małgorzata grzegrzółka territorial defence forces -...
TRANSCRIPT
Małgorzata Grzegrzółka
Territorial Defence Forces
The change of security environment, including, inter
alia, the Russia-Ukraine Conflict that evolves the
nature of both military and non-military threats, as
well as the changes in warfare, became an important
reason to start a discussion and to make a number of
decisions concerning strengthening Polish defence
potential.
Consequently, Warsaw Institute for Strategic
Initiative (WISI) undertook the realisation of
Programme for development of the Polish defence
capabilities – the undertaking responding to the
threats as well as challenges described above and
having the aim to prepare recommendations in the
context of the development of the key operational
capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Republic of
Poland. One of the elements of the Programme was
the debate organised by WISI on 19 June, entitled
The Shape of Territorial Defence Forces
(TDF),during which the concept of the Territorial
Defence Forces was being presented and the
discussion was held in three pannels that were
devoted to: training, equipment and cooperation of
Territorial Defence Forces with third parties1. The
analysis that you have in front of you was inspired
by the debate mentioned above and the conclusions
from it. For this reason the structure of this
document reflects, to some extent, the discussions
that were led there. In addition to the conclusions
of the WISI debate, the sources used to elaborate
this document were primarily from Polish legal
acts, the statemenents of Ministry of National
Defence, and publications.
At first, the current, intensively changing Polish
security environment, which description was based
primarily on the provisions of the Defence Concept of
the Republic of Poland, was presented. Consequently,
the review of proposed in the recent years concepts of
forming territorial defence units was provided and the
final model of the concept, developed by the Office
for the Establishment of the Territorial Defence
Forces,was presented. Directly from this model, two
further absections were identified, namely the training
and the Territorial Defence Forces equipment.
The Republic of Poland leads a peaceful policy
towards all its neighbours, however, its geopolitical
position and historical experience justify the
neccessitity of the constant care of the security of the
state, also in the military aspect. Therefore, the art. 5
of the Polish Constitution states that “The Republic of
Poalnd guards the independence and inviolability of
its territory”, defining through this the attitude of our
country2. In this context it is justified to refer to art. 26
of Constitution, i.e. “The Armed Forces of the
Republic of Poland serve to protect the independence
of the state and the indivisibility of its territory, and to
ensure the security and inviolability of its borders”3.
It is not only the most important legal act that
regulates the strenghtening of its own defence
potential, but it is also an allied commitement resultic
from art. 3 of the North Atlanctic Treaty, which states
that: “In order to achieve the objectives of this Treaty
more effectively, the Parties individually and jointly,
through constant and effective self-help, and mutual
assistance, shall maintain and develop their individual
and collective capacity to resist armed assault”4.
The roots of modern understanding of defence of the
state and the inviolability of its territory are to be
found in the work “On War” written by Carl von
Clausewitz, who devoted his whole sixth book to
defence issues. The sixth chapter of this book focuses
on the catalogue of defence measures, among which,
as the first one, Clausewitz mentioned the national
defence (Landwehr) that can be seen as protoplast of
modern Formation of Territorial Defence. Fortresses,
nations, national uprisings, mass mobilization and
allies are placed, in turn, in successive positions.The
Territorial Defence Forces
author emphasises here the different nature of the
national defence forces depending on the state and the
conflict, reffering to the example of Prussia, which
treated this type of armies as a part of the operational
armies - which is an equivalent of using it also to
attack the opponent. Simultaenously, the author
strongly emphasises the importance of national
defence that is not used as a part of operational armies
but as a voluntary formation that, in order to work
most effectively, should rely on “(…)Voluntary
cooperation of the entire mass of people with its
physical strengths, resources and moods during the
war (…)”5.
New threats and decisions resulting from them
In mid-2016, the Strategic Defense Review (SDR),
prepared by the Ministry of National Defence, was
inaugurated.It comprehensively approached the
analysis of the current state, needs, challenges as well
as the development of the Polish Armed Forces until
2032. This study, prepared by five research teams,
comes from examining the main threats and
challenges for Poland, which are based on the
proposed new model and directions for the
development of the Armed Forces of the Republic of
Poland.
The following that are listed below have a particularly
strong influence on the subject matter of the
publication:
1. The agressive policy of Russian Federation
(RF). RF continues to recognise NATO as a
fundamental threat to its security while focusing
on its primary objective, namely: the
establishment of a new international
order(through dismantling NATO as a military
alliance and limiting US influence upon
European security) and return to the position of
the global hegemon. This is especially
dangerous for Poland and other countries from
NATO’s Eastern Flank. This situation and
various forms of destructive activities of RF
diminishthe integrity of European Union, which
is strongly divided due to, very often, differtent
interests of particular member states.
2. Instability in NATO’s Eastern and Southern
Flank– the reason for the instability in the
Eastern neighborhood of the alliance is
primarily the policy of RF. The situation in
Ukraine, Belarus and also in Moldova remains
uncertain, especially in the context of thier
potential integration (Ukraine, Moldova) or
cooperation (Belarus) with the EU structures.
The Southern Caucasus is also listed as a
potential threat to NATO in connection with the
frozen conflicts and secretive actions of the
RFthat cause instability in the regional and
internal situation.Southern Flank countries, in
turn, face conflict and unstable situation in the
Middle East and North Africa.The migration
crisis resulting from this, which is variously
perceived by particular European countries, is
still far from being resolved.Implications for
Poland related to the instability in the Southern
Flank of NATO will be associated with the
further need for allied assistance, to which
Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland have
to be prepared better than it took place in the
past6.
Rys. 1:Main challenges and threats for the Republic of Poland and
the region, Source: Own study on The Defense Concpet of the
Republic of Poland, pp. 20 – 35.
On the basis of the challenges and threats mentioned
above, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland task
list (presented in Figure 2) was developed as well as
their model and directions of development.
