Poland Launches Largest Defence Training in Its History

Context:

• Poland has announced its largest-ever defence training initiative , titled “At Readiness” , aimed at strengthening national resilience amid ongoing regional tensions triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The programme, unveiled by Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz , represents Poland’s most ambitious security mobilisation effort since the Cold War.

About the ‘At Readiness’ Programme

• Objective: To train around 400,000 civilians by 2026 in essential defence and survival skills.

• Nature: Voluntary and open to all citizens — including students, professionals, and retirees .

• Training Modules: Cover basic security, first aid, survival skills, and cyber-defence awareness .

• Goal: To ensure communities are better prepared for national emergencies, hybrid warfare, or wartime contingencies .

Implementation and Scale

• Initial Phase: Training of 20,000 individuals (Nov–Dec 2025) and 100,000 participants through various formats.

• Related Initiatives: Linked with the “Education with the Army” campaign, reserve drills, and voluntary military service for deeper engagement.

• Target: Achieve a trained force of 400,000 citizens by 2026 as part of Poland’s broader national resilience strategy .

Poland’s Defence Expansion

• Current Military Strength: 216,000 personnel , making it NATO’s third-largest army .

• Future Plans: Increase troop strength by nearly one-third over the next decade .

• Defence Spending: Poland now allocates a higher percentage of GDP to defence than any other NATO member.

Exam-Oriented Facts

• Programme Name: At Readiness

• Launch Year: 2025

• Trained Civilians Target: 400,000 by 2026

• Announced By: Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz

• Current Force: 216,000 (3rd-largest in NATO)

• Focus Areas: Survival, first aid, cyber security, and reserve readiness