Polish volunteer fighters respond to the war next door

() — On a frigid February morning in Warsaw, Poland, civilians learn to be soldiers at a military base.

A banker, a high school student, and an aspiring opera singer are among dozens of people in military uniform practicing their shooting stance, conducting tactical drills, and learning to communicate on a battlefield.

“Awareness is the first step in preparation,” Second Lt. Mark Zaluski, the group’s commander, told . “We teach them the structures, we teach them to wear the uniform, we teach them how to behave with each other, and in a very short time you see civilians become really incredible soldiers.”

Within a few days, Zaluski’s recruits will graduate as infantry personnel in a basic training program for the Territorial Defense Force, the Polish equivalent of the United States National Guard, and return to their day-to-day jobs, with training courses monthly weekends for the next two years.

Almost a year after Russia invaded Ukraine, the Polish people have mobilized in an unprecedented way in response to the war taking place next door: almost 1.6 million Ukrainian refugees are currently in Poland, the largest number of all the countries. Poland has become a major gateway for aid and weapons for the Western Allies. And the Polish army plays a fundamental role in the defense of NATO.

The TDF, Poland’s fifth military branch, has been key to that defense, seeing registrations surge in the past year as the invasion became a call to arms for people with day jobs. TDF personnel contribute to general Polish military operations and other crisis management efforts. Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak has stated that he expects the volunteer force to grow from 30,000 to 50,000 in the coming years.

“The tragic events of the past year have changed the mindset of many people. We are seeing interest in the service increase by a third,” Zaluski said.

Mary, a 36-year-old mother of two, who works in the fight against money laundering for a major US bank, is now juggling that life with responsibilities on the battlefield. As she told , the war in Ukraine prompted her to make the decision to enlist to serve.

“I’m very happy to have this chance to work and be a soldier at one point in my life. I don’t have to choose being a soldier or working in a bank. So it was an incredible opportunity for a lot of us,” she said.

Pavel, a 24-year-old pursuing a master’s degree in homeland security, is doing his 16-day training during his spring break.

“I had in mind that maybe I should go (enlist in the TDF). But after the invasion, I felt the need, that I had to do something,” he said, explaining that he felt compelled to learn how to defend himself and his family. “especially if something happened to Poland.”

And for Laura, a 22-year-old opera student, it’s a family commitment. Her twin sister signed up and her mother is in the process of enlisting. She told that she, like many young people in her country, was “shocked” by the invasion and wanted to help. She had never handled a weapon before she started training her at TDF a few days ago.

Being an opera singer, he said, is a “different world, but a similar process” to being a soldier.

“As an opera singer, I know the value of hard work, training and the process that makes you better. And the same applies here: I follow the same pattern,” he said, through a translator.

President Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war in Ukraine has sparked a civil disposition not seen in Europe for decades: a new generation stepping up in response.

“Regardless of their origin, socio-economic status, educational level, employment, wherever they live in the city, in the suburbs or in the rural areas of Poland, everyone loves Poland and everyone wants to serve with the flag on their shoulder because there is no higher honor to serve one’s nation,” Zaluski said as recruits conducted training exercises.

And he continued: “This makes it much easier for us to work with our partners. Whenever we are deployed in training with US troops, Canadian troops, to name a few… One thing all soldiers have in common is that they love their country. Patriotism is the common denominator.”