Poland to Summon 235,000 Citizens for Military Medical Exams

Poland is preparing to issue 235,000 summonses for mandatory military medical evaluations, starting in January next year. These evaluations aim to assess the physical and mental readiness of citizens for potential military service.

According to the Polish outlet Wyborcza, the call-ups will include not only men of typical conscription age but also women and individuals over 50, as part of a broader review of the nation’s defense preparedness.

The recipients of the summonses will include men and a specific group of women over the age of 19. After reporting to a district medical commission, these individuals will undergo a medical examination and an interview with a military representative.

Their information will then be included into the military registry. Each person will be assigned the rank of private, but they will not receive a military ID card. That document will be issued only to volunteers who choose to join the army. Those who are not interested in active military service will be placed in what is known as the passive reserve.

The Polish Ministry of National Defence has outlined the age groups and individuals who are required to appear before military commissions over the next calendar year. These will include:

• 19-year-old men;
• Men aged 20–24 who have not yet undergone a military medical examination and do not have an assigned fitness category for active military service;
• Individuals who were deemed partially fit for military service in 2024–2025 (with fitness categories from B6 to B24), if their period of limited fitness expires before 2026. A renewed call for this group to undergo qualification and medical assessments will allow for a final decision on their eligibility.

The army will also send summonses to women in age groups specified in the Homeland Defence Act—specifically those with professions relevant to military service or those currently studying in such fields.

Women with education in the following fields will be subject to the draft:

• Medical professions,
• Veterinary science,
• Maritime navigation,
• Aviation,

As well as professions such as psychologist, rehabilitation specialist, radiologist, laboratory diagnostician, IT specialist, teleinformatics expert, navigator, and translator.

The Ministry of National Defence emphasizes that ignoring a draft summons is a legal offense. Failure to comply may result in fines ranging from several hundred to several thousand zlotys.

Polish Army and Civilian Mobilization

According to Defence24, as of the end of June this year, the Polish army had approximately 153,800 professional soldiers and 19,600 conscripts. In addition, nearly 37,000 soldiers are serving in the Territorial Defence Forces.

In the event of a military threat, these numbers could increase significantly due to the mobilization of the civilian population. Since last year, the Polish government has been preparing for such a scenario by offering week-long training courses at the Land Forces Military Academy.

The program, open to all citizens aged 18–60, offers basic military training (including shooting, map reading, and tactical skills) along with a one-time payment of 6,000 zlotys. However, participation has been limited: surveys show that 54% of Poles do not plan to take part, while only 35% are willing to volunteer.