Military service in Poland

Poland suspended compulsory military service on December 5, 2008 by the order of the Minister of Defence. Compulsory military service was formally abolished when the Polish parliament amended conscription law on January 9, 2009, the law came into effect on February 11.

BarneyThreads: 16 Posts: 1,630 Joined: May 26, 08	Nov 25, 09, 00:40 / #
Poland suspended compulsory military service on December 5, 2008 by the order of the Minister of Defence. Compulsory military service was formally abolished when the Polish parliament amended conscription law on January 9, 2009, the law came into effect on February 11. Lifted from wiki Personally I would hate to do military service One of my friends was telling me about his service, he would be a naval officer in times of war. He studied in Szczecin (I think) as a merchant marine (Engineer) Part of his training was for the Military Navy and he is still subject to call up. Does anybody have stories about their service or opinions about this?

BzibziohThreads: 6 Posts: 3,657 Joined: Oct 15, 08 [Suspended]	Edited by: Bzibzioh Nov 25, 09, 01:17 / #
Barney: Does anybody have stories about their service or opinions about this? My husband went. For whole two years. Waste of his life (and mine, as we were married already then). And afterward he was not allowed to leave the country for another two years so he would not share 'highly classified secrets' to our enemies. They just drank a lot.

ArienThreads: 6 Posts: 1,604 Joined: Oct 20, 08	Nov 25, 09, 01:23 / #
I think it's a good thing. People who might decide to risk their life should do so out of their own free will. However, I do think people should tell those young guys and girls a bit more about the harsh reality of war-torn countries though. See, you have these commercials on T.V. about how the army helps those people in troubled countries, and about how you can actively work for peace.. Well, fighting for peace is like you-know-what for virginity, I'm afraid it doesn't really work like that.. ;)

SteveramsfanThreads: 2 Posts: 401 Joined: Nov 22, 09	Nov 25, 09, 13:04 / #
The reality of war for the soldier is 95% boredom and 5% being scared. The worst part is when you return to normal life. True, war is bad but you learn to laugh at what is happening around you. Conscription is not a good idea, you don't want people who are forced on the battlefield. From what I have heard, the Polish Army is doing well on operations.

sjamThreads: 5 Posts: 1,016 Joined: Jan 13, 09	Nov 25, 09, 13:07 / #
Bzibzioh: And afterward he was not allowed to leave the country for another two years so he would not share 'highly classified secrets' to our enemies. Who were considered Poland's enemies at the time??

wildroverThreads: 180 Posts: 8,188 Joined: Jun 7, 07	Nov 25, 09, 13:41 / #
sjam: Who were considered Poland's enemies at the time?? If it was in communist times , the enemy was the west....all of us on the other side of the Berlin wall....

BzibziohThreads: 6 Posts: 3,657 Joined: Oct 15, 08 [Suspended]	Nov 25, 09, 13:46 / #
wildrover: If it was in communist times , the enemy was the west....all of us on the other side of the Berlin wall.... Exactly.

BarneyThreads: 16 Posts: 1,630 Joined: May 26, 08	Nov 25, 09, 14:34 / #
Bzibzioh: They just drank a lot I may change my opinion of Military Service. Steveramsfan: Conscription is not a good idea, you don't want people who are forced on the battlefield. I agree, until you need a trained population, highly unlikely in Poland’s case. In general do you think that military service builds character or can be used as a substitute for providing employment?

wildroverThreads: 180 Posts: 8,188 Joined: Jun 7, 07	Nov 25, 09, 14:37 / #
Barney: do you think that military service builds character I do believe that military service did in some ways make me a better , stronger person....but for some of my comrades it didn,t make them better people....it just made them dead...

BzibziohThreads: 6 Posts: 3,657 Joined: Oct 15, 08 [Suspended]	Nov 25, 09, 14:55 / #
Barney: I may change my opinion of Military Service. I especially hated the hazing rituals; it should be forbidden in my opinion. Barney: I agree, until you need a trained population, highly unlikely in Poland’s case. What do you mean by that?

BarneyThreads: 16 Posts: 1,630 Joined: May 26, 08	Edited by: Barney Nov 25, 09, 16:22 / #
sjam: Is there any actual evidence of the 'west' being the enemy of Poland in communist times? As Poland was a member of the Warsaw pact which was considered the prime risk by Nato at the time, one could say yes. sjam: What percentage of the communist Polish armed forces were conscripts rather than proffesional sodiers 70% conscripts Cant find link at the moment.

jwojcieThreads: 3 Posts: 816 Joined: Jan 3, 09	Edited by: jwojcie Nov 25, 09, 16:48 / #
sjam: Is there any actual evidence of the 'west' being the enemy of Poland in communist times? You should read about Cold War :-) in 60' there was almost WWIII. Another thing is that war between Poland and Germany in fact ended in 1990, because previously Polish west border wasn't recognized by west Germany... Heh, loking at things from current perspective, it seems that Europe before 1989 was really weird place... sjam: What percentage of the communist Polish armed forces were conscripts rather than proffesional sodiers, any ideas? Don't know exact number but most of it was conscription. PRL army size were between 200000 and 400000 soldiers (depends when), with much more ready for draft with military training. Add to that a few hundreds thousands Russian soldiers which stationed in Poland. Anyway, I'm glad that conscription ended, but I think some kind of territorial defence should be created which could be used in case of natural disasters.

BarneyThreads: 16 Posts: 1,630 Joined: May 26, 08	Nov 25, 09, 15:08 / #
Bzibzioh: What do you mean by that I dont think Poland will need a mass army anytime soon. wildrover: it just made them dead... Not good. Bzibzioh: hazing rituals Are for fools and organised by cowards and bullies.

sjamThreads: 5 Posts: 1,016 Joined: Jan 13, 09	Edited by: sjam Nov 25, 09, 16:00 / #
wildrover: If it was in communist times , the enemy was the west....all of us on the other side of the Berlin wall.... Is there any actual evidence of the 'west' being the enemy of Poland in communist times? What percentage of the communist Polish armed forces were conscripts rather than proffesional sodiers, any ideas?

sjamThreads: 5 Posts: 1,016 Joined: Jan 13, 09	Nov 25, 09, 16:28 / #
Barney: As Poland was a member of the Warsaw pact which was considered the prime risk by Nato at the time, one could say yes. Thanks Barney it was as I thought :-))

wildroverThreads: 180 Posts: 8,188 Joined: Jun 7, 07	Nov 25, 09, 16:32 / #
Many soldiers who served in the Polish army at this time told me that in the event of a war they would much rather have turned against the Russians...But as a soldier myself i think probably they would have obeyed the orders of their officers , and fought against whoever the politicians decided was the enemy....

SteveramsfanThreads: 2 Posts: 401 Joined: Nov 22, 09	Nov 25, 09, 16:36 / #
Barney: In general do you think that military service builds character or can be used as a substitute for providing employment? My answer is the same wildrover: but for some of my comrades it didn,t make them better people....it just made them dead... Only 3 months of my time has been bad, the rest of the 13 years has been very enjoyable. It does build character and it has made me a stronger person.