In the era of growing geopolitical threats and dynamic digitalization of public services, Poland is consistently investing in tools for both national security and mass education of citizens. A key role in this strategy is played by the mObywatel application, which is already used by over 10 million Poles. It serves not only as a digital wallet for documents, but also increasingly as a platform for signing up for free military and civilian training. The digital revolution we observe in the Polish administration is also a real investment in the skills and preparedness of society to respond to crisis situations, cyber threats, and the need for mass mobilization.
### mObywatel as a pillar of Polish e-administration
The mObywatel application is today one of the most recognizable and frequently used digital tools of the Polish state. In addition to the “digital wallet” function, it includes a range of services – from identification documents and driving licenses, through official notifications, to advanced features such as free qualified electronic signature and handling of administrative matters online. Every day, about a million people use it, and the number of users already exceeds 10 million.
In the past year, the application has introduced new solutions, such as signing up for free voluntary defense training and courses in first aid, cyber hygiene, and survival skills. Thus, mObywatel has also become a tool for mass civilian and military education, preparing Poles to respond to extraordinary situations and support national security.
### The role of mObywatel in the functioning of the state
The mObywatel application now serves as a digital hub for administration, allowing citizens to handle administrative matters directly from their smartphones. With features such as mID, mDriver’s license, My vehicles, Large Family Card, or the ability to apply for identity documents, Poles can almost handle key administrative procedures without leaving their homes.
Starting from 2025, a major innovation is the integration of mObywatel with a platform for signing up for individual or group free defense training organized by the Ministry of National Defense and public administration. This is the first such solution on a mass scale in Europe.
### Free training offered by the military and administration
Thanks to the cooperation between the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Digitization, the mObywatel application offers the possibility to sign up for various courses – both stationary and online. The most important training modules include:
1. First aid: an 8-hour course led by military and rescue instructors, teaching practical actions in accidents, sudden cardiac arrests, injuries, choking, as well as situations of shock, fainting, or allergic reactions. The classes are conducted in the form of practical workshops and include the use of a defibrillator (AED), basics of wound dressing, and recognition of life-threatening conditions.
2. Cyber hygiene: an 8-hour course allowing practical knowledge of cybersecurity – data protection, device security, identity protection, avoiding phishing attacks, and recognizing fake news.
3. Basics of survival and response in crisis situations: training in terrain orientation, planning rescue operations, cooperation with services, and recognizing warning signals. The “survival” module also includes learning how to use resources in the area and psychological resilience in extreme situations.
4. Civil security and social resilience: webinars and workshops on civil protection, crisis management, critical thinking, responding to disinformation (fake news), as well as cooperation in local and intergenerational communities.
### What does the registration process look like and who can sign up?
All training sessions are voluntary and free of charge. Registrations are done through the mObywatel application – all you need is a mobile ID and Polish citizenship. The user selects the “Defense Training” module in the application, chooses an individual course (e.g., first aid, cyber hygiene, survival), selects the location and date, and confirms the registration. Participation is open to adults, without age limits or occupational, educational, or residential divisions.
Group training sessions are intended for entrepreneurs and institutions – they allow for organizing training for a larger number of people from a specific company, school, or local government unit.
### Sample first aid course program
– Basics of first aid – own and victim’s safety, assessment of condition.
– Algorithms for dealing with cardiac arrest, AED operation.
– Stopping bleeding, wound dressing, dealing with injuries.
– Choking and shock assistance.
– Actions in cases of fainting, poisoning, allergic reactions – including administering adrenaline in anaphylaxis.
– All based on practical training scenarios conducted by experienced instructors.
### Sample cyber hygiene course program
– Recognizing threats and attacks in the network (phishing, malware, fake news).
– Identity and personal data protection.
– Safe use of phones, computers, online banking, and social media.
– Principles of counteracting disinformation and building resilience to cyberattacks.
– Cooperation with family, school, or institutions in cybersecurity matters.
– Often, the classes end with the issuance of a digital competence certificate.
### mObywatel as a channel for mass civic and military education
With a user base of 10 million – and according to the plan, reaching even 20 million by 2035 – mObywatel has become a key tool for state communication with citizens. The application allows real-time sending of invitations to training, aggregation of participation results and statistics, and quick adjustment of training offers to current social needs – for example, in crisis situations or increasing security threats.
The government and administration also use the application for educational campaigns and distribution of security alerts, notifications, and test messages. Thus, mObywatel becomes a platform of social trust, promoting modern standards of crisis management and civic responsibility.
### Mass training of citizens beyond conscription into the army
One of the key changes in the state’s approach to security is moving away from solely formal, “traditional” conscription for military qualifications (i.e., mandatory fitness tests) to open and widespread dissemination of defense competencies in society. Voluntary and multi-module courses conducted by the Ministry of National Defense allow for mass training of hundreds of thousands of people regardless of age, gender, or place of residence – and registration through mObywatel eliminates previous bureaucratic barriers.
The government foresees that by 2026-2027, the training pace will reach 100,000-400,000 people annually, which is unprecedented in Poland’s history. Such a result would not be possible without automation of registrations and communication through government applications.
Emphasis is placed on practical skills: not only military, but also first aid, cybersecurity, and knowledge of crisis response – inspired by Swedish or Finnish solutions, where the entire population is organized around universal defense.
### What’s next for mObywatel and the resilience of the state
The mObywatel application, from a digital wallet, transforms into a real instrument for building the resilience of the entire state: it enables immediate access to administrative services, mass education in security, and implementation of policies for broad citizen training. This solution eliminates geographical and bureaucratic limitations, allowing for dynamic responses to 21st-century threats – both military and cyber. Mass training, nationwide reach, and growing functionality of the application make mObywatel one of the most important tools for transforming the state towards a resilient, aware society ready for future challenges.