The Polish Army will increase the number of active reservists to 150 thousand people: what does it mean

Reform in the Polish army will change the quality of reserve preparation, and also provides for a constant connection of reservists with their military units to which they will be attached. Poland's military leadership intends to reform the Polish army, increasing the army to 300,000 soldiers. In addition, according to the Chief of General Staff of the Polish Army, General Veslav Kukula, the emphasis will be shifted in favor of an "active reserve", which will include 150 thousand people.

This was reported on April 29 by Dziennik Gazeta Prawnna. According to the Polish commander, Russian aggression in Ukraine has forced many countries to revise its defense policy. Of course, part of it is the number of the army and its reserves. Therefore, in the end, the Poland's army should consist of 300,000 professional servicemen, soldiers who undergo voluntary basic military service, and territorial defense forces. However, this number of soldiers in the army will be reached by 2039.

But a key element of army reform is the transformation of the passive reserve into active. Kukula explained that this will be due to the change in the quality of preparation and access to the equipment, and also implies a constant connection of reservists with their military units to which they will be attached. "We are working on reform.

We want to shift the focus from the passive reserve to an active reserve, which is constantly attached to military units, participates in their lives and connects them with military service for many years," the Polish general said. He added that this decision is caused by future conflicts - they can be long, intense and more bloody, which will inevitable losses among professional soldiers.

Kukula noted that the active reserve is formed from persons who have undergone the necessary military training and oath, under 55 years, and in the case of persons in the rank of a unterofizer or officer - up to 63 years. Moreover, in this case, the service in the current reserve is carried out on the basis of an indefinite contract with the Ministry of Defense.