Tradycje wojskowych formacji historycznych nadal służą jako czynnik ułatwiający budowanie tożsamości współczesnych żołnierzy. Tradycji nie należy jednak odnosić wyłącznie do historii. Można bez niej skutecznie budować tożsamość, opierając się na wartościach takich, jak elitarność czy wspólnota ekstremalnych przeżyć. Kluczową rolę może odgrywać także tradycja wytworzona, która przyspiesza i ułatwia budowę tożsamości grupy. Metodą indywidualnego wywiadu pogłębionego przebadano siedmiu żołnierzy: z okresu II wojny światowej, PRL-u oraz współczesnych (ekspertów z dużym doświadczeniem bojowym i dowódczym). Jednocześnie, przez pryzmat budowy tożsamości, dokonano charakterystyki polskich oddziałów specjalnych, opisano ich historię, dziedziczone tradycje, przeznaczenie, imię, pochodzenie nazwy, symbolikę. 

Tradition as an Element of Identity Building. The Case of the Special Units Soldiers

Modernity have any impact on military identity. It was proved that traditions of historical military formations serve as a factor that facilitates building identity of modern Special Forces soldiers. Referring to historical traditions gives them a sense of “nobility” and strengthen their “military backbone”. Tradition, however, should not be perceived with regard to history only. It’s possible to build identity effectively basing on values such as elitism or a community of extreme experiences. Invented tradition, which precipitates and facilitates building identity of the group, can also play a key role. The Individual In-depth Interview technique was used to examine seven soldiers of different generations. They served in the army during World War II, afterwards (over the communist period) and contemporarily. The last ones are experts with extensive combat and command experience. Concurrently, Polish Special Forces were characterized through the prism of identity building and their history, inherited traditions, origin of the name and symbols were described.

Keywords: military tradition, identity building, soldiers, identity in postmodernity, invented tradition, military rituals, special forces symbols, elitism, extreme experiences

Modernity have any impact on military identity. It was proved that traditions of historical military formations serve as a factor that facilitates building identity of modern Special Forces soldiers. Referring to historical traditions gives them a sense of “nobility” and strengthen their “military backbone”. Tradition, however, should not be perceived with regard to history only. It’s possible to build identity effectively basing on values such as elitism or a community of extreme experiences. Invented tradition, which precipitates and facilitates building identity of the group, can also play a key role. The Individual In-depth Interview technique was used to examine seven soldiers of different generations. They served in the army during World War II, afterwards (over the communist period) and contemporarily. The last ones are experts with extensive combat and command experience. Concurrently, Polish Special Forces were characterized through the prism of identity building and their history, inherited traditions, origin of the name and symbols were described.