Individuals with military service experience or military training currently make up 26% of the adult Polish population, the same as two years ago. This percentage has remained at a similar level since 2014. Back in 1999, nearly two-fifths (39%) of respondents had such experiences. The cessation of universal conscription for mandatory military service and the professionalization of the army led to the systematic decrease in the proportion of adults with military service or training experience recorded in subsequent surveys until May 2022. The halt of this downward trend can be linked to the establishment of the Territorial Defence Forces. It is worth noting that more than two-thirds (69%) of respondents who have declared they had military training or service are aged 55+, with as many as 43% being 65+, and only 4% are under 35 years old.

Have you ever had military training or have you done military service?

One of the measures aimed at strengthening the combat value of the Polish army was its professionalization. Since February 11, 2009, conscription for mandatory military service has not been enforced in Poland, and in January 2010, the process of complete professionalization of the army was completed. What do Poles think about this? Currently, the largest group of respondents (45%) believe that the Polish armed forces should largely consist of a professional army, but universal mandatory conscription should also be maintained. Slightly fewer (42%) support the full professionalization of the Polish army, as expressed by the statement that the Polish armed forces should consist of a professional army based on soldiers serving under voluntary contracts, while only 7% believe that the Polish armed forces should primarily consist of an army based on universal mandatory conscription. It is noteworthy that acceptance for supplementing the professional army with soldiers from mandatory conscription has significantly increased in recent years – in 2008, only 26% supported it, as compared to 45% today.

Should the Polish armed forces consist of:

Respondents who support universal mandatory conscription into the Polish army were asked whether it should also apply to women. The majority (55%) of supporters of mandatory conscription oppose calling women into military service in this way, while 40% of supporters of mandatory conscription are in favour, which constitutes 21% of all respondents. Opinions on this issue are most differentiated by the respondents' gender. Supporters of including women in universal mandatory conscription are more often male supporters of conscription (50%) than female supporters (31%).

Do you agree that women should also be included in universal compulsory conscription? Responses of respondents who support universal compulsory conscription (N=531)