[javajosh]

At least the training will help their emotional state - to feel prepared, ready and confident that they'll have all options at their disposal in the event of an invasion is not without utility. Plus, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Ukrainian civilians effective resistance shows how even untrained civilians can be an asset, with the implication that they could have been even more effective with some training.

The risk, IMHO, is that you'll get folks doing a day or two of training thinking that makes them experienced combat troops. Overconfidence will certainly hurt you in a real conflict. (The same applies to those who think playing Counter-Strike counts as combat experience).

[bell-cot]

Unless they are a little kid or machismo simpleton, I don't think anyone who's done a couple days of a "noob basics for tender civilians" training is gonna mistake themselves for an experienced soldier. Especially not when they're exposed to plenty of "real" coverage of a real war, right next door.

[javajosh]

I didn't think any sane person would hail a draft-dodger who cheated on his wives and declared bankruptcy 5 times would be hailed as a patriot, a man of God, and a business genius. And yet here we are.