Main Threats
and Challenges
Russian Federation
The istability of NATO's
eastern flank region
The istability of NATO's
western flank region
Terrorism
The evolution of Western integration structures
The economic and social
environment
Technological advances and
warfare
Territorial Defence Forces
•The dipsosing of an effective deterrence potential
•Possessing high-tech equipment, trained soldiers, and well-rehearsed procedures
•The introduction of a new command and control system during conflict and war time
The capacity to defend Poland
•Increasing the contribution towards NATO
•Activities to strengthen allied cooperation
•Readiness to participate in foreign operations
Strengthening allied
cooperation
•The support of crisis management operations both in Poland and in the territory of allied states
•Coordinating and training with non-military institutions
Interacting with other
services
Rys. 2:Task Directory AFRP, Source: Own study on.: Koncepcja
Obronna Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, pp. 38 – 39.
The model of Polish Armed Forces presented in „The
Defence Concpet of the Republic of Poland" dates
until the year 2032 and contains plans for
development of all 5 types of armed forces. The main
assumptions of this model are shown in Figure 3.
Due to the subject of this publication, particular
emphasis will be placed on the role of the Territorial
Defense Force, which appears several times in The
Defence Concept. For the most important issue
authors of the Concept consider "the ability to
cooperate in joint operation, especially operational
troops with territorial defense troops"7. The number
of such troops is expected to increase to more than
50,000 soldiers until 2030, and their maintask, as the
light infantry, is to support operational troops.
Nevertheless, irregular activities and crisis
management will also be important.
Road to the formation of the Territorial Defence
Forces
The National Defence in 1937-1939 should be
considered as the first approach to the formation of
territorial defence.Its formations – brigades, semi-
brigades and battalions -played an important role in
local operations in September 1939. On how valuable
supplement they provided for operational troops,
witnessed, inter alia, the battle of Węgierska Górka,
called Southern Westerplatte. Since 1945 - before the
end of the World War II - there were various types of
territorial defence forces in Poland. At first, these
were internal forces in the form of the Internal
Security Corpsand the Borderland Patrol Army.
In May 1959, the National Defence Committee(NDC)
adopted a resolution that spoke about organizational
changes of the armed forces in the case of war and
their development until 1965. The document for the
first time distinguished the forces of National
Territorial Defenseand defined their objectives and the
official definition8. The National Defence Committees
are based on the experience gained during the war and
the postwar analysis of threatsas well as with
reference to the arrangements of the Warsaw Pact
countries, which decided that operational troops are to
operate within the United States Armed Forces
ofWarsaw Pact. The order and security of the
functioning of the military front in the territory of
their own country are to be dealt with by separately
created internal troops9.
The organisation of the Territorial Defence Forces
was actually launched in January, 1963 by virtue
ofNational Defence Committee Resolution No. 104/62
from November 16, 1962,on the preparation of the
territorial defense of the country, the element of which
was the "Territorial Defense Operation Plan of the
Country" and the Resolution of the Council of
Ministers No. 164/63 from May 4, 1963, on the rules
of organization of Territorial Defence units.
Until 1971, the final National Territorial Defense
army consisted of the Territorial Defence Forces, the
National Defence Forces and the Territorial Defense
Force of the Navy from 1963. The system also
included internal troops(WOWew),organised on the
basis of transferring them to Ministry of National
Defence from the Department of Internal Affairs of
the Polish Armed Forces (1966), as well as the Border
Protection Army10.
Between the year 1971 and 1981 another
transformation of National Territorial Defence
Małgorzata Grzegrzółka
Territorial Defence Forces
Rys. 3:Model of the Armed Forces in 2032, Source: Own study on: Koncepcja Obronna Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, s. 20 – 3
Territorial Defence Forces
occured, which diminshed the potential of military
unit due to, inter alia, reforming part of WOWew
units into lower level Territorial Defence units or
transferring the Border Guard Force 1971 to the
Ministry ofInterior.
The years 1981-1988 is a time of decisive reduction of
Nantional Territorial Defence units – in the second
halfof the 1980s, a total dissolution of Territorial
Defence units was ordered (the actual dismantling was
ended in March, 1990). WOWew were finally
liquidated in 1991, while theAir Defence Forces of
State (WOPK)were separated from the National
Territorial Defence system and attached to the
operational Air Force - resulting in the formation of
the Air and Air Defence Forces11.
However, already in 1990, during the liquidation of
National Territorial Defence units, attempts were
made to reactivate Territorial Defence troops. These
units were to be modeled on the formation of internal
troops and act as the support for operational troops12.
The year 1992, in turn, brought about the
transformation of regional defence forces into
Territorial Defence units.
Regardless of that, only in 1999 the "Concept of
development of territorial defence" was adopted,
which assumed that by 2003 the army will number
about 10 thousands soldiers in times of peace,
whereas during the war they were to count 120
thousands. The concept assumed that these troops
would support the operational armies. Their expansion
was to be spread over three stages and last until 2012.
The start of the implementation of the program of
technical modernisation of the armed forces in 2001,
which was concentrated strictly on the operational
armies, caused a great limitation in the development
of the Territorial Defence force13. And so in 2002, in
the newly adopted concept of rebuilding Territorial
Defence troops, their number were reduced to 2-3
thousands in peace time and 50-70 thousand during
the war14.
At the turn of 2007 and 2008, Territorial Defence
brigades were transformed into Territorial Defence
battalions, which were later transformed into
mechanized battalions and incorporated into
operational troops - this meant that the operation
concerning Territorial Defence units in peace was
completed, and the formation of the Territorial
Defence battalions was foreseen in the mobilization
plans in case of war only.The PO-PSL coalition,
which was in rule at the time, saw the development of
the Polish Armed Forces as a major expeditionary
structure within the coalition forces and did not
recognize the need for development, neither the need
to create a formation aimed solely at the defense of
the Polish territory.
The first plans forcreation and the model of the
Territorial Defence Forces, after their dissolution in
2008, were presented by Law and Justice party even
before the parliamentary elections in 2015, namely on
4 July 2015 in Katowice during the convention
programme of Law and Justice and Poland Together
United Right.
