“Of course, it should not be ruled out, and in this context I understand Professor Cenckiewicz’s words – one should not rule out the situation he spoke about,” said the President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, when asked about the National Security Bureau chief’s appeal to reinstate compulsory military service.
Professor Sławomir Cenckiewicz’s remarks, made during an interview with RMF24, resonated widely. The head of the National Security Bureau called for the urgent reinstatement of compulsory military service.
“It’s a good opportunity for those who suspended it to now restore it. That is what I believe, but this is part of a broader plan. We must begin to speak openly about threats. We must reinstate compulsory military service; we must devote more time to training society and to building alternative shelters for the protection of civilians. We must create alternative facilities for hospitals – places where operations can be performed during wartime. We lack all of this, and it will take a great effort from all of us to bring such initiatives into existence,”
Cenckiewicz said.
The head of the National Security Bureau pointed out that, in his view, “the president would readily sign legislation that would move all these matters forward.”
Compulsory military service has been suspended since January 2010 as part of the transition to a professional army. In 2009, mandatory conscription was replaced by military qualification, whose purpose is to gather information on the physical and mental health of young people in terms of their suitability for service.
President Nawrocki on the BBN chief’s remarks
President Nawrocki was asked about Sławomir Cenckiewicz’s comments during a press conference in Riga today.
“As far as military service is concerned, we currently have voluntary basic service, and – as I know from analyses and statistics – we do not have a major problem today with a lack of volunteers for the Polish Armed Forces. Many willing Polish patriots want to undergo military training within the framework of voluntary basic service. I encourage all Poles to join the voluntary basic service. I know that our neighbors have various models,”
he said.
The president continued: “Of course, one should not rule out – and in this context, I understand Professor Cenckiewicz’s words – one should not rule out the situation he described. Today, as long as we have sufficient volunteers, many willing to take part in training within the voluntary basic service or to serve in the Territorial Defense Forces, we are fulfilling our duties as the Polish state. So I would not rule it out; I do not know what this will look like in the coming years, but as of today, I believe that voluntary basic service and the Territorial Defense Forces cover this scope of responsibilities.”