JW Agat: Let's go get the young!

We had to change the form of recruitment to Agatha due to our current needs. As an individual, we are prepared to conduct independent operations, but above all, we are to support another peculiar units specified as GROM or JWK. So we must have adequate force – and I am not just talking about weapons, but mainly about people. So we open up to young people. We do not anticipate any military or another service experience from our candidates. We'll teach them everything.

A very fresh look. The military alternatively criticizes young people from the Z generation...

There's no request to insult young people and criticize them. I frequently hear that the young generation is worse and weaker. And that's not true. Young people simply have completely different experiences, or are brought up, surviving in a different planet than those who began serving 10 or 20 years ago. Today's 20-year-olds are improbable to have experience, for example, of paramilitary or pro-defence groups. But does that make them worse? Nope. It is crucial to realize that generational change has taken place, and now this military must take on the work of decently molding young people. And that's what we do at JW Agat.

What do you focus on by choosing candidates for service?

During the selection We do not test any skills that candidates may have acquired so far in the military or in another services, we focus on their character, intellectual profile and, of course, physical preparation. In accordance with the fresh expression at the time of selection, each candidate is closely observed and assessed by instructors. In fact, there is no time for them to stay unsupervised. We measure their commitment, motivation, ability to cooperate in the group.

However, it must be stressed that this fresh four-day selection expression does not close the full recruitment process. This is just 1 of the stages, and the people chosen by us will be subject to further assessment and verification even before we begin to service in assault teams.

So, what is the way of the assault squad soldier? It starts with a gym exam, right?

In my opinion, the first step is to decide that you want to take part in the selection and service in the Agat unit. The candidate should then submit a survey to our unit, and if we are interested, he will be invited. And that's where the change begins. The process, which has so far lasted at least a fewer months, has been shortened to 4 days: we have combined the qualification and selection phase. Volunteers who receive an invitation from us will undergo intellectual tests in 1 day and will take the exam from gym. Those who score all this will start the right selection stage.

However, I encourage you not to underestimate the preparation. Although the fitness test requirements are known, nearly 50% of the participants are inactive out in the gym.

We've been moving a field game since this year. not in Bieszczady or BeskidyBut in advanced Silesia. Candidates should focus on quite a few physical effort, teamwork and quite a few dynamics. The best ones will meet with the commander after 4 days and receive a occupation offer in the unit. We do not want to deceive our candidates and unnecessarily prolong the process.

That surely might encourage you to take on the glove. And who should presume in advance that Agat is no place for him? Who doesn't have a chance to pass the selection?

Apart from physical preparation, it is besides worth paying attention to intellectual preparation. I'm certain individual selections won't pass. Nor do we request people who are impulsive, arrogant, who do not respect the rules.

The selection, as you mentioned, takes place in Silesia, not so far in the mountains. Can candidates be decently assessed without steep slopes and overestimations?

The effort is comparable. Without problem and in Silesia we can bring candidates to specified a level of fatigue on which they begin to discover their actual self. due to the fact that even though there are no mountains here, there's quite a few pressure. Volunteers march with burden in equally demanding terrain. In 3 days, they cross over 100 km. And they do all kinds of peculiar tasks. Besides, the mountain phase won't escape either...

What do you mean?

As I mentioned, the Silesia test is 1 of the stages of evaluation of candidates. Those who pass the selection and become soldiers of Agatha will have a two-week adaptation course during which they will proceed to be subject to evaluation and training. We will check how they absorb cognition and how they usage it to solve problems. Part of this training will take place in the mountains. Only after this adaptation will they get basic training.

Will you teach them navigation in the mountains? This skill is no longer assessed during selection.

In the mountains, we will check their skills in this area. Over the years, we have noticed that it is not worth to destruct candidates who are not full able to navigate or give orders. These are the skills we can teach in our ministry. Answering briefly: yes, the learning of navigation and azimutting will come during adaptation training.

When we were preparing a fresh selection program, we watched how specified a recruitment process is conducted in akin units in the world. We have seen that, among another things, in the USA and in France a lot has changed, and accents are spread differently. There's no request to complain about young people and say they utilized to be better. Qualification, selection and base It's 1 process now, not a fewer steps apart. 1 comes from another, and candidates are decently prepared for service, not just checked. It is crucial that this process is held with us, on our terms and according to the needs of the individual.

Tell us about the people who entered the current selection. Who volunteered?

More than 50 people became involved, and 27 people entered the field. The youngest is 20, the oldest 31. They're soldiers from various military units and officers. We besides have reservists, soldiers of voluntary essential military service and attendants. Interestingly, 1 of the candidates already stated during the intellectual tests that this place was not for him. We're not stopping anyone.

He resigned himself, and for what can candidates be removed from selection?

Lack of motivation, deficiency of physical preparation, deficiency of group cooperation, deficiency of command and low notes from instructors. It may happen that the starting number will should be returned as a consequence of the injury. Yeah, but that's out of our hands.

This is the second selection for JW Agat this year. erstwhile will they be next?

We assumed that selections would take place 4 times a year: 2 at the turn of winter and spring, and 2 in autumn. Those who think about serving in our ranks can submit a survey at any time. Let it be encouraging that those who had been selected in February have already begun our service in April. So it's worth trying.