Even then there was a desire to increase the size of the
Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland, as well as an
idea of supporting operational troops by territorial
forces was provided, which should be based on
voluntary recruitment15.
The current model of Territorial Defence Forces
Between 2015 and 2016 a total of 6 concepts relating
to the shape of Territorial Defence emerged.
Institutions that have undertaken to define needs,
aims, and the shape of the future Territorial Defence
formation were: National Defence Academy,
University of Łódź (essentially the author’s concept of
Porfessor Przemysław Żurawski vel
Grajewski),Organisation and Replenishment
Directorate J1 (along with the function of the Head of
the Board – the author’s concept of Colonel Krzysztof
Gaj),General Staff of Polish Army,
ObronaNarodowa.pl andOffice for the Establishment
of Territorial Defence. The most important
assumptions of these concepts are presented in Table
1.
Excatly this model, created by Dr. Grzegorz
Kwaśniak, the current director of this very Office,was
officially implemented. This model was partly
inspired by the other concepts presented in the above
table.
According to this model Territorial Defence Forces
possess three main tasks:
1. Strengthening the potential deterrence of the
Polish Armed Forces by supporting operational
troops;
Territorial Defence Forces
2. Obtaining operational capabilities for independent
conduct of irregular activities (anti-crisis actions,
anti-disservice, anti-terrorist and anti-
dissemination activities).
3. Reinforcing patriotism within the Armed Forces
of the Republic of Poland16.
The exact structure of the Territorial Defence Forces
units, their equipment, and the training model should,
therefore, be subjected to the aforementioned tasks.
The most important feature emphasized by Territorial
Defence Forces creators is their multidimensional
nature - apart from the military dimension, the
Territorial Defence Forces is supposed to fulfill social,
cultural, and economic functions as well. Their
primary task in the times of peace, conflict or war
should be essentially to protect the survival of the
civilian population.
The structure of Territorial Defence Forces
The authorial concept of the use of Territorial Defence
divisions was defined by Dr. Kwaśniak as a doctrine
of saturation of the combat environment, consisting of
integrating battalions of operational troops with
companies of territorial units and creating a deeply
saturated battlefield.
Accordingly, the way how Territorial Defence Forces
works closely relates to a concept called "Permanent
Responsibility Area". The Permanent Responsibility
Areais called the territory in which the Territorial
Defence Forces unit operates during "P" and "W"
time. The reason behind is that the soldier of the
Territorial Military Service knew well the area of
action, on which it can come to protect the population
and critical infrastructure, to eliminate the effects of
natural disasters or to carry out rescue operations.
Exclusively during war time Territorial Defence
Forcesunits are meant to support the operations of the
Operational Forces, particularly when an aggressor
occupies Permament Responsibility Area - Special
Forces - by forming resistance groups, supporting the
local population and making it more difficult for the
opponent to take control of the area of action.
The Permanent Responsibility Area is the basic factor
defining the main tasks of Territorial Defence Forces
units in a given area. And so the armaments as well as
the range of training of units located in the region of
the most likely directions of the aggressor's actions
will be adapted to support the Operational Forces in
combat activities, delaying, or potentially creating
underground structures.
Territorial Defence Forces units in less exposed
regions will have the task of securing critical
infrastructure, providing capacity for main
communication lines, and securing communication
nodes so that formations moving to the frontline are
able to do so safely, organizing transport, and
collaborating with third subjects17.
The target structure of the Territorial Defence Forces
will be based on 17 brigades - one in each province -
apart from Mazovian province where two brigades
will be stationed.
Three first TD brigades have been formed so far: 1.
Podlaska Territorial Defencebrigadein Białystok, 2.
Lubelska Territorial Defence Brigadein Lublinie and
3. Podkarpacka Territorial Defence Brigade in
Rzeszowie. In May, in the current year the process
formation of successive three brigades has started, i.e.
4. Warmińsko-Mazurskiej Brigade of Territorial
Defence in Olsztyn, 5. MazowieckaBrigade of
Territorial Defence in Ciechanów i 6. Mazowiecka
Brigade of Territorial Defence in Radom.
In 2018 Territorial Defence Forces is supposed to
count around 35 thousands soldiers, whereas a year
later it is supposed to count 53 thousands - the process
of forming successive units was divided into four
stages.
In addition to soldiers serving in Territorial Military
Servicemode under six-year contracts, the Territorial
Defence Forces will also include professional soldiers
- their planned number is about 1/10 of the total
formation.
Institution Mission and objectives of TDF Service Command TDF units Armament and equipment
War Studies University *Defence and protection of certain villages, land borders and critical infrastructure; *Contribution to common civic education; *Support for civil authorities during natural disasters.
*Compulsory and voluntary military service – basic military training lasting 2-3 months; - service in reserve including one-day trainings on days off, not more often than once a month; -service in military unit after mobilisation in case of war or natural disaster or other calamity.
*The Minister of National Defence commands TDF through TDF inspectorate; *Operational command over TDF held by military district commands; *Tactical command held by Army Recruiting Command and Garrison Commands.
*Light general military units of brigade or battalion structure adjusted to operational targets and military support for civic authorities and the society.
*Small arms; *Light anti-tank weaponry; *Light anti-air weaponry; *Mine laying system; *Basic military and rescue equipment: - Vehicles: light off-road vehicles, light trucks, minibuses and motorcycles; - Machines and engineering equipment; - Pollution and infection recognition and removal; - Sanitary treatment kits; - Basic medic kits; - Basic ecological rescue equipment.
University of Lodz *Autonomous defence of the state borders; *Increase in deterrence potential.
*Such units should be based on businesses, parishes, hunting clubs, volunteer fire departments, pro-defence groups; *Draft of 700 thousand citizens into TDF; *150 thousand mobilisation groups.
*Command of the TDF should be supervised by a civic administration.
TDF units formed by the locals from the area where the unit is stationed.
*Small arms and personal weapons; *Man-portable anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons.
