On 2 February 2025, nearly 50 soldiers of basic training 8 Kujawsko-Pomorskie Territorial Defence Brigade (8 K-PBOT) took a solemn military oath at the military complex at 11 Jagiello Street in Grudziądz. On this peculiar day for the soldier, they were accompanied by families, friends and more than 50 compensatory training soldiers. As a result, the Kuyavian-Pomeranian territories have strengthened by more than 100 soldiers. It was 37 vows in the past of 8 K-PBOT. An additional component of the ceremony was the promotion of 11 soldiers to the first rank of the officer.
The most crucial day for a soldier
The young territorialists spoke the words of the military oath and became full members of the youngest, 5 types of Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland. present is the minute you become part of our large military family. In our ranks you will find support, relationship and respect. Together we are an invincible squad ready to face all challenge of destiny - said Colonel Marcin DOJAŚ 8 K-PBOT.
At this solemn moment, they were accompanied by their loved ones and invited guests headed by the Vice-Vice-Voivode, a typical of the Marshal of Kujawsko-Pomeranian Voivodeship and Vice president of the City of Grudziądz. Commanders, commanders and representatives of military units from the voivodship were besides present. There have been many crucial words that item the importance of the mission of supporting local communities carried by WOT soldiers, but besides of respect and support from residents and provincial authorities.
"Territorial defence Army is simply a peculiar formation that connects people with their local communities by building bridges between tradition and modernity as an integral part of the Armed Forces of the Republic. WOT is not only liable for the challenges of modern defence, but besides supports Poles in crisis situations. In this sense, you are the safety guards on a local and national scale - stressed the deputy voivode of Kujawsko-Pomorskie Michał Końich.
The oath pass was a demanding exam
On 30 January 2025, soldiers of basic and compensatory training 8 Kujawsko-Pomorskie Territorial Defence Brigade passed the exam in the form of a tactical loop. After 2 weeks of training, they faced a number of tasks investigating their skills from the basics of the soldier's craft. It was, among another things, shooting for a limited time to 1 goal, making a single trench to shoot from a lying posture, breaking fire contact, beating the terrain on the battlefield or marking magnetic azimuth utilizing busola. In addition, young territorialists defeated respective km of the insured march between the designated points they had to scope to pass the exam. This was besides part of investigating their field navigation skills with maps and busolas.
WOT Holidays
About half of the soldiers who have just sworn in in Grudziądz all day are taught in advanced school, studying or looking on the another side of the school bench, teaching our children. WOT holidays are basic training (16-days for those who had no contact with the military service) or compensatory training (8-days for volunteers to service in WOT who have previously taken a military oath).
A fewer years ago, the Territorial Defence Army met the expectations of a large part of the society, which in the midst of everyday life duties 16 days needed to complete basic training can only make in time free from survey or work. Hence, the WOT and WOT holidays are held all year and are of large interest to volunteers. This is another year in which 8 K-PBOT participates in the program, which has become an effective way to let volunteers to reconcile their dreams of military service with school or college education.
What's next?
Now, fresh soldiers will delve into theoretical cognition and gain applicable skills at monthly, two-day rotation training and erstwhile a year a 2-week training course. The duration of this training shall be accompanied by a training calendar for the following year, up to the end of November of the current year. The long time between the presentation of the calendar and the date of departure for the field allows you to arrange private matters to complete 2 weeks of training with a calm head, which completes the yearly training cycle.
Text: Captain Paul Banasiak
