Polish recruits conquer tough summer army bootcamp

Poland Invites Youth to Earn Military Rank in Summer Training

“Vacation with the Army” – A Paid, 27‑Day Program

Nearly ten thousand young Poles have signed up for a month‑long, paid “Vacation with the Army” course aimed at boosting the country’s reserves. Participants are only 18 to 20 years old, spend 27 days in a unit, receive a rank and can continue service or join the reserves.

Training Highlights

• Shooting and tactics classes – Small‑arms drills for beginners.
• Field studies – Terrain navigation and strategic reconnaissance.
• General air defence – Basics of spotting and intercepting air threats.

What Recruiters Experience

Most recruits describe the camp as “intensive military training” rather than a summer vacation. The effort pushes even seasoned athletes to the brink: a 29‑year‑old master’s student dragged a heavy munition chest across sandy terrain, stood barely on the finish line, and joked that no one had fainted yet.

Financial Incentive

Lieutenant Michal Gelej says the program is “a wonderful alternative to summer jobs.” Successful completion earns a payout of 1,400 euros.

Poland’s Reserves Strategy – Learning From Ukraine

Recent Legislative Moves

In 2022, Poland adopted a homeland‑security law that “expanded military personnel.” The voluntary conscription program was updated that year and drew almost 90,000 candidates during 2023‑24. The defence ministry also launched the “Vacation with the Army” program last year, along with exercise boot camps and a large‑scale social‑media campaign targeting civilians.

Experts Say Reserve Forces Are Essential

The Sobieski Institute expert Bartosz Marczuk argues that the Ukrainian example demonstrates that “a professional army is used up in about a year” if it cannot tap into adequate reserves. Marczuk added, “We are the largest country on NATO’s eastern flank and its keystone of security.” He also warns that reintroducing mandatory service, which ended in 2009, would need to be preceded by voluntary programs.

Poland’s 2027 Expansion Goal

Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that by 2027, Poland will expand its voluntary training program to accommodate 100,000 recruits per year, in order to create “an army of reservists.”

Recruiters Speak Up

• Michal Piekut doubts many Poles could meet the high physical, psychological and disciplinary demands.
• Goran Meredith, a 19‑year‑old American studies student, says the money and summer timing helped him participate, otherwise “there would be no time.”
• He added, “We’re in our first week and 10 people have quit already, so it speaks for itself.”

Through the “Vacation with the Army,” Poland seeks to build a capable, ready reserve that can help safeguard its borders against future threats.