Rehabilitation of veterans - lessons from the Poland experience

Abstract

The Polish armed forces’ development history is determined by the country’s history and geopolitical factors. The Polish armed forces have participated in international missions since 1953, with more than 120,000 soldiers and service members participating in more than 89 operations. New political and military conditions, in particular the accession to NATO and the EU, and the growing threat of terrorism led to a rethinking of the role of the armed forces and Poland’s participation in missions abroad. In particular, in 2002, a decision was made to send a Polish contingent to participate in the anti-terrorist operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. In 2004, Poland expanded its involvement in this country, and on June 30, 2021, the military contingent completed its mission in Afghanistan, and all Polish troops returned home.