may refer to:*Parachutist Badge in Poland*Gapa, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, village in north-central Poland*Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany...
with Wreath. During his career he accomplished parachute
Parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. Parachutes are usually made out of light, strong cloth, originally silk, now most commonly nylon...
, sniper
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
and diver
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
training. He also gained the I dan in Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
and is a specialist in helicopter landing.
Popular among the journalists and mass media, Petelicki was also awarded with the title of Gentleman of the Year 2000 by the Gentleman monthly. Currently he is heading the Foundation of Former GROM Soldiers, which helps the veterans to meld into the society.
