An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 23 are being recruited from their home regions. The TDF is open to veterans, army reservists and civilians (there is no requirement for volunteers to have previous military service). Similarly, to our Army Reserve, the TDF offers training schedules that help soldiers to achieve a balance between army, family, and civilian career time. The govern- ment also actively encourages employers to embrace the benefits of hiring a 'territorial' (a common name given to TDF troops). The TDF's main mission is supporting and defending local com- munities. During peacetime they are deployed to assist the civil au- thorities in dealing with state emergencies, such as the hurricane- strength winds that hit eastern Poland in May, or the widespread flooding in June. In a conflict, the TDF would be immediately mobilised and deployed to support the army within the combat area; outside it, the TDF would be the primary fighting force. In an unprecedented move, the TDF is utilising the potential of veterans and retired members of special forces and police counter-ter- rorism units to provide complex training to TDF NCOs, who are then joining the Forces' mobile training units. A big part of this training programme emphasises the TDF's resemblance to the National Army (Armia Krajowa) that led underground combat operations during the Second World War occupation, and the legacy the TDF inherits from it. New recruits undergo either a 16- or 8-day full-time basic training course: the longer is designed for civilians and the shorter for active army reservists. This is followed by a three-year training cycle, during which they learn the military skills necessary for today's battlefield and other useful skills such as first aid, driving, using heavy machinery, and many more. The TDF also provides territorial military duty service in which volunteers serve on an army base during their days off work, or are placed on stand-by duty, available to be immediately called in should they be required. One benefit of the part-time volunteer system is it increases the number of trained soldiers within the armed forces by utilising civilians who always wanted to serve but couldn't do so due to their professional careers. The first year of recruitment proved that there is a huge interest in this form of service. Weapons of the TDF, which is classified as light infantry, consist totally of Polish-made systems. The core weapon of the Polish Army is the 'Beryl', Assault Car- bine, Pattern 1996; a very advanced evolution of the famous AK-47. The main difference from its predecessor is that the Beryl uses the standard NATO 5.56x45mm round. It is also much more accurate and, thanks to the installation of tactical rails, can be equipped with a full array of additional equipment. Eventually, however, the Polish Ministry of Defence felt that a new, modern design, Polish-made weapon was needed, and the establish- ment of the TDF gave the MoD a great testing ground for a brand-new weapon system. Enter the MSBS Grot. The Grot is a 5.56mm modular firearm system, with many similari- ties to our Steyr AUG. It is a reliable, accurate and fully modular rifle that can be quickly modified to meet various mission profiles. Thanks to its deployment in the TDF, the Grot is now slowly being introduced in other branches, and to date the Polish armed forces have received over 26,600 Grots from 33,000 on order, and in September this order was increased by another 18,000. The TDF is also equipped with another successful Polish design, the VIS100 9mm handgun, and the fire support group employs the GPMG UKM-2000P, which is an evolution of the Russian PKM, adapted to fire a standard NATO 7.62x51mm round. By the end of this year, the TDF will also receive the Polish-made, light infantry mortar system, LMP2017. To complement the unit's combat capabilities, the Warmate combat drone is being introduced, as well as the FlyEye reconnais- sance UAV. The Polish Territorial Defence Forces continuously work with other branches of the armed forces, police, border control and cus- toms, to improve its SOPs. The main aim of this is to be always ready to assist other agencies of the state in an emergency. Poland is also sending TDF soldiers to cooperate with similar formations around the world, including the US National Guard.

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