The Defence Strategy of the Czech Republic PILLAR 3: THE CIVIC DUTY OF NATIONAL DEFENCE 30. National defence is a civic duty and, at the same time, a moral obligation. The mandatory obligation for citizens to defend their homeland has never been abolished, even when the Czech Armed Forces became an all-volunteer military. The Czech Government endeavours to heighten citizens’ awareness of their personal responsibility for national defence. 31. Currently, citizens preparing for national defence activities do so on a voluntary basis, and it only becomes compulsory in a state of national emergency, or in a state of war. Given the intermixture of internal and external security threats, preparing citizens for national defence calls for a combination of military and civilian approaches. That is the unified principle for the development and integration of measures in emergency planning and its tools, as well as preparation methods and procedures. 32. One of the most important measures adopted to fulfil the primary mission of the Czech Armed Forces, the defence of the Czech Republic against external attack, is the transition of the Czech Armed Forces from a peacetime to a wartime organisational structure. In a state of national emergency, the Ministry of Defence may order a selective augmentation of specific military units by calling up the Reserve Forces service personnel earmarked to perform extraordinary duties. During a state of war, the President of the Czech Republic will, on the advice and proposals of the Government, order the mobilisation of the Armed Forces which will then undergo a mass build-up of its military units, facilities, personnel, materiel and property. In order to provide for manning, a system will be set in place for the development and use of the Reserve Forces based on the liability of Czech citizens to conscription. A system of procuring reserves and supplies from the civilian sector will be created in order to augment materiel and property availability. The scope, contents and schedule of these mobilisation measures will be kept in line with the developing security situation. 33. An effective means of ensuring that citizens can fulfil their national defence civic right in peacetime is the concept of the Active Reserve Force, which connects the Armed Forces with the public. The primary responsibility of the service personnel in the Active Reserve Force is to prepare for the missions of the Czech Armed Forces during a state of national emergency or state of war. Active reserve service personnel may be assigned to operational activities outside Czech territory. They will be trained for their respective allocated tasks in advance and in organic units. In addition, service personnel in the Active Reserve Force may perform tasks as part of non-military crisis management, or serve in operational tours with their allocated units. Another area where citizens can become involved in preparation for national defence is the participation in voluntary military training exercises. 34. Voluntary activities of citizens are another important contribution to the defence and security of the Czech Republic, particularly gaining experience and knowledge in weapons handling, in compliance with the applicable law, or in first aid and health care. Government institutions will provide the adequate resources and tools to support these activates. 14