From T-shirts, tactical belts, footwear, to tiny drones weighing up to 25 kg, the soldier will be able to choose from respective proposals and then buy the corresponding model of the individual equipment category. The system, which will let this, is being developed by the Ministry of Optimization of Operation "Szpej". The Green List is expected to start from the fresh year.
6BPD soldiers in training
– If we say we're buying equipment for billions of dollars, we gotta remember that this equipment is served by soldiers. Who's the soldier today? He's expected to be a top-class expert. Therefore, 1 must remember that in its own equipment it must besides have the best equipment – he said Paweł Mateńczuk “Naval”, erstwhile GROM soldier, Plenipotentiary of the Minister of Defence for the Terms of Military Service. "Naval" at the global Defence manufacture Exhibition in Kielce presented the current course Operation Szczej. specified a codename carries the program of optimization of individual equipment of soldiers of the Polish Army, initiated last year. The aim is to update the tables of receivables, supplement the deficiency of equipment and replace outdated models of military equipment with newer ones.
Last year, on the initiative of Mr Mateńczuk, the provisions have been amended concerning statutory footwear. Soldiers were allowed to buy on the civilian marketplace and usage shoes that suit them more than military models. Soon, the replacement of the equipment itself will be more widely used. As the originators say, work is ongoing to make this happen from January 1, 2026.
“The Green List will be a list of products authorised by the Minister of National Defence to be purchased voluntarily, privately by soldiers and utilized in business,” explains Michał Pycio, erstwhile GROM operator, expert in optimizing operations “Szpej”. The second kind of products to be included in the list will be those which will be requested by unit commanders in case of deficiencies.
A soldier shopping
What equipment will be available on the Green List? From a tiny assortment, specified as shirts or underwear, to tactical belts, protective glasses or footwear, to tiny drones weighing up to 25 kg. The thought is to make an online product base to which the individual items would be reported by the producers. A part of equipment like this would be tested in the military. At the expense of the manufacturer, they would be carried out both by specialist institutes and investigation centres and by soldiers, i.e. users. The product would then be assessed as to whether it meets the requirements to be allowed for military use. The Green List initiators want to make a strategy so that the maker of the product that does not pass the verification receives feedback on why this happened. Thanks to what the hotel squad is counting on, he will be able to improve his proposal, which in the long word will translate into a wider scope of modern and functional elements of equipment of an individual soldier, which he will gotta choose from the list.
"Naval" besides pointed out 1 more advantage of the Green List strategy – faster introduction of news. Today, according to Mateńczuk, it is simply a very long time before the marketplace novelty reaches soldiers. And it frequently turns out that more modern and advanced products are already available in sales. The solution proposed by the erstwhile operator is to shorten this time and let soldiers to choose from the best possible offer.
Of course, it will be voluntary to usage the "Green List" offer. – The list will not exclude the strategy of supplying armed forces and the work to supply soldiers with a number of products by the Ministry of National Defence – Pycio assured.
‘Spin’ in figures
The symbolic beginning of Operation "Szpej" was the announcement of the replacement of obsolete helmets. – So far metallic helmets have been widely utilized in the military, a model from the 1960s. They were listed at 200,000. Kevlar helmets – said Mateńczuk. – All steel helmets were withdrawn – he assured. According to the erstwhile GROM operator, MON has already bought 100,000 modern bulletproof and tactical vests and 50,000 pieces of various types of accessories, including optoelectronic. – In 2024, over PLN 3 billion was allocated to the implementation of Operation Szpej. Over PLN 5 billion is planned for the period from 2026 to 1927 – he announced "Naval".
