A total of 800 Latvian citizens - primarily men aged 18 to 19 years - are required for next summer's intake
As previously reported, nearly 800 people (782 to be precise, 44 of whom were women) volunteered, but previous experience suggests around 30% to 40% will be deemed unsuitable for service for one reason or another, so the Defense Ministry's random number generator churned out another 320 individuals as Defense Minister Andris Sprūds and armed forces comander Leonids Kalniņš looked on.
As with previous conscript lotteries there wasn't much to see however, as the computer only turns out a variety of numbers, so until letters start arriving on doormats, no-one will be any the wiser about who was actually picked.
In theory, summonses to military service are sent to an official state-backed electronic e-mail address, but as few people use such e-addresses in reality, summonses can also be sent as a traditional registered letter.
Those selected for service will start on July 19, 2025, and serve for 11 months in the Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the Land Forces at the "Ādaži" military base, in the Air Force at the "Lielvārde" military base, in the 2nd Vidzeme Brigade of the National Guard in Alūksne and in the 3rd Latgale Brigade of the National Guard in Lūznava, Rēzekne district.
There are various incentives in place to encourage volunteering over being conscripted, not least of which is that volunteers are paid 600 euros per month while conscripts get only half that amount.
The maximum penalty for ignoring a summons and failing to appear for a health examination will increase from 350 euros to 750 euros from December 10, Latvian Radio reported.
Latvia reintroduced military service for males aged 18-27 on a voluntary basis last year and from January 1, 2024, military service has been designated as mandatory. Latvia did previously have mandatory military service until January 2007, when it switched to a fully professional military service, but reintroduced mandatory service in a bid to boost the size of its armed forces. Women can also undertake national service, but on a voluntary basis only.
