However, the country’s Ministry of Defense explains: it is a standard procedure of military registration, not the announcement of mobilization, writes Forsal.
A mobilization card is an official document that determines where and when a person should arrive in case of mobilization or the outbreak of war. It is issued in advance in peacetime to ensure the readiness of the defense system.
According to the Polish law on defense, mobilization cards are issued to persons registered in the military register. First of all, these are military reservists, as well as certain specialists in critical areas, such as medicine, logistics, IT and communications. The document assigns a specific role to a person in case of mobilization, including the place and time of arrival at a particular unit.
What do the different types of cards mean?
There are several types of mobilization cards in the system:
- red stripe – for reservists who may be called up first;
- green stripe – for those who are called to active military service by subpoena;
- blue stripe – for employees of the Ministry of Defense and related structures.
Does this mean a threat of mobilization?
The military stresses that the mere fact of receiving the card does not mean that mobilization has been announced. It is only a preparatory mechanism that is activated in case of a threat to national security. The scale of possible mobilization depends on the decision of the authorities – it may cover the whole country or certain regions.
It is impossible to check the availability of a mobilization card online – for this purpose, one must go directly to a military recruiting center. According to the law, in case of mobilization, failure to report to the specified place may be punishable by imprisonment for at least three years.
At the same time, the law provides for a number of exceptions and grounds for cancellation of mobilization draft – from age or health condition to change of residence or loss of citizenship.
