At the foot of an embankment, three instructors armed with Polish Grot rifles explained to around 15 young Poles how to hold their weapons as they prepared for their very first shot on the 15th day of a 27-day military training course. "Keep your elbows close to your body, your right shoulder straight. Not like a drill! Hold the weapon firmly, with your thumb locking it from above!" said an instructor in a khaki uniform. Nearby, more advanced aspiring soldiers fired at black and white targets, while their peers, positioned at the top of the embankments, signaled ongoing danger by waving a red flag.
Within the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade in the eastern suburbs of the Polish capital, both concentration and stress peak on this long-awaited day. These young men and women in their 20s are among the 10,000 volunteers, aged 18 to 35, who have answered the call of the Polish army's summer recruitment program, which is called "Vacation with the Army" and which was introduced in the summer of 2024.
"The idea is simple: Once the school year is over, we offer these young people the opportunity to become professional soldiers and get paid," explained Piotr, standard-bearer (a rank in Poland) and a member of the brigade's communications team who asked that soldiers' last names not be disclosed for security reasons. "It's exactly the same training we offer those who want to train throughout the year," said the 40-something man, adding that there was no shortage of candidates this summer, just as in 2024.
You have 77.68% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.