Organisation and Replenishment Directorate J-1
*TDF used for strictly military tasks and support of the local population; *Protection in time of natural disasters; *Protection of critical infrastructure; *Elimination of the enemy (location, encirclement, elimination).
*Two-day training every month, on weekend and once a year on a proving ground on a two-week exercise; *Creation of 380 companies, including: infantry, protection, manoeuvring, support and movement regulation.
The order will be given by the TDF command, adjusted to the nature of the threat. The command at the regional level, cooperating with the province governor, will have a certain degree of freedom.
The brigade need not be composed of battalions only, but can contain independent companies. Creation of two defence pillars: - Soldiers protecting critical infrastructure, elimination of enemy sabotage groups; - Soldiers engaged in combat with regular enemy forces.
Armaments adequate to company type: Infantry (carbine, grenade launchers, machine guns), support companies (anti-air guns, man-portable air-defence systems and anti-tank missiles, rocket-propelled grenades).
General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces
*Protection operations in time of natural disasters and support of the local population; *Military action in time of war or occupation.
*Two-day training every month, on weekend and once a year on a proving ground on a two-week exercise; *Creation of 380 companies, one in each county.
*Orders from TDF command adjusted to the threat; *Regional TDF command will be granted more freedom.
TDF composed of battalions and brigades.
Modern and older generation weapons adjusted to the needs of a company.
Obrona Narodowa.pl *Universal upbringing and
military training of the youth and reserve forces; *Immediate military support for local authorities and residents in crisis situations, during war and occupation; *Defence and protection of certain villages, land borders critical infrastructure, military infrastructure, forest areas etc.
*Drafting 80 thousand citizens; *Cyclical proving ground trainings; *Trainings in a weekend and vacation plan.
Chief command authority – National Defence Command –should have a lower level commanding positions – on regional level in provinces and on local level in counties and cities with county rights.
*Units formed in: platoons, companies and battalions; *Operating on three levels: -County; -Province; -Central.
*Number of weaponry dependent on the number of critical infrastructure, cities, road interchanges, airports and strategic resource deposits in the area; *Own equipment; *Own weaponry.
Office for the Creation of Territorial Defence
*Performing military action in cooperation with operational forces; *Protection of the civil population in time of natural disasters, property protection, search and rescue missions; *Protection of local population from destabilisation and disinformation; *Cooperation with state defence components, particularly with province governors and local government institutions.
*In companies on the county level the soldiers will go through training 30 days a year on average, once a month on weekend and once a year a few days on the proving ground; *Ultimately, 314 companies will be created. They will be grouped in 76 battalions (4-5 companies each) subordinate to province brigades (3-4 battalions). There will be 17 brigades. Two in Mazovian Voivodeiship, which is the most extensive province. Each brigade will consist of 1,5-2,5 soldiers.
*Strategic level (General Staff, TDF Command); *Operational level (17 TDF brigade commands, 17 TDF battalions); *Tactical level (TDF battalion commands, 314 TDF companies in counties).
*In each province: command of a TDF brigade; *In each city: a TDF battalion; *In each county: a TDF company.
*Equipment dependent on Permanent Area of Responsibility, e.g. maritime, mountainous, wooded environment; *Personal soldier equipment; *Shared soldier equipment.
Territorial Defence Forces
Rys. 5:TDF construction stages, Source: Own study
Stra
tegi
cal l
evel
(n
atio
nal
) General Staff
TDF Command
Tact
ical
leve
l (D
istr
ict)
76 TD Batallion Commands
314 TD Company in districts
Stage I(2016-2018)
•3 brigades in Podlaskie, Lubelskie, and Podkarpackie districts:
Stage II(2017-2019)
• 3 brigades in: Warmińsko-Mazurskie and Masovian districts
Stage III(2018-2021)
•7 brigades in: Pomorskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Łódzkie, Świętokrzyskie, Małopolskie and Śląskie districts
Stage IV(2019-2022)
• 4 birigades in: Zachodniopomorskie, Lubuskie, Dolnośląskie and Opolskim districts
Op
erat
ion
al le
vel
(Pro
vin
cio
nal
)
17 TD brigade commands
17 TD Brigades
Rys.4:The model of TD Structure, Source: Own study on:
Grzegorz Kwaśniak, Wojska Obrony Terytorialnej w środowisku
bezpieczeństwa polski, public speech on the debate entitled: The
Shape of Territorial Defence Forces,Warsaw, 2017.
Territorial Military Servicewill be performed in two
modes as a rotating or disposable service. Rotating
service refers to providing the service during the days
which are defined by the unit commander. Disposable
service, in turn,will be performed outside the militray
unit – during such a service the soldier is ready to
appear in the rotation service at the place and time
appointed by the commander of that unit. Such call
may appear in three cases:
1. The control of mobilisation and combat
readinessof the unit;
2. Combating natural disasters or their effects in case
of counter-terrorist activities and in context of
other crisis management activities alone or in
cooperation with third parties;
3. The support of operational troops in the event of
the State’s threat.
Training
The concept of training Territorial Defence Forces
was based on the premise and the desire to create units
based on light infantry formation. Along with its
creation, the experiences of the American National
Guard, the Swedish Hemvärnet, and their counterparts
from the Baltic Sea countries were used. The
territorial, national and historical conditions of Poland
have also played a major role.
Before deeper investiagtion into the Territorial
Defence Forces training, one should also look at the
recruitment and profile of candidates. The specialists
in the areas needed by Territorial Defence units have
priority in choosing, as well as soldiers and members
of pro-military organizations. Such type of
recruitment makes many recruits having some
experience and skills from the very beginning, so that
the purpose of the training is to unify them and create
a formation with specific objectives and tasks. During
the recruitement process, the fitness potential of the
candidates is determined – however only in the third
year of training the soldier is expected to reach the
target status specified at the beginning and pass the
fitness test to a degree identical to that of a
professional soldier.
