Poland Launches Mass Civilian Training for “Most Dangerous Times Since WWII”

The Polish government has announced a sweeping new national defense program to provide voluntary military and crisis-response training for its citizens, with the nation’s defense minister warning that Europe is facing its “most dangerous times since the Second World War.”
The new program, named “wGotowości” (“In Readiness”), was unveiled on Thursday, November 6, 2025, by Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. It represents one of the largest civilian defense-training efforts in Poland’s modern history, with a goal of training up to 400,000 citizens by the end of 2026.
“We live in the most dangerous times since the end of the Second World War,” Kosiniak-Kamysz stated at the launch. He cited the “war raging across our border” in Ukraine, “acts of sabotage,” and a “constant struggle in cyberspace” as the primary drivers for the initiative.
The “In Readiness” program is entirely voluntary and open to all Polish citizens, including students, working professionals, and the elderly. It is not a return to mandatory conscription but rather an effort to build “societal resilience” and prepare the general population to respond to a crisis.
A pilot phase of the program is set to begin on November 22, 2025, with a full rollout planned for 2026. Training will be conducted at over 130 military units across the country, led by the Territorial Defense Forces.
The program will be modular, allowing citizens to choose courses based on their interests. The core components include:
* Basic Military Instruction: Including safe firearms handling and fundamentals.
* Survival Skills: Tactics for surviving in a crisis situation.
* First Aid: Advanced medical and trauma care.
* Cybersecurity: Training in “cyber hygiene” and how to identify and respond to digital threats.
This initiative is the latest step in Poland’s massive military expansion. The country, which shares a border with both Ukraine and Russian ally Belarus, has already increased its defense budget to over 4% of GDP—the highest in NATO. This new civilian program aims to complement its professional military by ensuring the entire population is prepared and capable of contributing to national defense.