According to Polish law, anyone who isn’t a Polish citizen is considered a foreigner. If a person holds both a Polish passport and one or more other countries’ passports, they are legally considered a Polish citizen when in Poland. From this article you will find out that it is not possible to join our army by foreigners, but I have for you some other interesting solutions. So keep reading.
Can I join Polish Military Service?
If you’re not a Polish citizen, you can’t join the Polish army. To become a soldier, you need to be an adult, have Polish citizenship, have no criminal record for intentional crimes, and be in good physical health. However, as a foreigner, you can still apply to attend a Polish military university or work for polish army as foreign civilian.
What if I Have Two Passports, One is Polish?
Unfortunately, you cannot apply for military service in Poland if you have acquired Polish citizenship and have another one at the same time. You need to remember that not only do you need to have only one Polish passport, but you must also speak Polish fluently.
Polish Army Requirements
If you’re a Polish citizen looking to join the army, there are a few options available to you. You can choose to participate in candidate service, which includes graduating from an officer school or military studies, and then you will become an officer. Another option is preparatory service, which will result in your becoming a private, non-commissioned officer, or reserve officer, after which you can apply for professional military service. Lastly, you can also consider joining the Territorial Defense Forces (WOT). Keep in mind that you will have to meet certain requirements for each of these options.
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How Does One Start a Career in the Military
To start a career in the military, you’ll need to go through a few steps. The first step is to meet the qualifications for service. Once you’ve done that, you’ll need to go through two stages of service: basic training and specialized training.
Basic training is 28 days long and takes place in a military unit. During this time, you’ll take an oath. If you’ve already taken an oath, this step does not apply. After basic training, you’ll move on to 11 months of specialized training. This training will be combined with performing duties in a military unit. During this time, you won’t have to live in the barracks.
What Conditions Must You Meet to Serve in the WOT?
In order to serve in the Territorial Defense Forces (WOT), you must meet a certain set of requirements. These include:
- Polish citizenship
- physical and mental ability to perform active military service
- being at least 18 years old
- not having been sentenced for an intentionally caused crime
- not currently being in active military service or alternative service
- not having been assigned an emergency assignment
- not being exempt from the obligation to perform active military service in the event of mobilization, war, or other organizational. It’s worth noting that your role and responsibilities in the army will depend on your rank and position.
Polish Army Age Limit
The age limit for serving in the Polish army is as follows: for privates, between 18 and 55 years old and for non-commissioned officers (N.C.O) and officers, up to 63 years old.
Jobs in the Military for Civilians
Many people believe that military jobs are only for soldiers, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Civilians play a crucial role in supporting the army, performing tasks that aren’t directly related to national defense.
I had the opportunity to read an interview with Sylwia, a girl who started her career in the military as an interpreter during the Anaconda 16 Mission. She shared her experience working in the army as a civilian.
While Sylwia wasn’t required to go through any military training, she did have to pass a variety of medical tests and complete a large amount of paperwork. The hiring process was quite thorough, as is to be expected.
Once she was on the job, Sylwia was housed with both male and female soldiers in tents, just like any other member of the military. Her daily life was no different from that of the soldiers she was working with. She slept in the same quarters, ate the same food, and spent her days alongside them.
Where to Look For Such Job?
If you’re interested in finding military job opportunities for civilians, there are plenty of resources available. You can search online job boards like Indeed, Jooble, and LinkedIn, or check out the pages of the Military Property Agency. You can also find civilian jobs in the military through the Ministry of Defense, which regularly announces vacancies and has a specific recruitment process.
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What Kind of Roles Are Available?
Working at the Ministry of Defense and Army offers a diverse range of job opportunities. Some of the primary roles available include:
- Middle management positions such as chief accountant of the ministry’s budget.
- Coordinating roles like team leader, head of a division, deputy head of a division, and head of a department.
- Independent positions such as general counsel, chief specialist, internal auditor, legal counsel, and chief accountant of the Ministry of Defense office.
- Specialized roles like senior specialist, senior inspector of military control, specialist, and senior inspector.
- Supportive roles like senior clerk, clerk, secretary, inspector, and statistician.
Additionally, the Ministry of Defense also offers internships for those who are interested in gaining experience in this field.
Study at the Airborn Military Academy in Poland For Foreigners
In order for you to study at the Airborne Military Academy as a foreign student, there are certain rules and requirements that must be met. In addition to the general rules outlined in the recruitment resolution and candidate information, foreign students must also adhere to the following:
- Foreign students must have a valid health insurance policy for the duration of their studies in Poland, or have a European Health Insurance Card, or be covered by universal health insurance, or have confirmation of coverage by an insurer of medical expenses in the amount of at least 30,000 euros.
- Foreign students must also demonstrate proficiency in the Polish language. This can be done by completing a preparatory course for education in the Polish language, having a certificate of proficiency in the Polish language, receiving confirmation from the university that their language skills are sufficient, or having a high school diploma issued in Poland or from a school abroad where classes were conducted in Polish.
It is worth noting that the studies are conducted in Polish.
Conclusion
While as a foreigner you won’t be able to serve in the Polish military, there are several other options that allow you to work with our soldiers. The best way is to look for a job in the army as a civilian, you can be an interpreter, driver, work in administration.
Bibliography
- https://www.wojsko-polskie.pl/wat/studia-cywilne-cudzoziemcy-studia-w-jezyku-polskim/
- https://www.prawo.pl/samorzad/jak-wstapic-do-wojska-ochotniczego,515252.html
- https://www.gov.pl/web/obrona-narodowa/wymagania
- https://interviewme.pl/blog/praca-w-wojsku
- https://www.wojsko-polskie.pl/wat/foreign-students/
