Plutonowy (literally Platoon-man) is an NCO rank in the Polish Armed Forces rank insignia system, located between the ranks of Senior Corporal and Sergeant.
As one of two OR-4 ranks in the Polish Army (the other being the rank of starszy kapral), the rank of plutonowy could be considered a Polish equivalent of Corporal, Unteroffizier or Master corporal in other NATO armies.
The direct translation of Corporal to Polish, the rank of kapral is a lower grade in Polish Armed Forces, equivalent to OR-3 grades of other armies, such as Lance corporal or Private first class.
Currently a non-commissioned officer in the rank of plutonowy in most cases occupies the post of a troop commanding officers, or a chief of a single machine in technical services (radio station commander, electricity plant commander and so on).
In that year, as part of a set of changes modifying the service in the Polish Army to better fit the Soviet scheme, a fourth bar was added.