Partners
Common defence is, by definition, a joint undertaking. No one on their own – neither the army nor any single organisation – can build the full resilience of a state. That is why we have worked in partnership from the very beginning.
We work, and want to work, with:
- central government – so that common defence concepts are consistent with state policy, legislation and security strategies,
- local governments – because they know local conditions, resources and needs best; without their involvement it is impossible to build a working system at municipal or district level,
- uniformed and rescue services – the Polish Armed Forces, the Police, the State Fire Service, Volunteer Fire Brigades, emergency medical services and the Territorial Defence Force; in practice they will be the ones drawing on the potential of citizens and the National Defence System infrastructure,
- civil society organisations – pro-defence associations and foundations, scouting, rescue organisations, which have been building local security skills for years,
- the SME sector – companies ready to take part in the production, servicing and development of distributed defence infrastructure and security technologies.
Each of these partners brings something different: legal frameworks, resources, skills, local roots. Our role is to help organise and connect them so that efforts do not overlap but reinforce one another.
History and concept
The Polish Defensive Shooting Association (PZSO) is a key partner of the common defence concept. The Association was founded to integrate scattered pro-defence initiatives and give them the framework of a nationwide training system. In the PZSO presentation it is described as an organisation meant to actually implement the National Defence Training Programme and co-create the National Defence System.
The PZSO concept includes, among other things:
- creating a network of training centres,
- developing standards for shooting, tactical, medical (including TCCC) and technical training,
- building an instructor cadre of retired soldiers, veterans, rescuers and experienced civilians,
- working with schools and local governments on “Education for Safety” classes and local exercises,
- developing a system of exams and certification, linked among other things to a new type of pro-defence firearms licence.
From a systemic point of view, PZSO acts as a “link” between the state and society:
- on the one hand, it works with central and local government on legal and organisational frameworks,
- on the other, it works directly with citizens, running training, exercises and pilot projects.
The people involved in PZSO – including the author of the presentation, Krzysztof Papadis, president of the Association – bring experience both from TCCC training and from work on systemic national security solutions. This combination of practice and strategic thinking is one of the greatest strengths of the common defence concept presented on this website.