Poland Starts wReady Civilian Defense Training Pilot in November 2025

Soldiers of the 3rd Subcarpathian Territorial Defense Brigade of Poland in Nowa Dęba, Poland, on September 18, 2025. Getty Images/Omar Marques

In Poland, at the end of November 2025, a pilot program of civilian defense training will begin – an opportunity for every adult citizen to complete a one-day course. This was announced by the Minister of Defense Vladyslav Kosyniak-Kamish.

The pilot phase has been named wReady. It will run from November 22 to December 14, will cover adult citizens of Poland and have a total cap of 25,000 participants. Classes will take place on weekends, will last one day, and will include several tracks: a safety and survival course, medical training, and a cyber-hygiene course.

In the future, participation in the program will be open to children, pupils, workers, companies, and the elderly – both individually and in groups.

The initiative will be implemented through 132 units, mostly the Territorial Defense Forces, with the participation of the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces.

According to Kosyniak-Kamish, the program is expected to be fully ready at the beginning of 2026.

Deputy Minister of Defense Cezary Tomczyk noted that in 2026 it is planned to train about 400 thousand people within the “Education with the Army” programs, reserve training, and voluntary military service.

The Ministry of Defense emphasizes that participation in the trainings is not military service and does not involve taking an oath or being enrolled on reserve lists.

On October 1, 2025, Poland’s military training center OP-LEGIO began operations. At the end of the month, nine NATO member countries signed a memorandum on training and equipping the Ukrainian Army brigade at the base of this center.

What is the wReady program and its aims

The pilot phase is aimed at basic civil defense training, building foundations of safety, medical training, and cyber hygiene. The course will be delivered by units of the Territorial Defense Forces and the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces, with the possibility of engaging additional structures.

Who can participate and how the classes will run

The program is designed for adult Polish citizens; in the future it may involve children, pupils, workers, companies, and the elderly – both individually and in groups. The trainings will last one day and will be held on weekends.

Context and cooperation with NATO

After the launch of OP-LEGIO, nine NATO member countries signed a memorandum on training and equipping the Ukrainian Armed Forces brigade at the center’s base.

Overall, the wReady program aims to raise basic defense readiness of the population, develop first aid, emergency safety, and cyber hygiene skills, and ensure the integration of civilians into the country’s overall defense strategy.