130 new soldiers take military oath in Kraśnik

28 February 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

One hundred thirty volunteers from Lublin Voivodeship took the military oath in Kraśnik after completing basic training as part of the ‘Ferie z WOT’ programme, joining the ranks of Poland’s Territorial Defence Forces.

130 volunteers from the Lublin region formally took the military oath on Saturday, 28 February 2026, in Kraśnik, marking their transition from trainees to uniformed members of Poland’s territorial defence. The ceremony, held before the standard of the 2 Lubelska Brygada Obrony Terytorialnej im. mjr. Hieronima Dekutowskiego ps. „Zapora”, capped a basic training course run under the winter recruitment project known as “Ferie z WOT”.

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The ceremony in Kraśnik

The public oath was a formal moment of commitment and recognition for 130 recruits who completed initial instruction designed to prepare them for service in the Territorial Defence Forces (WOT). Local officials, unit commanders and family members attended the event, which emphasised both military discipline and community ties. Taking the military oath before a unit’s banner is the customary way Polish forces confirm a recruit’s legal and ceremonial entry into service.

What is WOT and what was ‘Ferie z WOT’?

The Territorial Defence Forces (WOT) are a volunteer component of Poland’s armed forces created to strengthen national resilience, support civil authorities during emergencies and provide local territorial defence. The “Ferie z WOT” programme runs short, intensive training modules—often timed to school or university breaks—to attract new volunteers and give civilians a practical introduction to soldiering skills. Recruits complete basic military training before being eligible to take the oath and serve in their regional brigade, in this case the 2 Lubelska Brygada Obrony Terytorialnej, which carries the honorary name of Major Hieronim Dekutowski, known by his nom de guerre “Zapora”.

Why this matters — for the region and for expats

For Kraśnik and the wider Lublin Voivodeship, the influx of trained volunteers increases local capacity for emergency response — from flood relief to civil support during infrastructure incidents — and signals continued investment in regional defence. For expats, the event is noteworthy because Poland’s security posture has been under scrutiny since 2022, prompting expanded recruiting and more visible military activity across the country. However, these recruits are volunteers and the WOT operates alongside regular armed forces rather than replacing them.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: The WOT (Territorial Defence Forces) are a largely volunteer, part-time branch of the Polish military focused on local defence and civil support. A “military oath” in Poland is a formal pledge taken before a unit’s standard; after swearing it, volunteers gain the legal status and obligations of soldiers under military law. For expats: these ceremonies are community events and signal increased local training activity, not general conscription. If you are curious about service rules for non-citizens, seek official guidance—Polish military service typically has citizenship and legal requirements that differ from civilian volunteer work.

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