Volunteers of the National Defense Service most often choose places of service near Riga, while military units in the regions face much less interest. The Ministry of Defense acknowledges that the issue of attracting young people to remote garrisons is becoming increasingly relevant.
The most sought-after places of service among volunteers of the National Defense Service remain the headquarters battalion of the National Armed Forces in Ādaži and the airbase in Lielvārde, writes Diena.
There are far fewer willing to serve in Alūksne, Luznava, and Skrunda. Because of this, the National Armed Forces face an increasingly pressing task of ensuring the staffing of units not only in the vicinity of the capital but also in other regions of the country.
The Ministry of Defense emphasizes that volunteers are the most valuable source of replenishment for the army. According to the director of the National Defense Service department, Kristers Grauze, after completing their service, about 70–75% of volunteers continue their careers in the armed forces. In comparison, among young people who are conscripted through mandatory draft, this figure is about 20%.
This means that working with volunteers requires significantly fewer resources and yields a higher result. According to the Ministry of Defense, the cost ratio for selecting candidates is approximately one to four in favor of voluntary recruitment.
At the same time, medical commissions continue to assess the fitness of conscripts for service. Of the 1,806 individuals who underwent selection, health decisions were contested in 17 cases. Decisions have already been made on ten appeals, while seven are still under consideration.
The chairman of the Central Medical Expert Commission of the National Armed Forces, Sandis Stepinsh, explained that most disputed situations are related to so-called borderline cases, where health conditions can be interpreted differently. Most often, questions arise due to spinal diseases, vision problems, and certain dermatological conditions.
Interestingly, while volunteers often try to gain access to service, among young people selected by lottery for mandatory conscription, there are also reverse situations. According to Stepinsh, some conscripts attempt to prove their unfitness for service. However, in most such cases, medical commissions still deem them fit.
What is important to understand is that for the army today, not only the number of conscripted young people matters, but also their willingness to remain in the armed forces after service. This is why volunteers are seen as the most promising personnel reserve.
In the coming years, one of the challenges for the National Armed Forces will remain attracting young people to military units located further from Riga, to ensure a more even staffing of units across the country.
