Poland is wary of its neighbour Russia, especially after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. As NATO’s largest defence contributor (4.7% of GDP), Poland is rapidly reinforcing its army and investing heavily in arms. The country is now also preparing its population for war, its top military leader, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces General Wiesław Kukula, told Politico in an interview, adding that in the event of a full-scale conflict, Poland does not have the strategic depth of some other European countries.
“We are neighbours of the Russian Federation and its ally Belarus, so we have no buffer between us and them, and we have limited time to prepare and react,” Kukula said.
To deter the Russians, Poland plans to more than double its army to half a million soldiers and train millions of reservists, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced in March.
“By the end of the year we want to have a model ready so that every adult male in Poland is trained for war and so that this reserve is adequate for possible threats,” Tusk told parliament, adding that women can also apply.
He said the training would be voluntary, in a bid to allay fears of a return to the highly unpopular compulsory conscription, which was ended in 2008.
THE POLISH ARMED FORCES ARE CURRENTLY DRAWING UP PLANS FOR CIVILIAN TRAINING AND A PROPOSAL IS EXPECTED BY THE END OF MARCH, KUKUL SAID. LEGISLATIVE WORK IS EXPECTED TO START SOON AFTER.
The government is expected to offer short courses in civil protection, first aid and basic military skills for people with no previous experience. For those with previous experience, refresher courses will be offered, including on the use of firearms, combat medicine and land navigation skills. For those who wish to receive more comprehensive training, an in-depth, month-long training programme will also be available, both online and in person.
“The first goal [of the training programme] is to improve the availability and quality of reservists,” said Kukula. “There are a large number of reservists in the army at the moment, but their average age is already around 45. If the conflict and pressure on Poland continues for a longer period of time, a well-trained pool of reservists will be essential to ensure their ability to operate alongside professional soldiers and the Territorial Defense Forces.”
The initial plan is to train 100 000 people by the end of 2026, he said. “The second objective is even more important – we need to prepare the public for the consequences of a crisis, even if not everyone undergoes military training,” he said.
But time might not be on Poland’s side, some senior military figures warn.
Former general Leon Komornicki said Russia is building up a large army and “if peace is not achieved and the split in NATO continues”, it could invade the Baltic states late this year or early next year.
Former commander Jarosław Kraszewski criticised Poland’s training plan as too little, too late, arguing that 100 000 trainees per year was too few, and called for a return to compulsory military service. “We have moved on to a lifestyle of consumption, the pleasures of democracy and travelling the world without problems, but we have forgotten that everyone of us should have basic knowledge” of defence, he said.
POLLS SHOW THAT NOT EVERYONE SUPPORTS POLAND’S MILITARY TRAINING PLAN.
According to one poll, more than half of Poles support the initiative, while 39% of respondents said they would be willing to participate. Another poll showed that around two thirds of Poles would stay in the country if war broke out, while a third would try to flee.
Military expert Marek Kozubel said the government should offer financial incentives and highlight career benefits such as training in mechanics or drone operation to attract more people.
The aim of the training will be to offer Poles skills that “will be useful both in war and peacetime, such as cyber-security or medical training”, Kukula said. “These skills can also be useful in the job market.”
Incentives under consideration include financial compensation or tax breaks for participants and their employers, the general added. “We want the Polish state to make it clear that we respect those who contribute to our defence.”
“No one will be rejected,” Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz told Polish Radio. “Not everyone will become a soldier, even if it is because of their age, but they can receive training in civil protection, first aid and crisis response.
MILITARY TRAINING FOR ADULTS SEEMS TO BE ONLY PART OF A WIDER SYSTEM THAT THE TUSK GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO SET UP, EXPECTING THE WORST FROM RUSSIA.
The “education with the army” programme in schools is being expanded, and a civil protection programme will also be included in sports lessons, possibly from September.
“If we are ready and if Russia knows we are ready, this will be an important deterrent,” said Kukul. “I think it will be strong enough that Russia, knowing this, will not even start a conflict.”