In view of growing tensions on its eastern border, Poland is introducing an unprecedented initiative: by the end of 2026, up to 500,000 volunteers are to undergo military training. The aim of this measure is to involve the civilian population in national defense through the "W Gotowości" program. The Czech Republic is not preparing such a massive measure.

Poland has launched a large-scale citizen mobilization plan focused on defense. The state intends to unite the army and society in the face of current challenges. At a time when the war in Ukraine is forcing strategic redefinitions, this move reflects a change in Warsaw's approach to building military and civilian capabilities.

The Polish Ministry of Defense has announced that Poland will introduce a training program open to all citizens on a voluntary basis. The country launched a new military training program this month as part of a broader plan to train approximately 400,000 people by 2026. The program aims to reach up to 100,000 participants in its initial phase by the end of 2025. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said, "We are living in the most dangerous times since World War II."

The program, called "W Gotowości" ("Always Ready"), includes basic modules such as military training, first aid, survival, and cyber hygiene. It is open to the general public and targets schoolchildren, employees, retirees, and businesses. Poland has a strategic location, bordering Ukraine and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, which reinforces the perception of threat in its immediate neighborhood. Strengthening defense capabilities therefore goes beyond the professional army: it is a global mobilization of society.

According to Chief of Staff Wiesław Kukuła, the main goal is to "strengthen the resilience of citizens and communities and increase the availability, readiness, and capacity of reserves." The Polish state offers a model in which the line of defense is no longer limited to professional soldiers, but also includes citizens. The increase in strength also affects the budget: Poland plans to allocate 4.8% of its GDP to defense in 2026, making it the top performer within NATO.

This approach is ambitious, but it poses several significant challenges. Training up to 500,000 volunteers in a short period of time places logistical, personnel, and organizational demands on the program. The voluntary nature of the program raises questions: without an obligation, citizens' responses may not meet the set goals. The diversity of profiles—students, employees, retirees—means different levels of prerequisites, which can make it difficult to ensure homogeneity in training.

This strategy primarily places Poland at the center of a fundamental transformation: the creation of a "civilian army" capable of supporting the professional army in the event of a crisis. This raises the question of the relationship between regular forces, reserves, and civilian volunteers. In a context where Poland is clearly signaling its intention to strengthen its stance toward Russia, this approach could be perceived as an escalation—or at least as a redefinition of society's role in national defense.

The Polish program "W Gotowości" builds on a long history of civilian involvement in defense, dating back to the partition of Poland in the 18th century and the partisan resistance during World War II. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and has since significantly modernized its armed forces. The country currently has approximately 200,000 active soldiers and plans to increase that number to 300,000 by 2035. Recent purchases include 1,000 K2 tanks from South Korea, 96 Apache helicopters from the US, and F-35 fighter jets, reflecting a billion-euro investment in interoperability with NATO allies. The voluntary training initiative complements these hardware innovations by focusing on human capital and ensuring that a large reserve force can be quickly activated in the event of hybrid warfare scenarios such as cyber attacks or border incursions. Initial reports indicate strong initial interest, with thousands of people registering in the first weeks of November 2025, driven by patriotic sentiment and the visible impact of the Ukrainian conflict on Poland's borders, where over 2 million Ukrainian refugees have been housed since 2022.

From a logistical standpoint, the program is structured in phases. The 2025 pilot project focuses on urban centers such as Warsaw, Krakow, and Gdańsk, utilizing existing military bases, schools, and corporate facilities for weekend or evening courses to minimize disruption to daily life. The modules are varied: the basic 16-hour course covers firearms handling and evacuation drills, while advanced courses last 40 hours and include specialized skills such as drone operation or medical triage. Incentives include tax breaks for participating employers, certification for job applications, and priority admission to civil service for graduates. The Ministry of Defense has partnered with the Polish Scouting Association and veterans' organizations to provide content and leverage experienced instructors. Cybersecurity training addresses growing threats; Poland reported more than 10,000 foreign-sponsored cyber incidents in 2024 alone, many of which were attributed to Russian actors. Survival modules include lessons learned from Ukraine and emphasize urban warfare and infrastructure resilience.

In comparison, the Czech Republic has adopted a somewhat less ambitious approach to civil defense. While Poland aims to mobilize up to 500,000 volunteers by 2026, the Czech Active Reserve system currently includes only about 4,000 people, with voluntary training and no nationwide compulsory element for civilians. The Czech Ministry of Defense focuses on 25,000 active professional soldiers and integration with allies from the Visegrad Group, allocating approximately 2% of GDP to defense in 2025, less than half of Poland's planned 4.8%. Czech programs such as "Dobrovolné předurčení" (Voluntary Predestination) offer short courses in first aid and basic military skills for approximately 1,000 participants per year, primarily through schools and youth organizations, but they lack the scope and urgency of the "W Gotowości" program. This difference is partly due to geography: the Czech Republic does not directly border Russia or Ukraine, which reduces the perceived immediate threat.

Another difference between the two countries is that the Polish initiative reflects a societal shift toward "total defense" inspired by Scandinavian models, such as the recent revival of civil preparedness in Sweden, while the Czech Republic favors collective deterrence by the EU and NATO over mass training. In 2024, Czech opinion polls showed 65% support for increased defense spending, but only 40% willingness to personally join the reserves, while in Poland, support for volunteer programs reached over 70% at a time of heightened security concerns. However, both countries are cooperating within the EU's Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) on projects such as rapid cyber response teams. Poland's bolder strategy could put pressure on Prague to expand its reserves, especially given escalating regional tensions, but for now, the Czech model emphasizes quality over quantity and leverages a highly educated population for specialized roles rather than broad civilian militarization.

In short, Poland’s “W Gotowości” program represents a proactive response to geopolitical realities, combining historical resilience with modern strategic needs. By strengthening the role of citizens as an extension of the state’s defense apparatus, Warsaw not only enhances deterrence but also promotes national unity. Success will depend on sustained participation, effective resource allocation, and international support within NATO. At a time when Europe is experiencing a period of renewed great power competition, such initiatives underscore the changing nature of security in the 21st century, where the front line extends to every community.