In 2025 10 fresh troops of military preparation (OPW) could be established in secondary schools across Poland. This is how the MON decided after analysing recruitment results for existing classes and military capabilities in the field of student training. Reasons include, among others, demographics, a large number of uncreated troops and the request to relieve military units.
Military Preparation Divisions This is simply a peculiar expression of classes, which the creation of in secondary schools allowed in 2019 the amendment of the Law on Education. Thanks to this solution, the activities of military classes, so far organizationally and programically very different, have been unified and the Ministry of National Defence has gained real influence on the conditions and forms of military education classes.
In practice, annually, starting in 2020, it is the Minister of National Defence that sets the limit for the fresh RDPs to be created. This takes into account, among others, the organisational and staffing capacity of schools applying for the establishment of the ODP and training capabilities of troops, as well as the resources allocated to this intent in the state budget. Although the creation of specified a class may be sought by any authority moving a secondary school, the head of the Ministry of Defence shall yet decide whether to set up or not after consulting the applicable school curator. MON's approval for the establishment of the ODP allows the educational establishment to recruit annually into the first class of that branch.
On a wave of interest
Already in the beginning, the initiative was met with a large interest of the authorities moving the school, the educational institutions themselves, teachers and young people. The first 130 troops of military preparation began operating in 2020. In subsequent years, the Minister of National Defence issued respectively: in 2021 – 20 permits, in 2022 – 115 permits, in 2023 – 219 permits and in 2024 – 60 permits.
– Given the request to affect soldiers in the applicable training of students, the first presumption was that 330 specified troops would be established by 2030. It shortly turned out that the thought was gaining popularity, and in 2023 the assumed number of troops was exceeded by more than 150 – said Colonel Sylwia Hemon, Head of the Military Education Division Central Military Recruitment Center.
However, MON did not want to lose the possible of young people. Therefore, given the precedence of expanding the army's size and increased financial spending on defence for 2024, the Minister set a limit that year to set up fresh branches of the year at 200. However, it turned out that, for the first time since 2020, this limit has not been used, and that only 70 requests for the anticipation of establishing an ODP were received by the head of the MON.
– The reasons for the decrease in interest were: signalled alternatively than demographic, as well as gathering the needs of authorities moving over-the-counter schools of fresh RDPs, says Colonel Hemon. The minister yet authorized the beginning of 60 troops of military preparation from September 2024. Next year the RDP limit will be 10 fresh branches starting in school year 2025/2026.
It's quality, not quantity.
– Although the key nonsubjective of the RDP is to increase the number of people prepared for military service, MON leadership besides depends on the quality of training. We know very well that military support is essential for the effective functioning of the RDP. Meanwhile, due to the engagement of military units in training students of specified classes already in operation and the tasks of soldiers resulting straight from the military emergency situation, the appointment of patronage units is becoming increasingly difficult," said Colonel Hemon. The officer besides notes that the creation of besides many RDPs could consequence in a simplification in the quality of student training and consequently discourage youth from further military development.
The request to make fresh RDPs is besides addressed by representatives of the MON.
– This year, over half a 1000 RDPs operating in schools did not make first classes in close half. any schools that have obtained approval to make the ODP have not yet formed the first class – they admit. The practice of applying for the beginning of RPW to growth and consequently its failure to make it is intended to prevent the amendment of educational law. 1 of the planned changes assumes that the Minister of National Defence will be able to revoke the issued licence if, for example, the school does not make the first RDP class for 2 years in a row. This has not been possible so far.
The authorities moving the school, curious in setting up the ODP, may submit applications to the Minister of National Defence by 31 January 2025. For the facility that will receive MON's approval, a patronage military unit will be appointed to supply method and logistical support in the implementation of applicable classes of students.
The military training classes of the RDP are carried out in grades I–III of the general secondary school and classes I–IV of the method school. This is simply a full of 230 hours of lessons, including 177 hours of applicable classes conducted by military instructors from patronage military units. The program consists of 4 thematic blocks: the basis of military education (must, military regulations, cognition about the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland), training from selected laws, logistical training (including construction and operation of equipment, environmental protection, fire prevention), combat training (including tactics, shooting training, reconnaissance, defence against weapons of mass destruction, communications, land-based studies, medical training, engineering-saper training and fitness) and ends with a 50-hour training camp organized by a patronage military unit. After the training has been completed, the school chief shall issue a certificate of completion of military training to the ODP graduate, authorising him to shorten his basic training within the framework of voluntary essential military service up to 12 days and gaining additional credits during recruitment to military colleges.
