In the shooting community, there are competitions that prepare participants for operations in extreme conditions. An excellent example is the recurring Ligh Infrantry event which, apart from shooting, includes elements of navigation, first aid, and general military knowledge. But do ordinary civilians outside the circle of firearms and military enthusiasts, who do not possess a gun license, have any alternative to being better prepared for difficult times? To meet these needs, the Polish government introduced the “Trenuj z Wojskiem” program and the Voluntary Universal Defense Training program, more widely known as “wGotowości”. Both initiatives are aimed at people over 18 years old with Polish citizenship and focus on raising awareness and preparedness for emergency situations or the event of war. Although there are subtle differences in goals and curricula between the programs, they operate independently and everyone can find something suitable for themselves.
As part of the recurring “Trenuj z Wojskiem” program, classes are held in military units (participants may sign up at any unit of their choice) during an 8-hour training session focused on the basics of handling firearms (shooting on the Śnieżnik simulator or using airsoft replicas), survival basics, close-quarters combat fundamentals, basic military tactics, types of alarms, putting on a gas mask, throwing a training grenade, terrain orientation and marching, and basic first aid. Two or three editions are organized each year.
A more modern approach has been taken in the “wGotowości” program, where it is possible to apply for participation via the mObywatel app. The training sessions will also take place in selected military units as 8-hour courses, but they have been divided into several more specialized tracks. Civilians can choose from courses with the following profiles: Safety (focused on actions during disasters, fires, alarms, or conflicts), Medicine (focused on providing proper first aid in various situations, training with tactical tourniquets and AED-1 defibrillators), Survival (focused on meeting personal needs, understanding potential threats, learning about alarms), and Cyber Hygiene (operational security—OPSEC, password leaks and phishing, secure two-step login, hygiene of safe mobile device use).
It is possible to register individually via the mObywatel application, and group training sessions can also be organized. For now, the program is operating in a pilot phase, but it will likely become permanent in the future.
Photos: Polish Armed Forces
```
