Due to the high interest from youth, the Ministry of Defense of Latvia has extended the application deadline for the July draft into the State Defense Service until April 13.
Citizens of Latvia aged 18 to 27 can voluntarily apply for both an 11-month military service and a five-year service in the National Guard. The start of service is scheduled for July 17 of this year.
Initially, registration for the summer draft of 2026 ended on January 14; however, the Ministry of Defense continues to receive letters and calls from young people who would like to serve this summer but, for various reasons, did not manage to apply in time.
Currently, volunteers can sign up for the 11-month service in the 36th Combat Support Battalion of the National Guard in Luznava or in the National Guard Battalion in Skrunda, as well as for the five-year service in one of the four brigades of the National Guard — Riga, Vidzeme, Kurzeme, or Latgale.
Citizens who voluntarily apply for the July draft will not participate in further random selection for subsequent drafts.
Volunteers will receive a monthly compensation of 600 euros, and after completing their service, a one-time payment of 1100 euros after taxes.
Additionally, after successfully completing their service, volunteers will be eligible for budget places in state universities and colleges — for both full-time and part-time study programs, provided they meet the minimum admission requirements.
Soldiers serving a five-year term in the National Guard receive compensation for the days they perform service duties.
It was previously reported that by January 14, 1560 volunteers had applied for the July draft of 2026 into the National Armed Forces — this is the largest number of applicants to date, almost twice as many as the previous year.
