Poland launches “Always Ready” program to train 500,000 citizens
Poland will start a major military training program in November, part of a broader plan to prepare approximately 500,000 people by 2026, the Ministry of Defense in Warsaw announced. Named “Always Ready,” the program was described by Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz as “the largest defense training in Poland’s history.”
The initiative is voluntary and open to all citizens, from schoolchildren to seniors and company employees. It includes basic security courses, survival training, medical instruction, and cyber hygiene lessons. In November and December alone, around 20,000 people will participate in individual training sessions, while the total number across all types of training is expected to reach about 100,000, according to Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk.
Next year, the Ministry plans to train an additional 400,000 people through programs such as “Education with the Army,” reservist training, and voluntary military service. Participants can register through an official mobile app widely used in Poland.
Chief of the General Staff, Wieslaw Kukula, stated that the program has two main goals: to strengthen the resilience of citizens and communities, and to improve the readiness and capacity of reservists.
The program was initially announced by Prime Minister Donald Tusk in March, amid growing security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized the importance of developing crisis behavior skills to ensure preparedness for any scenario.
