In the spring of 2026, Poland will witness another massive wave of summonses before military commissions. This year, hundreds of thousands of people are being considered for qualification, and official lists are being sent not only to young men but also to women. Ignoring letters from the Military Recruitment Center can result in very serious consequences. Who exactly is the Polish army looking for, and what are the penalties for failing to appear?
Who must appear before the committee in 2026?
The main target of this year’s qualifiers are primarily young men, but the pool of candidates is much wider. As detailed Gazeta Prawna in its report on the calls at the beginning of 2026, the main target group is 19-year-olds (born in 2007). However, men aged 20-24 who, for various reasons, do not yet have a specific military category must also appear before the commissions. This also includes individuals who were declared temporarily unfit for service in previous years and whose discharge period has just expired. The military wants to have a clear picture of the demographic and health situation of potential reservists.
Women also targeted by the army
It’s a huge mistake to believe that the military is only interested in men. This year, thousands of letters were sent to women, which came as a surprise to many. As reported by the website Onet in an article about military qualifications and calls for women, the army is seeking specialists in specific fields. The calls are primarily for female graduates of medical schools and universities: nurses, doctors, paramedics, psychologists, as well as women with veterinary and IT education. For the Polish Armed Forces, medical and technological support is currently as important as combat units on the front lines.
What happens if you ignore the call?
It’s strongly discouraged to throw the official letter into the trash. Military qualification is a statutory requirement, not a voluntary invitation to an interview. Anyone who simply refuses to attend the interview should expect a harsh response from the state authorities. Fakt.pl precisely describes the penalties for failing to appear before a military commission, reminding that the commune head, mayor, or city president is obligated to impose a fine on such a person. Furthermore, if the citizen persistently evades summonses, the police may knock on the door of the reluctant citizen with an order to forcibly bring the person before medical examiners.
Sources: GazetaPrawna.pl / Onet.pl / Fakt.PL
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