On Wednesday, in an interview with RMF FM, the head of the National Security Bureau, Sławomir Cenckiewicz, said that Poland must “suspend” compulsory military service and “start talking about threats directly.” He stressed that more time should be devoted to training the public and building places of protection for civilians.
Cezary Tomczyk, deputy head of the Ministry of National Defence, was asked by journalists about these words of the head of the National Security Bureau on Friday. The deputy minister reminded that conscription into the army – in the form of mandatory compulsory military service – has not been formally abolished in Poland, but only suspended. – If necessary, this draft can be suspended – he emphasized.
As he pointed out, the Ministry of National Defense is currently focusing on a new project, the “wReadiness” training program, which provides for pro-defense training for civilians, and from next year also training for reservists. – This second path is of fundamental importance from the point of view of Poland's defense. Strengthening the reserve and reservists with mobilization assignments is what we can do for the country's defense, he said.
– There are many countries that have full or selective conscription; this is often a fraction of what we accomplish when we have volunteers. I assure you that it is better to have volunteers in voluntary compulsory military service than to have people who have to be persuaded to join this service, said Tomczyk.
– If such a moment comes, I assure you that the appropriate plan exists in the appropriate drawer. The General Staff of the Polish Army and the Ministry of National Defense analyze the situation every day, regarding demography and the number of volunteers, what we are struggling with and what the future will look like – said the deputy head of the Ministry of National Defense.
When asked whether the army was ready to possibly suspend conscription and train thousands of people, Tomczyk stated that “due to the fact that conscription has been suspended, not abolished, the Polish Army is prepared for this type of situation.” – However, today there are no such plans. We provide training, including training for the reserve, which is the basis of security today. (…) We keep our finger on the pulse, if there is a need for changes in this matter, we will certainly inform you – he said.
Currently, the Polish Army relies on several forms of military service, including primarily professional service and territorial military service in the Territorial Defense Forces. In addition, under the Homeland Defense Act of 2022, voluntary compulsory military service was also introduced, which consists of one month of basic training and specialized training lasting up to 11 months.
In addition, there is the so-called an active reserve, in which reservists are ready to regularly appear for exercises, and a passive reserve, which includes all those who have previously undergone military training and military qualifications. They can also be called to military exercises, although the army prefers to call only those who have some experience with military service in the past.
Compulsory military service has been suspended since January 2010 – as part of the program of transition to a professional army. Therefore, in 2009, military qualification replaced compulsory conscription, and its aim is to collect information about the physical and mental health of young people in terms of their predispositions to serve in the army. (PAP)
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