The principal investigator and project leader is Lieutenant Colonel Ing. Tomáš Polanský. The research team includes CBVSS staff members Assoc. Prof. Ing. Josef Procházka, Ph.D., Director of CBVSS, Ing. Pavel Fousek, Ph.D., Ing. Jan Kroulík, Ph.D., Ing. David Čep, Ph.D., and Major Mgr. Roman Dont, MBA. In addition to project management, the team benefits from the centre’s extensive academic and professional expertise under the leadership of Assoc. Prof. Josef Procházka. Team members contribute to field visits as well as analytical, methodological, and administrative activities according to their respective areas of expertise. Project documentation highlights their competence in defence planning, civil-military cooperation, crisis management, security policy, comparative analysis, hybrid threats, and societal resilience.

As part of the field research, the team has already visited Jihlava, Brno, Prague, Uherské Hradiště, and Děčín, while Kladno and Zlín are scheduled for upcoming visits. During meetings with municipalities with extended powers, regional authorities, and other public administration institutions, the researchers examine the current state of POKOS implementation, institutional competencies and responsibilities, as well as existing plans and procedures. Particular attention is given to identifying practical challenges and institutional gaps encountered in day-to-day operations. Valuable insights and recommendations provided by public administration professionals will serve as an important source for the development of the future methodology.

One of the project’s key objectives is to clarify the roles and interconnections of the various actors involved in the POKOS system. The aim is to ensure that the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of the Interior, the Fire Rescue Service, regional authorities, municipalities with extended powers, and other relevant institutions clearly understand both their responsibilities and how their activities are linked to other elements of the system. The project primarily addresses the lack of a unified methodological framework, varying levels of preparedness across public administration bodies, and insufficient institutional coordination.

The project is currently in its first, analytical and conceptual phase. In addition to collecting data directly from the Czech environment, this stage includes the analysis of legislation and institutional competencies, the identification of gaps and weaknesses, and the comparative examination of foreign Total Defence and Whole-of-Society models. Particular attention is devoted to the experiences of Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, and Latvia, especially regarding system governance, population preparedness, the role of public administration, and cooperation between civilian and defence structures.

“Preparing citizens for national defence is not solely a matter for the armed forces. It is about ensuring that people know how to act in a crisis, whom to trust, and how they can contribute to the resilience of society as a whole,” says Lt. Col. Ing. Tomáš Polanský of the University of Defence.

By the end of 2026, the project will deliver a conceptual document defining the structure of plans, tools, and institutional responsibilities within the POKOS system. The findings of the first phase will subsequently form the basis for the development, practical testing, and gradual implementation of methodological tools.

The overarching goal is to create a practical and applicable methodology that will facilitate planning and implementation of citizens’ preparation for national defence by public administration bodies, while also strengthening coordination between civilian institutions and the defence sector. The project is based on the fundamental premise that national defence is not solely the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence, but requires an integrated approach involving the entire state and society.

Author: Lt. Col. Ing. Tomáš Polanský