"There were 2 utmost solutions on the table". Expert on Tusk’s announcements

Hence, the thought not only to increase the strength of training for reservists, but besides to launch with widespread military training for all adult men.

– We're going to gotta usage a fewer ways of acting. These are reservists, but they will besides be intensive training that should let those who do not go to the army to become full, full-fledged soldiers in a conflict situation," he announced Donald Tusk. “We will effort to have the model ready by the end of this year, so that all adult man in Poland is trained in the event of war, so that this reserve is actually comparable and adequate to possible threats,” he added.

Mandatory military training – a step in the right direction

Dr. Marek Kozubel, military analyst, co-author of the book “Russian-Ukrainian War. The first phase recognises that the Prime Minister's announcement is simply a step in the right direction, but it is just as crucial as what concrete solutions will look like.

– The thought itself is very good due to the fact that there were 2 utmost solutions on the table: either do nothing that would be fatal, or reconstruct essential military service, which is presently socially very unpopular and could origin unnecessary panic. You can see that an intermediate model has been chosen, that is, compulsory training in peacetime. It is good that the state woke up and started doing something in this direction – says Interii Dr. Kozubel.

Why does he think it's not the right time to announce the restoration of mandatory collection?

– specified an announcement would immediately be utilized by Russian and Belarusian propaganda to spread confusion in Polish society. In a minute there would be Facebooks about sending Polish soldiers to the Ukrainian front and another specified stories. This would origin social unrest, and this is the last thing we request – he points out.

Mandatory military training in peacetime

Intermediate model proposed by Donald Tusk, is to establish military training during peacetime, but will be compulsory alternatively than voluntary.

– I read this announcement as wanting to prepare as many people as possible in the event of war, and it is known that it is easier and more effective to do so in peacetime erstwhile all soldiers, commanders, equipment are available than erstwhile the enemy starts attacking, and the most experienced military are needed elsewhere," says Dr. Marek Kozubel. – To the example of war in Ukraine, the Russians have besides frequently chosen polygons as the mark of bombings – he adds.

How crucial it is to train as many people as possible and prepare society for possible war activities Ukrainians know very well, as Marek Kozubel reminds us, who have trained very intensively since 2014. – That is why they were so well prepared and able to halt Russia during the first fewer days of the war. We remember Putin's plan was to do a fast job. Kiev“What didn’t work,” the interviewer points out.

“Poland, erstwhile it comes to preparing for a possible war, is very bad in the social dimension. The Polish army has very thin reserves, which consist mainly of men around 40 and older. In short, if aggression had started today, we would have put up a strong-aged army. The point is to change it and to make young men in danger know what to do – he says Dr. Marek Kozubel.

How can military training work in practice?

As all experts emphasize, in the case of defence announcements, the devil is always in item and the effectiveness of future solutions will depend on concrete solutions.

The Prime Minister announced that the military training model should be developed by the end of the year. The head of government mentioned that women would besides be able to participate in training, although the reality of war inactive makes it a more male domain.

– A lot will depend on how it can be arranged in time. Let us remember that people who have their jobs, studies, families, commitments will be trained, so all of this must besides be taken into account – he calculates Dr. Marek Kozubel.

He adds, however, that he keeps his fingers crossed so that concrete solutions can enter into force as shortly as possible.

– We have lived for besides long in the sleep and hope that there is America that will always defend us, and wars are won by rockets and aviation. Nothing more wrong. In the event of war, land troops are key, they occupy and defend the territory. Therefore, a strong army, with a large number of reservists, should be our absolute precedence – concludes our interlocutor.

Kamila Baranowska