In public discourse, there are theories that make us feel little powerfully about the work to defend our homeland. The media exploits the subject of readiness to flee the country, which is expressed by a large part of Poles. “Who will defend us?” “When war breaks out, there will be no 1 to fight!” alarmist titles appear not only in tabloids. But is it truly that bad? And what do Poles truly declare?
Last year, CBOS published a study entitled "Protectiveness to Defend the Country". Respondents were asked to indicate to what degree their different behaviour would be likely in the event of an attack on Poland. Questions about circumstantial attitudes were asked separately – choosing 1 option did not exclude the choice of others. And so as much as 55% of those asked, risking their lives, would take part in defending the country, engaged in armed combat with the attacker, served in, for example, the armed forces, or participated in the armed resistance. 72%, risking their own lives, would take part in defending the country without engaging in armed combat with the attacker, for example, would engage in rescue actions in areas under combat. However, 85% of those surveyed, without risking their lives and without taking up armed action, would support defence, for example in various forms of aid outside the battlefield. 1 in 4 respondents admitted that in specified a situation he would effort to leave Poland as shortly as possible.
The conclusions of the CBOS study besides say that the professional military service gained the top support – 92% of respondents turned out to be supporters. She's in second place. voluntary primary military serviceAnd with a 90% score. Interestingly, much more supporters than opponents had compulsory primary military service for men during the period of peace (52% versus 44%).
Interest, but rather numerous
Of course, there are more polls concerning Poles' readiness to service and defend the country. fresh ones are regularly appearing, which is not surprising, given that we are a country in front of us, powerfully active in the assistance of the Russians of Ukraine. It is not time and place to quote them more extensively, but it is worth discussing polling trends. To this end, let us look after the June study “General State Service. The program of building passenger reserves for the safety of Poland”, prepared by the Sobieski Institute and the Institute of east Flanks. The authors of the survey point out that, on average, about 15% of respondents are willing to actively defend their homeland. After converting to real numbers, this gives 4.5 million adults Poles. 1 fifth, on the another hand, says that in a crisis situation, she would most likely not go to the front voluntarily, but would engage in volunteering. That's about 6 million adults.
So it is not so bad with our sense of work for the country and the community. These 15% and 20% may seem tiny percentages, but given the size of the population, these are adequate numbers to think of creating an army capable of resisting Russia's attack and building a back-up that effectively supports military efforts. Yeah, the back. Geopolitical conditions force Poland building a universal protection systemy, covering not only a strong army but besides many and efficient civilian defence. What in Poland – according to the results of the investigation – is not only permission, but besides large (counted in millions of possible volunteers) readiness.
Could have been a blow to the back.
To the degree that the universality of civilian pro-defence attitudes is crucial for social resilience, Colonel Maciej Korowaj, a retired intelligence officer, 1 of the authors of the study entitled "Universal State Service". "The modern war is not and will not be carried out solely by armed forces," he argues. "And the extra-military aspect automatically translates into military action. A soldier fights better if he knows that his household has a guaranteed existence, access to electricity, medical services, that appropriate services care for its fire safety or social security. In each of these areas we already have structures, but during the war they will require drastic expansion, a supply of volunteers. These staffs must be prepared now, during the peace, and systematically train them.”
According to Korowaj, the example of Ukraine shows well how crucial civilian defence and volunteer activities are. But the colonel besides advises to look at Russia, which despite its war was able to cope with catastrophic floods in the Far East in 2024. "It could have been a blow to the back, and it was not due to the fact that the Federation has services and hundreds of thousands of trained people to respond to the crisis. We besides should have specified staff, especially since it is simply a resource not only useful during war," he emphasises.
Double-use competence
How do you build specified a system? Let us look at the thought of universal state service, postulated by the Sobieski Institute and the Institute of east Flanks. As Maciej Korowaj emphasizes, it includes not only a strictly military area, connected with the construction of reserves for the needs of the army, but besides civilian defence, the medical and protective sphere and services operating within the national emergency and rescue system; in addition, state- certified non-governmental organisations, specialised in emergency operations and key companies in the interests of state safety (services critical infrastructure). According to the project, all young man after graduating from advanced school would be given 3 months of training in the sector of his choice. For this he would receive a monthly wage equal to the current national average (today it would be an amount of about PLN 6 1000 net).
But money isn't everything. The service, in 1 form or another, would affect the acquisition of dual-use competence. Useful in the military and in civilians, for which the army would pay, besides erstwhile renewing privileges or certificates. "Any kind of training would be linked to benefits, for example the anticipation of obtaining the right to drive a specialised car, a unmanned pilot licence, rescue training or additional recruitment points for specialist studies", says Colonel Korowaj. specified competences can be acquired present during voluntary essential military serviceBut that requires a 12-month stay in the barracks.
Does the thought of specified training make sense? Yes. Does it fit into social expectations? Absolutely. The General Staff of the Polish Army is besides working on akin solutions. Moreover, it seems that there is political agreement to introduce in Poland something akin to the universal state service. Ball's on the side of the decision-makers.
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