https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/d...rvice.a464196/
Latvia Reintroduces National Service
….Pabriks also announced plans to reintroduce national military service for males from 2023, first on a voluntary basis and then in compulsory form at a later date. This comes despite reservations about national service being
expressed by Latvia's defense chief in February this year.
The information provided to the media by the Ministry of Defense shows that the defense service will be gradually introduced over the course of five years. From January 1, 2023, the first phase of implementation will take place, for which it will be possible to apply voluntarily.
It is expected that recruitment to the service will take place twice a year - on January 1 and July 1.
It is planned that after a five-year transition period, the service will be compulsory for men aged 18 to 27. However, if a person at the age of 18 is still studying, they will be able to defer their service until after graduation.
National service will last for 12 months, but one month of that will be holiday, and people can expect to be paid 400 euros plus travel expenses per month, slightly less than the national minimum wage of 500 euros.
Women will be able to apply to the National Defense Service voluntarily, the Ministry of Defense plans.
Only citizens of Latvia will be admitted to the service and individuals will also have to meet health requirements, which are analogous to those of the National Guard.
Latvia abolished mandatory military service in January 2007, fully switching to a professional military service backed up by a National Guard militia.