Last year, MON financed vacation holidays for almost 300 children from military families with the lowest incomes. This year, the least earner can besides take advantage of the offer and send their children to free camps and colonies. The basic condition is income per individual in the household not exceeding PLN 2400.
Full coverage of the remainder costs of children of professional soldiers is 1 of the social and surviving benefits of the alleged occupational protection programs. This benefit may be granted only erstwhile a year, at the request of a soldier. However, not everyone can send their kid to free colonies or camp. According to the provisions, the right to full cover the remainder costs of their children only military families with the lowest income. Specifically: the average monthly income per individual for the 12 months preceding the period of application must not exceed 40% of the lowest wage of the basic professional soldier. In practice, after this year's increases, erstwhile the minimum military wage increased to PLN 6 thousand, this amount amounts to PLN 2400 (last year it was PLN 1984).
This year's offer of MON to the youngest is ready. As in erstwhile years, soldiers can send their children on a free vacation to 1 of 3 military resorts AMW Revita: in Waplewa, Solina or Rogów. “These are proven facilities that have been preparing vacation holidays for years. This year's turnuses will be held from 23 June and will last until 25 August. In total, there are 9 two-week trips: 7 colonies for younger and 2 camps for older children. 480 seats await the participants – says Margaret Weber, Press Secretary of the Military Property Agency.
Two 14-day “Sport and Recreation” colonies for children aged 7 to 15 years (30.06 – 14.07 and 14–28.07) and 3 “Water World” colonies for children aged 8 to 17 years (23.06 – 7.07, 7–21.07, 21.07 – 4.08) will be held on Lake Maroz in Waplewa, Mazury.
In coastal Rogowie, at 1 time (29.06 – 13.07) will be organised: 14-day "Sport and Recreation" colony turnout for children aged 7–13 and a two-week language-sport camp for youth from 14 to 17 years. From 11 to 25 August, the "Sport and Recreation" colonies for children aged 7–15 and the swimming camp, addressed to participants from 8 to 17, will be held in the hotel on Solina.
The military curious in the offer and gathering the requirements may already apply to the leisure coordinator in their unit. If the soldier's kid is qualified, the MON will cover the costs of stay and board, transport and insurance. The cost of remainder of 1 kid dependent on a professional soldier, including the price of the stay and the actual cost of transport borne by the centre, must not exceed PLN 3136 – in the case of sports and recreational colonies and PLN 3304 – in respect of colonies and specialised camps, with an extended stay programme.
According to the representatives of the MON, the number of children of professional soldiers benefiting from full coverage of leisure costs is estimated to be between 200 and 300 participants each year and is invariably of interest. “The impact on the number of children is primarily on the material situation in the soldiers’ families and their preferences about the time and place of rest”, the ministry informs. However, not only children from military families usage the offer. “There have been situations where a kid of a soldier qualifying for support wanted to go to the camp together with a colleague from the property or class. If there are inactive places available on the same turnout, parents can buy out colonies or camp by paying commercial stakes," adds Margaret Weber.
Last year, 294 children took advantage of the 350 applications for full coverage of leisure expenses. The MON allocated about PLN 800 thousand. Part of the applications were rejected, inter alia, due to excess income, the resignation of soldiers in relation to household matters, and due to the deficiency of availability of a seat at the time or centre preferred by the applicant. Among the reasons was besides the usage by the kid in the same year of another social and surviving benefits. – For example, children who benefit from a remainder aid under the “Tanie holidays” strategy cannot benefit from a vacation in the form of colonies and camps with full cost coverage in the same calendar year. However, soldiers may in this case apply for another benefit, i.e. the co-financing of organized recreation, as explained by representatives of the MON.
For more details on how to organize leisure in the resort, see the Act of 11 March 2022 on the Defence of the Homeland and the Ordinance of the Minister of National Defence of 18 September 2023 on Social and Live Benefits for Professional Soldiers. The offer of this year's colonies and camps is determined by Decision No. 33/MON of April 25, 2024 on how to organize remainder for children of professional soldiers, conducted as part of the full coverage of its costs in 2024.
Information with price list and remainder dates in individual locations in 2024 is available on website.
