Poland is training thousands of everyday citizens in military, medical, and survival skills as part of a massive effort to strengthen national defense.
The program, called “At Readiness,” will start as a voluntary effort to bolster both personal and community resilience, according to a report by Reuters.
Participants can choose from four one-day courses: basic safety, survival, medical response, and cyber hygiene. These sessions teach practical skills such as crisis preparedness, first aid, online security, and emergency response.
Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk said that around 20,000 people will undergo individual training in November and December alone, while the total number of participants in all formats could reach 100,000 this year.
By 2026, the ministry plans to train roughly 400,000 citizens through individual and group programs, reserve training, and voluntary service.
The program is designed to be accessible as citizens can sign up through a mobile application where they can choose dates and locations that suit them.
Why Poland’s Training Matters
Poland’s new training program comes as the country faces heightened security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In response, Warsaw has increased its defense spending, aiming to allocate 4.7 percent of its GDP in 2025, making it one of NATO’s largest military spenders.
Training civilians is seen as a force multiplier to this aim, providing a broader layer of preparedness beyond professional troops.
In practice, the skills taught could help citizens respond effectively to a range of threats, such as natural disasters and military emergencies along Poland’s eastern border.
Early public interest has been strong. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz described participation as “a great investment in our shared security.”
On the program’s first day of registration, over 3,770 people signed up, including nearly 1,200 for basic safety courses and more than 1,100 for survival training.