Due to the specifics of the new kind of Armed Forces
of the Republic of Poland, the training should be
examined from two perspectives, namely the
Territorial Defence Soldier perspective, as well as the
Territorial Defence Forces
Command and Training Staff perspective.One should
take a look at the latter first. Mobile Training Teams
are responsible for training instructors and
commanders, consisiting of, inter alia, veterans,
including those who come from special forces. They
are built in Lubliniec, Warsaw, and Pruszcz Gdański.
Mobile Training Teams will specialise in trainings
with so-called green tactics, which means performing
in poorly urbanised, forested areas, and mountainous,
‘black tactics’, which refers to the urban combat and
rescue and critical infrastructure training. These teams
will operate throughout the whole Poland, depending
on the needs of Territorial Defence Forces units.
Commanders of each sub-unit will be subjected to
additional command training - this will be performed
as a group training. In the course of their duration
there will also be a methodological workshop –
preparing to conduct the training.
Territorial Defence Forces candidates can apply for
services based on their education: serial service (lower
secondary education), non-commissionedoficer
(secondary education), officer (higher education).
Officer training courses run by theGeneral Tadeusz
Kościuszko Military Academy of Land Forces– and in
this way 27 second-lieutenants after half-year training
(until mid-2017) were promoted to officers and
staffed by Territorial Defence Forces personnel.
In General Tadeusz Kościuszko Military Academy of
Land Forcesthere are still 66 future Territorial
Defence Forces officers, civilianswho took the
military oath in November 2016. Their course lasts
one year, and the officer's promotion will take place in
the Autumn of 2017.
During the training the main focus is put on practical
skills - getting used to weapons, their handling and
using.
The training of Territorial Defence Forces soldiers is
divided into three stages and goes in two ways.
Namely, the practical element occurs - in the barracks
or other area of militray practice, and in the theoretical
dimension concerning remote education with the use
of e-learning platforms and the person’s own work
(self-education + self-improvement).
The first stage of training is the initial training (basic),
lasting 16 days, for volunteers with no previous
experience in Armed Forces of the Republic of
Poland. Its purpose is to teach the basic principles of
survival on the battlefield. Properly compensatory
training for reservists will last only 8 days and is
intended to standardise the level of training of reserve
soldiers.
After the first “sixteens” (as colloquially is called
basic training for soldiers without experience) more
can be said about their course.During the training,
soldiers learned about the basic principles of fighting
and the safe use of the weapons, and began shooting
with live ammunition. Training and exercises begin
with purely theoretical learning; including, inter alia,
the art of marching, drawing on the boards, but also
attack, masking or the particular behavior in the case
of attack. The first days of training are also strongly
focused on getting used to guns, without ammunition
in the first place, and in the second place, as practical
exercises in shooting range with blindfolded
ammunition, which aim at getting familiar with both
weapons and individual responses to shots. Emphasis
is placed on practicing accuracy, taking the right
posture, and then shooting, which takes place during
both day and night.
An additional important issue during the basic training
is the studyof survival in the unknown field and the
rescue of the battlefield. The training ends in a tactical
loop where the volunteers’ knowledge gained during
trainings is checked in the classroom.
The next stage is the core training which is divided
into three segments:
➢ Individual - lasting one year - focusing on
didactics, inter alia, in the field of medical care
and general military knowledge. The individual
segment is also a sort of selection for subsequent
stages;
➢ Specialist - assignment to a specific function and
development of specialist skills;
➢ Compatibile – action coordinated within battle
groups, including the division into 4 specialised
companies: general (field), urban (urbanised
area), aquatic (also flood control) and mountain.
Also the individual training of the first Territorial
Military Service soldiers has already started, so one
can tell about the first experiences of their course.
An important element with which Territorial Defence
Forces soldiers initially familiarize themsleves is
Territorial Defence Forces
SERE. This is a training that aims to teach the soldier
to survive in all conditions. The name comes from the
first letters: Survival (survival in hostile environment),
Evasion (counteracting the enemy's capture),
Resistance (counteracting in the case of capitivity),
and Escape (escaping or reaching the home unit).
SERE training is conducted at three levels - A, B, and
C. Each is a continuation of lower level training but
with an increase in complexity and difficulty.
While level A will be covered by all Territorial
Defence Forces soldiers during the first year of
training (as a part of individual training), level B is
scheduled for year II of training and will cover all the
light infantry companion soldiers. By contrast, level C
will only cover snipers.
The aforementioned Territorial Defence Forces Light
Infantry Company with a variety of action profiles,
depending on the Permanent Responsibility Area,
which means that the place of their formation will
perform various functions.In line with the concept of
Territorial Defence Forces forming units of,
thePermanent Responsibility Area will be set by the
administrative borders of the country at the company
level, and in the case of large cities, municipalties.For
example, in aquatic profile companies the training will
be extended to water and land rescue as well
asmarking ford and crossings, and the exercises will
also include the organisation of evacuations and the
provision of water to the population in the event of
catastrophic or natural disasters of a non-military
nature.
Great emphasis during the training is also put on the
life saving in the battlefield. Combat medics will be
one of the most common military specialties in the
Territorial Defence Forces. Two - older and younger
lifeguard - will perform at the level of each so-called
"Wonderful Twelve", which is the team of light
infantry. Specialist training of combat medics will
include the first year of service in the basic medical
course to which all Territorial Defence Forces soldiers
will be subjected. The second year, the one which is a
specialization, will be used as a platform for field
fighters to participate in Tactical Combat Casualty
Care (TCCC) courses - this is the basic course of
medical help in combat conditions and Combat
Trauma Management (CTM) - the advanced field of
combat medicine.
In later years, after already performed the 3-year
training, selected fighters of the battlefield will
undergo further courses, including, inter alia,
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Provider
Course (ACLSPC) - Advanced adult, Prehospital
Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) - Injury Prevention
Course in pre-hospital care, as well as others.
As a part of supporting operational troops, Territorial
Defence Forces soldiers are expected to acquire
capabilities, such as:minefieldand the use of
environmental conditions when flooding the land
orreceivingspecial forces, airborne forces, as for
example, aircraft guidance or aircraft use, are used.
