Poland’s armed forces have surpassed 220,000 active personnel after adding around 5,000 service members since the beginning of the year, local news reported.
The total includes approximately 156,000 professional soldiers and 40,000 members of the Territorial Defense Forces, with the remainder serving under other active-duty arrangements.
By 2039, Warsaw aims to build a half-million-strong military comprising 250,000 operational troops, 50,000 territorial soldiers and 200,000 reservists.
To support this expansion, Poland is offering military education programs, summer initiatives and introductory training days.
Volunteers can also complete a month of basic training before progressing to specialist instruction and potentially entering professional service.
A Broader Defense Push
The expansion of Poland’s armed forces is part of a wider security drive launched in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and growing concern over sabotage and other hybrid operations linked to Moscow.
Military spending reached 4.7 percent of GDP in 2025, the highest proportion among NATO members, and Warsaw plans to raise it to 5 percent this year.
Alongside recruiting more soldiers, the European nation is seeking to prepare civilians for potential crises.
Last year, the government introduced the voluntary “At Readiness” program, offering one-day courses in personal safety, survival, emergency medical response and cybersecurity.
Around 20,000 people were expected to complete individual courses during its first two months, with participation across all training formats projected to reach 100,000 by the end of 2025.
Poland’s Defense Ministry now plans to expand the initiative to approximately 400,000 participants through civilian courses, group programs, reserve training, and voluntary military service.