Who is the most effective Polish sniper? Przemysław Wójtowicz uncensored.

Wójtowicz emphasizes that a sniper who shoots at anyone anywhere is a war criminal. He contrasts the discipline of snipers with regular infantry: in Vietnam, it took 22,000 rounds to kill one enemy soldier, while sniper units averaged 1.3 rounds per kill. This demonstrates that snipers do not fire blindly. He says that a sniper must have the maturity to avoid unnecessary risks and that this comes with experience. Young snipers often pay with their lives for overconfidence, so senior snipers and commanders must temper their eagerness.

Wójtowicz explains that a sniper must be able to endure long periods of immobility, carry heavy loads, and still fight effectively. He witnessed a GROM soldier fail a selection in Ireland because his legs gave out—his large muscles were under-oxygenated. This illustrates that bulk without endurance is a liability. The ideal is a person who can handle both the physical demands of movement and the static demands of observation.

Wójtowicz argues that soldiers often paint their faces, but he advises against it because modern balaclavas are effective and practical. He explains that if you need to exfiltrate in civilian clothes, you can simply take off the balaclava and wrap a scarf or turban, whereas face paint would require carrying micellar water or other removers—an unnecessary burden. Minimalism is key; he criticizes soldiers who attach excessive gear like combat axes to their kit.

Wójtowicz explains that when building a hide, you often need to trim vegetation to create a firing port or to attach camouflage. Using a knife would cause excessive movement and noise, potentially giving away your position. Secateurs let you cut cleanly and quickly. He also notes that in a worst-case scenario, the secateurs can serve as an improvised weapon. This small tool replaces several bulkier items and aligns with the principle of minimalism.

Wójtowicz details that at sea level with 1000 hPa, a rifle is zeroed. At 2500 m altitude in Afghanistan, pressure drops to 820-850 hPa, causing a 2-meter point-of-impact shift at 1 km—a guaranteed miss if uncorrected. Temperature changes throughout the day also alter density: a rise from 7°C to 27°C reduces density, making the bullet fly higher and farther. He stresses that many shooters mistakenly believe humidity matters, but it does not. He recommends using a weather meter (anemometer) to measure conditions and adjust turrets or holdovers accordingly.

Wójtowicz explains that soldiers often become 'disabled' in the sense that they are not used to managing their own lives. When the structure of military life disappears, they find themselves lost. He advises that before stepping into the civilian world, a soldier must carefully think through how they will earn a living, where they will live, and how they will handle daily responsibilities. He himself had a plan to continue teaching and training, which eased his transition.

Wójtowicz mentions that despite being a disabled veteran with 12 shrapnel fragments still in his body and a leg that feels like wood, he maintains this routine. He hasn't missed a day in two weeks at the time of recording. This discipline reflects his military mindset and helps him stay capable for his work training others and participating in veteran sports competitions.

Wójtowicz co-founded a foundation that pioneered underwater rehabilitation for wounded soldiers in Europe. He describes taking veterans to the Arctic, where they ski with rifles while watching for polar bears, an experience that is unique and empowering. He also participates in the Invictus Games (biathlon and swimming). He believes that giving veterans these opportunities fills the gap left by the lack of state support and helps them rediscover their strength.

Wójtowicz contends that the quality of soldiers has plummeted because recruits are drawn by financial incentives rather than a sense of duty. He notes that many of his experienced colleagues who returned to service or stayed in are deeply frustrated. He also mocks the idea that soldiers who served on missions in Romania or Latvia, or guarded borders, should be called veterans, suggesting a confusion of terms. He believes that the current generation lacks the dedication and resilience of earlier soldiers, and that the military's expansion has diluted its effectiveness, including within special forces.

He explains that the best armies, such as Canada's, treat snipers as craftsmen, not artists. In Poland, however, after he was wounded, the media turned him into a celebrity, which he resents because it exposed him and forced him into a public role he never wanted. He wrote his book only because people kept asking for his story, not out of a desire for fame. He emphasizes that a sniper is just a soldier with a specific specialty, and that the real responsibility lies with politicians who start wars.

He explains that he would instead study and contribute to Poland in a different way, without having to follow orders that are not his own or get involved in conflicts that are not his. He emphasizes that he does not regret the time served because it allowed him to meet incredible people and shaped who he is, but he would not willingly choose that path again. He advises young people to only join if they feel an irresistible inner calling, comparing it to being in love.

He describes taking a veteran on a 7-day Arctic expedition with rifles, watching for polar bears, as a life-changing experience that few can have. He believes that by giving others what he lacked, he fills a void in himself. He admits that veterans often have very low self-esteem, and he shares that he sometimes doesn't believe in himself. Each successful step in helping others reassures him that he is not worthless. He sees it as a kind of karma: 'throw behind you, find in front of you.'

He says that every soldier who sets foot on Afghan soil knows they are there only to survive, earn some money, and not bring shame to the country. He respects the Afghan fighters, especially the mujahideen, for their cunning and resilience, and notes that many soldiers never actually saw a Taliban fighter. He believes the real enemy is often not a simple Afghan but foreign fighters from all over the world. He also points out that the Taliban is an ideology, not a nationality, and that clan warfare complicated the conflict. He concludes that the wars were senseless, but he cannot turn back time.