Among other things, in order to acquire these skills by
the soldiers, Territorial Defence Forces Centre in
Siedlce will be set up next year, and additionally two
subdivisions in the New Town over Pilica and
Wrocław.
By the mid of 2017, the training sessions through
whichTerritorial Military Service soldiers undergo are
focused on the basics and familiarity with the field,
and the survival on this field, as well as getting used
to the weapons and training of rescuers. This type of
training at the initial stage of Territorial Defence
Forces formation seems to be justified, given the
specificity of volunteers who mostly had non-military
experience. Also, one of the leading tasks of
Territorial Defence Forces, namely the support of
operational troops, justifies this type of
action.Territorial Defence Forces units are produced at
a very fast pace, which should be perceived as
positive signs, because this means that the action is
going according to the plan. However, the haste poses
some challenges that will most likely impact the
successive stages of the formation of the Territorial
Defence Brigade when there will be more
volunteers.The basic problem is the inadequate
training infrastructure, as in Poland there is a
relatively small shooting ranges density where these
soldiers could train - there is, therefore, a need for
cooperation with other state agencies and with
individuals and private companies.
Another problem, observed during the training
process, is that training grounds where Territorial
Defence Forces soldiers should train are taken by
operational troops and rather, despite joined exercise,
Territorial Defence Forcesalone will not have an
opportunity to make use of them.
Territorial Defence Forces
1 096 904 mln PLN( Total Budget of TDF in 2017)
831 208 mln PLN -central material plans
265 696 mln PLN - other expenses
The soultion towards the problem of low density of
shooting ranges as well as the training infrustructure is
the construction of the Training Center in Siedlce as
well as two subdivisions (in New Town over Pilica
and in Wrocław) in the first place. In the second place,
Titorial Defence Forces supplies with combat field
simulators, trainers and video shooters will be needed
in order to solve two problems - soldiers will be able
to train in any weather and the infrastructure provided
will enbale to conduct more effective training.
This solution is sensible and should be implemented,
although under certain conditions of which the most
important one is the financial condition. In 2017, more
than one bilion PLN of the Ministry of National
Defence budget was spent on Territorial Defence
Forces, by the end of 2019, the whole sum is supposed
to reach 3,4 billion PLN – Territorial Defence Forces
is supposed to spend these sums on the beginning,
development, and the creation of strong foundations
of a new type of Polish Armed Forces. However,
these costs have to be accurately calculated – whether
they are able to provide proper construction for
Territorial Defence Forces infrastructure, equip and
arm the new formation, as well ascover emoluments,
etc. The actual plan (from 2016) of financing TDF
embraces the period of time until the year 2019 – it is
important to mention that the plan is presented
financially only – without publicly handing over
operational needswhich will have to be fulfiled until
2019. Additionally, it is required to analyse the needs
of TDF for the coming years - already after the
consistunalisation of a new kind of armed forces and
to include them as a permanent element in the
Technical Modernisation Program of the Polish
Armed Forces.
The training model described above, according to
rudimenatry information coming from Ministry of
National Defence, has a temporary character. The
plans assume that stationary, 9-weeks, basic course of
light infantry (corresponding to the framework of the
main military service) will be launched in the future,
which aftercompleting the training in the current
system, will have to be completed by all applicants for
TDF service. Taking this fact into the consideration, it
is of even bigger importance now to analyze the
training infrastructure and equipment, so that what is
bought for the present training is not considered
redundant in the future model.
Equipment
The already mentioned structural model of Territorial
Defence Forces, and particulraly the profile of the
sub-division and the individual soldier, will decide
abouth soldiers’ equipment and armament.
The Secretary of State for Armaments and
Modernization of the Armed Forces of the Republic of
Poland announced in December 2016, that over 1
billion PLNwas secured in the Ministry of National
Defence budget for Territorial Defence Forces funds
in 2017.
Rys. 5:Division of TDF funding in 2017, Source: Own study.
831 208 mln PLN from this sumwill be spent on so-
called central material plans,including, inter alia, the
purchase of military equipement, material resources or
building infrastructure. However, a smaller sum of the
total amount, i.e. 265 696 mln PLN, will be devoted to
the maintenance of professional soldiers' personal
status, as well as the practice exercises of reserve
soldiers holding territorial assignments (including
endowments, nourishment, transport for practicies,
readiness allowances or contributions for health
insurance).
Before the issue of concrete equpimenet for Territorial
Defence Forces soldiers will be solved, one should
look at the Territorial Defence Forces weapon
acquisition procedure, as it differs from the standard
procedure that is adopted for operational troops.
Territorial Defence Forces
According to decision No 92 / MON of the Minister
of National Defences from April 28, 2017, on the
acquisition of Territorial Defense Force military
equipment, it is the Commander of the Territorial
Defence Forceswho will be responsible for analysing
the functioning of the TDF and will identify the need
of acquiring military equipment. This aspect alone
already limits the role and competence of the Chief of
Staff of the General Staff Office of Polish Army,
which deals with this process in the case of the rest of
the Polish Armed Forces18. Also, the role of the
Armaments Inspectorate, which in the case of other
Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland is
responsible for the analytical-conceptual phase in the
process of acquiring armaments, will be reduced for
other types of Armaments of Armed Forces. Its role
will be limited to the realisation of the task, and the
analytical-concept phase will move into the
competence area of the Territorial Defence Forces
Commander.
