Over the next five years, all male citizens in this age range “will have to choose one of four types of military service: National Defense Service, National Guard, Department Commander University Course or alternative services in the Home Office, Health or Welfare. ” the ministry said in a statement.
Female citizens of this age group will be offered “the same opportunities on a voluntary basis,” the ministry said.
Defense Minister Artis Pabriks said that “the population of Latvia must realize that in order to survive we simply need to increase the share of the population that has received military training and is ready to engage in combat. This will reduce the risk of Russia attacking Latvia at will.”
Pabriks added that “2014 made us focus more on rearming and better combat readiness of our armed forces. These goals have been successfully achieved.”
In 2014, Russia invaded and annexed the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine.
“However, the security implications of the Russia-Ukraine war have led to many new challenges,” said Pabriks. “To overcome them, we must strengthen our combat capabilities and develop army reserves.”
The defense secretary said: “It has become clear that we have exhausted the potential of the National Guard’s voluntary service and professional service, and further increases in the number of military personnel are associated with excessive risks.”
“That’s why we need to focus on increasing the number of Latvian residents who can join defense forces in the event of a military conflict,” he added.
As part of the first phase of the project, the Latvian Ministry of Defense will offer voluntary military training to Latvian citizens aged 18 to 27, starting in January 2023.
The ranking will take place in two stages, in January and July.
The ministry estimates that in the first year, the State Defense Service will attract about 1,000 new soldiers (500 at each recruitment stage).
They will be required to serve for one year, including one month of leave.
Recruits will undergo a three-month basic training and a three-month specialty program, while the remaining months “will be devoted to unit integration and collective training,” the ministry said.
“All new recruits will be socially protected. According to the plans, each new soldier will receive a monthly salary of up to 400 euros, free food and accommodation in barracks,” the ministry said.
Over the next five years, the ministry plans to increase the share of the combat-ready population in the National Armed Forces to 50,000 soldiers.
“Of these, 14,000 soldiers will form active duty units, while 16,000 will join the National Guard and 20,000 will form the reserve force,” the ministry said.
