NGOs are a bridge between the state and the citizen. [...] This is peculiarly crucial in these hard times, erstwhile there is simply a full-scale war going on just beyond our borders – said Deputy Minister of defence Stanisław Wzątek to the participants of the 1st Forum of Defence Organizations. 1 of the main topics of the discussion was the task of universal voluntary defence training for Poles.
The 1st Forum of Defence Organizations is held in Kraków, at the office of the peculiar Forces Component Command. It is attended by representatives of the Ministry of Defence, the armed forces, government and local government administration and delegations of pro-defensive organizations.
We will gain by having strong youth
– We should build in all individual citizen and in the country as a full social resilience. This is the Polish state's right – Stanisław Wzątek argued in the inaugural speech. "We invited you to this gathering to talk about how to make a comprehensive strategy that will complement each other, give you the feeling that we are as a society and a nation prepared for the most hard challenges," said the deputy chief of the MON and presented the general assumptions of the Forum.
– We Poles have good historical experience in building social resilience – emphasised Brig. Gen. Mieczysław Bieniek, Head of the Board of Intelligence and Reconnaissance Analysis of the General Staff, recalling the example the pre-war Gymnastic Society “The Falcon”. The real “schools of strong characters” was assessed by the general. – Your actions to build awareness and resilience will contribute to the ability to effectively deter the opponent – encouraged Gen. Bieniek. "And if the crisis is averted and we don't gotta fight anyone, we will gain by having strong youth," he stressed.
– due to the fact that social resilience must besides be built on the occasion of another events – added Adriana Porowska, State Secretary at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. As an example, she recalled the migration crisis that followed the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Then, with the aid of millions of Ukrainians fleeing the war, the full Polish society started.
Total defence Concept
Before the discussion began, there was a ceremony of awards for the most well-deserved pro-defence organizations. They received them: the Defence and safety Foundation of the country "Compat Alert", the firearm Union "Shot" Social and Educational Organization, the Association of erstwhile Soldiers 62 of the peculiar Company Commando, and the firearm Unit 4051 Włocławek named after General Wladyslaw Anders. Stanisław Wąątek thanked the winners for their engagement in his and the head of the MON Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
Then Colonel Paweł Wronka from SGWP presented the model details general pro-defense training. Unfortunately, we can't study them. – I ask you not to discuss these assumptions for a while – Colonel Wronek called on the participants of the Forum. – In early October, Prime Minister Donald Tusk will present them publicly, this is his privilege.
However, it has been made public that the pilotage of the program will start at the beginning of 2026, and its assumptions were modelled on the concept of "total defence" (total defense), implemented in Estonia and Finland. – This will not be a program "Train with the army 2.0" – said Wronka. – These classes will be organized alternatively of in barracks on playgrounds, fields, schools. We will implement them with different actors. We see the request to outsource these trainings," said the colonel, addressing straight representatives of pro-defense organizations. Then he appealed to them: – Come, we will usage your experience. Take part in training, measure them. We besides see you as instructors. There will be something to do! – he argued.
The forum will last until Sunday.
