Latvia has received a record 1,560 volunteer applications for the State Defence Service’s July 2026 draft, nearly double last year’s total
Applications for the summer conscription closed on January 14. Of the applicants, 1,503 have chosen the 11-month program with the National Armed Forces — 1,457 men and 46 women — while 57, mostly men, opted for the five-year national guard service.
Authorities are now reviewing eligibility and will hold a random selection on January 21 if additional conscripts are needed.
The 11-month service will take place at six locations. Meanwhile, national guard volunteers can train close to home in one of four regional brigades, completing basic training, collective exercises, and specialized courses.
Volunteers receive daily compensation, meals or ration allowances, and a retirement bonus of 1,100 euros ($1,278). Completing service also opens opportunities for state-subsidized higher education in full- or part-time programs, provided admission criteria are met.
The State Defence Service aims to involve citizens broadly in national defense, equipping them with basic military skills while bolstering Latvia’s resilience.
The program plans to reach full capacity by 2028, training 4,000 soldiers in the 11-month program and 2,000 in the five-year national guard program, with up to 500 completing reserve officer training.
Conscription Trends Across Europe
Latvia’s surge in volunteers comes as several European countries revisit or reinforce military service to bolster defense readiness amid geopolitical tensions, particularly following Russia’s war in Ukraine.
In the Baltic region, conscription dynamics vary by country. Lithuania expanded its draft for 2026 to roughly 5,000 conscripts, part of a broader defense posture that includes increased military spending and an extension of reserve service terms.
Estonia continues a long‑standing conscription system that plans to call up several thousand recruits annually across infantry, navy, cyber, and support units, with service terms ranging from eight to eleven months.
Elsewhere in Europe, mandatory service remains part of the defense framework in countries such as Finland and Sweden.
Sweden reintroduced conscription in 2017 for both men and women, selecting a few thousand each year based on military needs, while Finland has maintained male‑focused service and periodically revises terms and roles.
