He said 193 people had currently applied for the third conscription, but that 480 should start serving in the summer of next year. Recruits may still apply by December 1 of this year.
The recruitment center calculates that, as a general rule, the number of applications increases shortly before the deadline expires – less than two weeks remain before the third conscription can be applied for.
“But 50-60 people should apply per day to achieve the goal [of filling the draft] with volunteers,” Rozenbaums said, so the center is expecting to have to select at least 600-700 people at random.
The selection will take place in the second half of January, and preparations have already begun. Rozenbaums reminded that every young person at the age of 18 must have an electronic address – a summons will be sent. In the absence of such an electronic address, the young person will receive a summons at the declared place of residence.
Mandatory conscripts will receive EUR 300 each month, while those who apply voluntarily – EUR 600 plus additional compensation after service in the amount of EUR 1,100 and paid education opportunities.
In order to prepare Latvian citizens for the performance of state protection tasks, mandatory defense service has been established in the country. The first conscription was voluntary – Latvian citizens aged 18-27 could apply until May 15 of this year. 488 Latvian citizens volunteered for the first conscription of the State Defense Service, and 254 young people started the service on July 1.
Meanwhile, 224 Latvian citizens volunteered for the second conscription, which will begin in January 2024, and the Ministry of Defense decided not to carry out mandatory conscription at random.
From January 1, 2024, the service has been designated as mandatory. Compulsory conscription will give priority to men aged 18 to 19.
