Almost 500 volunteers apply for state defense service

On Monday, May 15, the application for the first draft into the State Defense Service (VAD) finished, with 488 Latvian citizens volunteering, the Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday.

The first draft to take place July 1 this year is fully voluntary. Of the 488 applicants, 11 are women and 6 people are living abroad. 

Although it was originally planned to recruit 300 young people in the VAD's first draft, if more than 300 pass the inspections and examinations, they will all be accepted into service, the Ministry said. 

After application, the final selection experts shall review the application questionnaires received, as well as check the criminal records of each citizen in the Penalties Register. If no barriers to service are identified, the citizen will be required to carry out a health check. The medical examination of the state of health will be conducted at the National Armed Forces Medical Center. 

“I am really satisfied with the number of applications received for service, which has substantially exceeded what was originally planned. The willingness expressed by Latvian citizens to start service in the summer of this year is a clear acknowledgment that the Latvian public is aware – State defense is the responsibility of the whole society. I am convinced that the State Defense Service will make a significant contribution to building a morally sustainable and prepared society in Latvia, where everyone knows their role in State defense,” said Minister of Defense Ināra Mūrniece (National Alliance).

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