Future Naval officers swear oath aboard ORP Błyskawica

On 20 September 2025, Gdynia hosted a solemn military oath-taking ceremony for cadets of the Naval Academy of the Polish Armed Forces, named after the Heroes of Westerplatte.

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21 september 2025 | 09:49 | Source: Gazeta Morska | Prepared by: Kamil Kusier | Print

fot. Krzysztof Miłosz / Akademia Marynarki Wojennej

Remaining true to naval tradition, the cadets swore their oath in front of the historic destroyer ORP Błyskawica. The symbolic location added weight to the occasion, blending history with the contemporary mission of training Poland’s future naval officers.

The ceremony began with a report by Vice-Rector for Military Affairs, Cdr. Sławomir Dorotyn, submitted to Inspector of the Navy, Vice Adm. Jarosław Ziemiański. Following the raising of the national flag and the national anthem, Rear Adm. Prof. Tomasz Szubrycht, Rector-Commandant of the Naval Academy, welcomed guests. He emphasized that although the oath consists of just 39 words, it defines a soldier’s entire life, marking the beginning of a journey that will culminate in officer promotions in 2026 and 2030.

Distinguished cadets who swore on the Academy’s standard included:

Midshipman Bartosz Szczotko from Gdańsk – amateur boxer and former fencer, studying navigation,
Midshipman Karolina Szymańska from Wyszków – graduate of the Military Secondary School of Cryptologists in Warsaw, studying logistics,
Midshipman Bartosz Koperski from Świeszyno – graduate of Kołobrzeg’s Maritime Technical School, pursuing navigation,
Midshipman Miłosz Królikowski from Alicante, Spain – competitive sailor, top-6 at the Spanish National Championships, studying navigation.

In total, 127 cadets swore their oath. The blessing was delivered by Navy chaplains, while congratulations on behalf of Deputy Minister of National Defence Stanisław Wziątek were read by Jakub Mykowski, Director of the Department of Military Education. Representing the newly sworn-in cadets, Midshipman Mateusz Kazimierczyk addressed the assembly.

Families of distinguished cadets received congratulatory letters and roses from the Rector-Commandant. The Navy Representative Band performed the “Hymn to the Baltic” and the “Representative Song of the Polish Armed Forces.” The ceremony concluded with a parade led by the Navy Representative Company, warmly applauded by Gdynia’s residents and visitors.

Adding to the international dimension, the ceremony was attended by a delegation from Germany’s Marine Schule Mürwik Naval Academy, complete with a colour guard.

The military oath remains a defining milestone in a cadet’s career and for the Polish Navy—a reaffirmation of tradition and an investment in the future of Poland’s maritime forces.