Army National Service in Poland

As most of my family have been in the armed forces throughout many generations, out of free choice may i add, i'm interested to know if Poland has national service or whether the army, marines etc etc are all free choice.

I only ask because in the UK there is the question 'should national service be brought back?'

Yes, there is. Oficially every man (19+ years old) should go to the army for 9 months, but... if you study they don't take you ;) Besides there is many 'unofficial' or half official ways what you can do when you don't want to serve your country ;) It's a bit complicated topic, maybe someone else will write sth more.

How can you not want to serve your country, that is like deserting, these people are cowards!!!

There is no war, sorry but I have better things to do than running with many armed half-brained guys in the field and loosing 9 months. Many people in Poland think that an army is for people who don't know what to do with their lives or they don't want to study... in 5-10 years time we will have only proffesional army and joining army will be your own choice.

Well i ask you to say that to all those families who have lost, sons, daughters, husbands, children, etc etc in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia etc etc.

I can't believe somebody has the view that the army, is for people who don't want to study.

It's the most disgusted i've been since i have been on this forum, i hope their are not as many people as you say in poland that think this, life isn't all about, STUDY and then MONEY.

but hopefully it's not all about fighting either...

No of course not, its not all about fighting, but what i do know is, skipping national service is 'desertion' whether your Polish, Norwegian, British or whatever!!. The army is there for a purpose, because you may need it, its ok studying but if your country or your family need protecting the army are going to do it, not eggheads :) Each has its merits and are both as important as each other, i just hope you realise that instead of dismissing it

edit:

To make it clear.. I'm talking about Polish reality, not generally about world-wide things..


Do you think that these people who joining army are send there? NO! They would have been killed very fast.... Only professional soldiers _who want_ to go there are send there... they make there good money and that's the main reason why they go there. It's their choice. We are not in USA, this is Poland... don't forget.


In fact - yes - many people think here that way. But I will say it again.... there is no war in Poland, nothing is going on here.

This is why I think it is right we an choose -I'm glad our situation is as it is currently.


There has to be some people with brains behind it all =P

I understand nothing is going on there, at the moment, but what happens if Moscow decides that mother Russia needs some extra land, where do you think she's going to look :) its ok telling me its all rubbish but you have to be prepared.

Your right its not the 'national service' lads and ladies who are sent to these places, but after nine months they will be fit and able to serve. Its more a process of training rather than instant action.

I know, here ;) Well, but the army will also need educated people.... I can offer them my knowledge when it will be needed. I think I would have done more this way.

yeah mate thats true, everybody has their role in the world no matter what skill they have :)

Why do you say this of only Poland?

There are just as many if not more people in the West who think the same or worse.
What do you imagine the general attitude in the UK is?

No offence intended to you, but I'm guessing your quite young because its quite a naieve point of view.

Nobody will think less of you for doing armed service, but people may not necessarily think more of you either. I would respect a person far more who had to go through an extra year of medical school to go out and save peoples lives.

You are talking crap. I've been in the army - not a tragedy but I'm not surprised that most of people don't want to go there and you are from the country, which has had proffesional army since decades, so you really have no right to discuss these things.

Good point

Also, I would rather have an army of men who wanted to choose to follow that career. the men in my family ahve been in the army, navy or marines for many generations, my father remembers National Service and doesn't agree with it, his reason being, the ones who didn't want to be there and had no interest used up too much valuable timein wasted training, that could have been used on men with a future in the military

Do you really think it is possible. That was during the partition of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 18 century. Prussia and Austria were in cooperation with Russia. Now it is impossible or what for EU exists?

In 1939 Soviet Union also invaded East Poland. That was the result of Communism/ Communist doctrine orders expansion.
As to today...
Russia is strong only in case of satisfactory living standarts or authorities won't be able to cope with public. Expansion toward the West won't make living standarts higher.

There are some extremists in Russia. But they all think Some Russian-speaking provinces in neighbouring states should have a prospect to become Russian (East Ukraine, North Kazachstan etc). Such ideas are popular among Russians but mostly over 50 years old. I don't think it is a strong conviction. Today it is possible to persuade nearly each Russian partisan of this idea only by saying that it can carry the state to less profits and that money he has will go to the strengthening of these territories.

As to Poland no idea. No profits there, no prospects.
As to regular armies they are abundant in Poland as well as in Russia, Ukraine and Belorus. That occures because armies commands are souvereign players in political life of the region and it is impossible to cope with these groups.


Do your familiars have experience in irregular service? For example in territorial army?

Exactly mate.

Russia is still potent. I know a few who are part of the Russia Strong!!! crew but their looking the wrong way. Russia's muscle is made up of natural resources these days. Expansionism is so eighties. Shoulder pads and MANPADS, it's all linked. I'll worry when Dynasty makes a comeback, till then it's all about gas.

I'm not saying this of only Poland, i'm not that dull, of course it counts for all people who dodge national service, i was just speaking on a polish forum and was using this as an example, plus i was speaking with a Pole at the time.


hhhhmmm i have no right, most of my family past and present are involved in the armed forces, so you can take that one back and shuv it where the sun don't shine sunny!!! :)


It's not a case of dumping people who don't want to be there in the army its a case of teaching people responsibility and show them that no matter what or who you are there is always something that you can do. I also agree that study can be used in the army, for example medical degree, or a specialism in explosives etc etc.


Ok mate i understand, but i was speaking hypothetically on that point, to prove that Poland like any nation needs to protect itself against potential threat


My family have experience in the regular Army, Navy, Marines and in some cases special forces, unfortunately none of them were in the TA as such but a few have started in the cadets etc

Thanks for all your comments positive, negative and constructive i appreciate them all, feel free to reply to anything i've said, i'm sure you will :)

Hooligans or Shakies?

A joke?? i hope so or terms used for US special forces??

i'm in the UK so your either SAS, SBS, MI5, MI6 etc etc

ask the ones in the special forces they'll know

ok i'm assuming, Hooligans = SAS (Apperently their gung ho!!) and the Sharkies well that could be anybody!!

yup hereford gun club and shakies, shaky boats sbs

lol, what a nice friendly rivalry they have.

Something that has had me in notes for ages, having a base for your best SF in the world amongst the inbreds of Hereford!!! maybe its camouflage or that the enemy wouldn't dare venture :)

more likely access to pata and the Brecons.

article in the guardian suggesting there are more contracted combatants, or whatever they are comfortable being called, in iraq than there are british or american troops...

... went on to suggest that this is the future of most major conflicts

agreed mate, i was only joking about before

What type of paper is this? Is it a legitimate publication?

as legitimate as it comes zgub


desperate times...

guardian.co.uk/russia/article/0,,2140202,00.html - Russia plants flag on North Pole seabed

I like it mate, a good bit of humour but at the same time, you never know what the reactions will be of other nations :)