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As NATO pledges to send thousands of extra troops to eastern Europe to counter a perceived threat from Russia, Poland is launching a recruitment drive of its own.
At 300 schools across Poland students can now take what the government calls “uniform classes.” That is military training for teenagers and lessons in patriotism.
We want these students to know what it means to be Polish in the 21st century. We want them to be conscious of their national identity. It means not to be a cosmopolitan who feels good wherever they are, but to feel good here, in your own country. But I am also of course a European.
Professional soldiers from Poland’s 17th Mechanized Brigade teach grenade-throwing. This is not an excuse for a day off school.
I am very proud that I can wear the Polish uniform. It’s a big honor for me. I admire soldiers, because they stand up against the enemy.
For me, this is about psychological preparation. I want to join the army. So I have to be prepared that at any moment, I could lose my health or even my life.
Poland’s long history of foreign invasion remains a national pre-occupation. And right now, fears are heightened. As Poland builds up its army, young people like this all are signing up enthusiastically all over the country. But the purpose here appears to be more than military training. The trainers we've spoken to say is also about building up a sense of national pride.
The nationalist government has increased defense spending by 9.4 percent this year, and it is recruiting tens of thousands of paramilitary forces, too. Some experts question their effectiveness in a fight.
The government assumes that this will be a real military force, but many experts in our country don’t agree with this thesis. We think this is something that doesn’t bring any practical effect when it comes to improving fighting skills. Where it does add value is with patriotism.
NATO has pledged to send 1,000 extra troops to Poland next year, but maintains that conflict with Russia remains highly unlikely. That has not stopped Poles in increasing numbers from preparing to defend themselves.
