In a recent interview with the Polish edition of Forbes, Rafał Brzoska, CEO of the logistic giant InPost, disclosed his ambitious initiative to bolster Poland’s national security by training his employees for potential military scenarios. This proposal includes the instruction of shooting skills as part of a broader civil defense strategy.
As cyber warfare persists, Brzoska believes there is ample reason to legally and logistically prepare for any possible escalation. He envisions civilian defense becoming a swift reality, especially since compulsory military service has long ceased in Poland.
His company, InPost, is ready to take proactive steps, beginning with a survey to determine which employees already own or wish to acquire firearms and which are interested in participating in shooting training, he says.
“If even 5 percent of our 15,000 employees in Poland join this initiative, that would mean 750 individuals across the country are ready to act,” Brzoska told Forbes. He further speculated that if 5 percent of all employees nationwide underwent military training, it could immediately provide 50,000 people ready at the disposal of command structures throughout the country.
The year 2023 saw a record number of gun permits being issued, with over 17,000 for collectors, more than 12,300 for sports, and over 6,000 for personal protection. Brzoska, who is also the president of the Council of Polish Entrepreneurs, has already reached out to the Ministry of National Defense, which has shown preliminary interest in his proposal. The ministry responded encouragingly, asking entrepreneurs to prepare suggestions on how businesses could support the ambitious readiness plan and what legal regulations need adjustment.
Entrepreneurs like Brzoska know that without the proper legal framework, such initiatives might be futile. They believe that workers should also be enticed with benefits, including tax reliefs for those agreeing to train. Brzoska even mentioned the Finnish model, where trained individuals are instructed to collect their firearms from local armories at their workplaces in case of a threat.
This could mark a revolutionary form of civil defense in Poland, with Brzoska proposing that such personnel should have their own firearms, uniforms, and appropriate personal equipment, establishing a new standard for corporate contribution to national security.
Brzoska reportedly has a net worth of over €1.3 billion, according to Forbes.