The proposal for the acquisition of Territorial Defence
Forces equipment will be forwarded by the
commander to apprise it by three institutions, i.e. to
the appropriate Functional System Organiser
(Organizatorowi Systemu Funkcjonalnego),which is
Head of the Armed Forces Development Planning and
Training Directorate J5,Material Expenditure
Directorate J8).The proposal, along with the above
mentioned organisational cells of the Ministry of
National Defence, is proffered for the confirmation by
the Territorial Defence Forces Commander directly to
the Ministry of National Defence. This is another
important change in comparison to the rest of Armed
Forces of the Republic of Poland kinds,where the
commander of Ministry of National Defence approves
similiar proposals only when the estimated cost of
acquiring new military equipement exceeds 100 mln
zl – those proposals which do not reach such cost
level are handed to the Secretary of State for
Armament and Modernisation of the Polish Armed
Forces.19 The worrying fact is that the negative
opinions of the proposing cells do not fundamentally
hinder the approval of the Minister of National
Defence when approving it - there is full freedom
here.
The other apparatus, appearing to be and important for
its range of tasks, namely the Operational Commander
of the Types of the Polish Armed Forces, is not at all
involved in the whole process, even as a consultative
body, which is disturbing, although it may be related
to the expected change in Command and Control of
Systems Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland in
the nearest future – in this case the consultative
body,due to the aquisition of duties should become the
Training and Command Inspectorate or another
competent body designated for that purpose. Leaving
full freedom to the Ministry of National Defence in
the decision making process concerning equiring
Territorial Defence Forces equipment seems to be an
advisable solution in the eraly phase of building these
troops, due to the tight schedule and a big rush in the
process of forming them – this may help in more
effective and quicker way to build solid basis of
Territorial Defence Forces – in contrast to the rest
sorts of Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland,
where the aquisition process of equipment is very
compicted and may take years to be finished.
However, monopoly in the decision-making process,
as well as non-binding opinions of Ministry of
National Defence cells, can cause negative attitude of
the society and even more controversy around already
complicated and delicate tender processes.
The Commander of the Territorial Defence
Forcesapplication approved by the Minister along
with the technical documentation, as well as the
inclusion of the task of acquiring the equipment in the
central material plan, are the basis for the
commencement of the procurement procedure by the
producer - Armaments Inspectorate.
The purchase of equipment for Territorial Defence
Forces will be based on the prescriptions of the Act
from 29, January, 2004 - Public Procurement Law,
however, as in the case of other types of Polish Armed
Forces in the context of purchases made to protect the
essential interests of state security, the the Minister of
National Defence (MoD) Decision No. 367/MON of
14 September 2015 on the rules and mode of granting
contracts at the MoD regarding essential state
security interests.In case of the need to acquire
equipment in the mode of urgent operational need, the
TDF Commander initiates the whole process and the
decions about the purchase, upon the motion of Chief
of Armed Forces of Polish Army,undertake the
Minister of National Defence.This record is also
different in comparison to other types of Polish
Armed Forces, where this is the Commander of the
Territorial Defence Forces
Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland who puts
forward a motion, here, to the Secretary of State for
Armament and Modernization of the Polish Armed
Forces, and only informing the Head of the Polish
Armed Forces20.
Decision No. 92 / MON on the acquisition of military
equipment and services for the Armed Forces of the
Republic of Poland refers to Decision No. 141 / MON
(former Decision No. 72 / MON) on matters not
regulated by it, inter alia, regarding the regulations
concerning exploitation phase of armaments or the
process of acquiring equipment under developmental
work, which is conducted outside the Ministry of
National Defence, for example, in the National Centre
for Research and Development.
The release of a separate decision of the Ministry of
Defence on acquisition of equipment, instead of
amending already existing ones - No. 92 / MON,
currently No. 141 / MON is even more
incomprehensible. It is not known what was the
premise of the Ministry of National Defence to issue a
separate document - yet it causes chaos and less
coherence in the already complicated process of
obtaining equipment for the Polish Army.
Nevertheless, as mentioned earlier, this may be a
positive solution at the beginning of the formation of
TDF. However, at the end of the formation process,
Decision No 92 / MON should be incorporated into
Decision No. 141 / MON, contributing to its
amendment and more lucidity, as well as to harmonise
existing legislation for all types of Polish Armed
Forces.
Taking into account that the first and most important
task of TDF is defending (especially in the form of
operational support),and taking into account the
training model as well as the military structure and
equipment of soldiers, TDF should be adjusted to
these.
Information on Territorial Defence Forces equipment
is provided by the Commandas well as by Ministry of
National Defence released ad hoc. Accordingly, it is
difficult to analyse them holistically. There is also no
specific plan, neither timatabled information on
tenders which the public opinion couldobtain.
Only publicly available information has been
collected in this publication. However, it should be
noted that Territorial Defence Forces plans and
operational needs should be documented in a single
document, together with the timetable and the number
of specific equipment - as a model for other types of
forces - not only for the given year, plans should be
written at least a dozen or so years ahead. It is to be
hoped that the situation is temporary until the final
formulation of Territorial Defence Forces.
The present concept assumes the operation of light
units - in large part by means of small subdivisions,
therefore, there are no plans to equip TDF with
heavier artillery systems at this point.
The basic TDF subdivision is to be a 12-person
infantry squad ("Wonderful Twelve") composed of:
commander, deputy commander, sharp shooter, scout,
senior sapper, younger sapper, older medic, younger
physician, older radiotelephonist, younger
radiotelephone, older shooter and junior shooter. On
the brigade level, in turn, there are support
subdivisions, including:snipers, operators of anti-tank
missiles or mortars.
The first Territorial Defence Forces equipment
contracts have already been finalised, including man-
portable air-defence system (MANPADS), "Piorun"
(1300 missiles and 420 launchers), as well as
optoelectronic equipment or individual soldier
equipment. Assult rifles 5.56 mm BERYL (mini
BERYL) were purchased for TDF equipment. It is
also planned to purchase carbinesto the family of
Modular Weapon Systems 5,56mm caliber (MSBS-
5,56), as well as the PR-15 Ragun guns and the UKM-
2000P machine guns UKM-2000P.The public was
also informed about the planned armament of each
TDF company in 12.7 mm large-caliber sniper rifles
(in particular useful with the support of operational
armies due to the possibility of lifting live force at
distances of up to 2 km as well as lightly armored
vehicles and destroying sensitive external components
of the more advanced military equipment, mainly
optical). It is also planned to acquire light sniper
rifles.
