Cezary Tomczyk outlined the timeline and format of Prime Minister Tusk’s voluntary training initiative on TVN 24, aiming for a 100 000‑person annual target by 2027.
When Will the Training Program Be Unveiled?
The “Rozmowa Piaseckiego” segment saw Tomczyk explain that the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces has finalized the model, which will be publicly presented within the next two to three weeks.
Training Set to Commence Next Year
Tomczyk stated that a pilot run will launch this year, with full deployment beginning on 1 January 2025. By 2027, the program aims to train 100 000 volunteers annually.
The new format will allow individuals to sign up for individual courses—either independently or in groups—through job centres, selecting the unit that best suits them.
He added that the ideal outcome would be a reserve corps of roughly a million people, citing it as the foundation for the initiative.
Current Voluntary Military Programs
The deputy defence minister reminded viewers that voluntary basic service continues, alongside specialised schemes such as “Wakacje z Wojskiem” (Vacations with the Army) and “Trenuj z Wojskiem” (Train with the Army).
Under the latter, free eight‑hour training sessions are underway nationwide. In Poznań and Bydgoszcz on 11 October; Toruń, Gdynia, and near Grudziądz on 18 October; Warsaw, Gliwice, Rzeszów, and Wrocław on 25 October.
