On a military base on a frigid February morning in Warsaw, Poland, civilians are learning to become soldiers.
A banker, a high school student, and an aspiring opera singer are among dozens dressed in military uniform, practicing their shooting stance, working through tactical drills and learning how to communicate on a battlefield.
“Awareness is the first step of preparedness,” the group’s commander, 2nd Lt. Mark Zaluski, told CNN. “We teach them the structures, we teach them how to wear the uniform, we teach them how to behave with each other, and it’s a very short period of time you see civilians turning into really amazing soldiers.”
In a few days, Zaluski’s recruits will graduate as infantry personnel from a basic training program for the Territorial Defense Force, Poland’s equivalent of the US National Guard, and return to their day jobs, with monthly weekend training courses over the next two years.
Almost one year since Russia invaded Ukraine, the people of Poland have mobilized in unprecedented ways in response to the war next door: Nearly 1.6 million Ukrainian refugees are currently in Poland, the most of any country. Poland has become a major thoroughfare for aid and weaponry from Western allies. And the Polish military is playing a critical role in NATO defense.
The TDF, Poland’s fifth military branch, has been key to that defense, and has seen a jump in enrollment in the past year as the invasion became a call to arms for people with day jobs. TDF personnel contribute to Poland’s overall military operations and other crisis management efforts. Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak has said he expects the volunteer force to grow from over 30,000 to 50,000 in the coming years.
“The tragic events of almost the past year have changed the mindset of a lot of people. We are seeing about one-third increase in interest…
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