The Armament Inspectorate (AI) is leading with ZM
Tarnow talks on the purchase of more than 600 LM-
60D mortars for the operational armies and Territorial
Defense Force.At the moment, there are no plans to
introduce mortars with a caliber greater than 60 mm in
to TDF. In February, AI also announced that it
intended to conduct a technical dialogue on a
Territorial Defence Forces
Reloadable shoulder-fired multipurpose support
weapon. From information provided by Ministry of
National Defence and the Command of Territorial
Defence Forces (DWOT) it can be concluded that the
procedure is also prepared for Territorial Defence
Forces, while paying special attention to it.
The purchase of anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) is
also under consideration. In 2016, among others for
Territorial Defence Forces, as one of the priorities of
the Technical Modernisation Plan,‘Pustelnik’ Light
Anti-Tank Missile Program was accepted. Its launch
is scheduled for 2018. There are also analysis led on
the acquisition of anti-tank guided missile launchers
along with dedicated ammunition, codenamed
Karabela. This is where the misslies from the Spike or
Pirate ‘family’ are considered. The ability to combat
the equipment of the enemy is to be achieved through
the use of ATGM and large-caliber rifles as a key
element of supporting individual armaments of
Territorial Defence Forces soldiers.
A loitering munition designed for single use for
transferring cargo and destroying a target (small
combat drones) is also considered. Apart from these,
reconnaissancee will also be introduced (in the
Information Support Groups), which are expected to
acquire and confirm information obtained from other
sources.
Transport for TDF will be provided by Jelcz LLC,
with which a contract was signed for trucks of
medium capacity and high mobility Jelcz 442.32along
with logistic and training packages. Jelcz 442.32 are
to be delivered in the box version with benches and
mantle (tarpaulin). The agreement is to be
implemented in the years 2017-19. Mountain
subdivisions are supposed to be provided with quads
or snowmobiles –there is, however, no information in
what number.
It appears, by analysing the public information, that
Territorial Defence Forces equipment directs this
formation mainly to the support of operational troops.
It seems that the support of these troops to
theTerritorial Defence Forces is to be provided in a
targeted way within the framework of the Permanent
Responsibility Area.It also appears that Territorial
Defence Forces will primarily serve as a combat
support - at this point, information on equipment
already being implemented or being tested does not
show exactly how Territorial Defence Forces is going
to help local communities in crisis situations
(bypassing medical care and transportation). In this
aspect,Territorial Defence Forces will have to rely
heavily on cooperation with other militaryservices
operating in Poland.
Joint tenders for certain types of equipment, as well as
ongoing exercises, will undoubtedly facilitate future
Territorial Defence Forces activities with operational
troops.
1 W Warszawie o kształcie Wojsk Obrony Terytorialnej – konferencja Warszawskiego Instytutu Inicjatyw Strategicznych, Warsaw Institute for Strategical Initiative, http://wiis.org.pl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=82:w-warszawie-o-ksztalcie-wojsk-obrony-terytorialnej-konferencja-warszawskiego-instytutu-inicjatyw-strategicznych&catid=11&lang=pl&Itemid=125. 2 Constitution of the Republic of Poland from April 2, 1997 (Dz.U. nr 78, poz. 483). 3 Ibidem. 4 North Atlantic Treaty made in Washington, April 4, 1949. (Dz.U. 2000 nr 87 poz. 970). 5 Carl von Clausewitz, O wojnie, tłum. Augustyn Cichowicz, Leon Koc, wydawnictwo Mireki, s. 281-282. 6 The Defense Concept of the Republic of Poland, Ministry of National Defense, Warsaw 2017, pp. 20 – 35. 7 The Defence Concept of the Republic of Poland, Ministry of National Defence, Warsaw 2017, p. 43. 8Uchwała KOK z dnia 14.05.1959 r. w sprawie stanu organizacyjnego Sił Zbrojnych na wypadek wojny oraz ich rozwoju w latach 1959-1965, CAW 1806/92/1, k. 11 i 13. 9 Jerzy Kajetanowicz, Wojska Obrony Terytorialnej Kraju w systemie bezpieczeństwa Polski w latach 1959-1989. „Poligon”. 2(37)/2013, s. 5, 2013. Magnum-X 10Jerzy Kajetanowicz. Wojska Obrony Terytorialnej Kraju w systemie bezpieczeństwa Polski w latach 1959-1989. „Poligon”. 2(37)/2013, s. 6-7, 2013. Magnum-X. 11Jerzy Kajetanowicz, Koncepcje i plany rozwoju Wojsk Obrony Terytorialnej w Polsce po 1945 roku, „Ante – Portas – Studia nad bezpieczeństwem” nr 2(7)/2016,
Territorial Defence Forces
12Ryszard Jakubczak, Współczesne wojska obrony terytorialnej, 13http://orka.sejm.gov.pl/Biuletyn.nsf/31a5e0f7750d0317c1256b2900339858/2746c11a125b6008c1256ffa0045ec45?OpenDocument 14http://militarium.net/wojska-obrony-terytorialnej-w-polsce-w-latach-1990-2008-czesc-i/ 15Myśląc Polska, Konwencja Programowa Prawa i Sprawiedliwości oraz zjednoczonej prawicy, Katowice 3-5 lipca 2015 r., Materiały konferencyjne, s. 96-97. 16Dr Grzegorz Kwaśniak, Wojska Obrony Terytorialnej w środowisku bezpieczeństwa polski, Debate on the shape of TD, Warsaw, Poland, June,2017. 17 The equipment and training of TDF units will be described in more detail in the latter part of this publication. 18 Decyzja Nr 141/MON Ministra Obrony Narodowej z 5 lipca 2017 r. w sprawie systemu pozyskiwania, eksploatacji i wycofywania sprzętu wojskowego Sił Zbrojnych Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (Dz. Urz. MON 2017 poz. 149) 19Ibidem 20Ibidem, Attachment no. 1