2024-08-02 09:11:36
LETA already wrote that next year it is planned to complete the SAD with around 1,000 young people, in order to reach 4,000 SAD soldiers per year.
Kalniņš did not deny that the unfavorable demographic situation causes concern about the ability to recruit the necessary 4,000 soldiers. NBS will definitely need to find ways to motivate the public to engage in this form of service.
“My conviction and attitude is that the volunteer SAD soldier is the best, the most qualitative and the most effective. And I hope that with the involvement of volunteers, the SAD will also motivate the rest of Latvian citizens and that the number we call up on a mandatory basis will not be high in percentage,” said the NBS commander.
When asked whether we will not reach a situation where all young people who have reached the age of 18, regardless of gender, should be drafted into the SAD, the NBS commander replied that he would support the mandatory conscription of both sexes. This would be a motivating element for male representatives to be actively involved in the service, instead of leaving the country for a while and looking for reasons not to serve, Kalniņš is sure.
The quality, efficiency and discipline are much higher in the subunits where women serve, as evidenced by the experience of the NBS commander in the National Guard.
“It would be a very good signal if such a decision was made politically,” added the commander.
The SAD law was adopted in the Saeima on April 5, 2023. It establishes the obligation to serve in the national defense service for every citizen of Latvia – a man within one year after reaching the age of 18, or if the citizen continues to receive education at the basic or secondary level – within one year after graduating from an educational institution, but no later than until the age of 24 . At the same time, it is determined that Latvian citizens – men and women between the ages of 18 and 27 – can voluntarily apply for the SAD.
The first enlistment started the service on July 1, 2023 on a voluntary basis and concluded it on May 31 of this year. On the other hand, this year, on January 23, the selection of candidates for the national defense service took place for the first time on a random basis.
Citizens of Latvia are also invited to join voluntarily in future conscriptions. However, if necessary, the missing number of persons aged 18 to 19 will be called randomly.
Voluntary SAD soldiers receive monthly compensation in the amount of 600 euros, as well as compensation in the amount of 1,100 euros after completing their service. In total, they are 7,700 euros. Compulsory conscripts are compensated less.
2024-08-02 09:11:36