The training courses last for two months and consist of lessons on using weapons, personal defense techniques, learning how weapons are constructed, survival basics, and first aid.

“I wasn’t particularly interested in the military before,” accountant Piotr Pietruczuk, 34, said, adding that geopolitical tensions and Russia’s war in Ukraine had motivated him to learn more about the topic.

Marta Siedlecka, 40, who came to the training with her husband and son, said she had also come because of the geopolitical situation and the training gave her a greater sense of security.

Colonel Rafał Parczewsk, who was overseeing the training, said the biggest challenge for participants was to master the basics of how to respond to threats.

“We know what is happening now in Ukraine and I believe that today’s training will certainly help them and may be useful in the future,” Parczewski said.

According to the defense ministry, more than 23,000 Poles have participated in the trainings, which are open to people aged 15 years and over.