The compulsory military service in Latvia was implemented with the beginning of January this year. Latvian citizens of men aged 18 to 27 must join the army for a year.

Those who refuse to service are punishable by fines or imprisonment, with the exception of those with wellness problems, single parents and persons with dual citizenship who have already served abroad.

According to The Telegraph, the head of the Latvian Ministry of abroad Affairs Krišjānis Kari

“We must be ready for Russian generals and the Russian political class to see clearly that the European direction does not give them a chance”, the Latvian abroad Minister said.

Even after the liberation of the full territory of Ukraine and the end of the war, Russia will proceed to be a threat, as Kariņš stressed. According to him, Russia should realize that the European defence is full prepared, "and guarantee that no benefits are possible".

In his opinion, now we must "support Ukraine by strengthening our defences." “Russia must fall on a brick wall, and this brick must be determined and tested forces and means of NATO,” he said.

Latvia plans to have an army of 61,000 soldiers ready to fight. This figure includes active soldiers and reserves. The country abolished its enlistment in 2006, 2 years after joining NATO, but last year the authorities changed that decision.

Since the reinstatement of the military, there have been adequate volunteers to serve, so the authorities have not yet had to carry out random selections to fill the ranks.

In Latvia they will receive a monthly wage of up to EUR 300 and will be accommodated in military barracks. They will be able to take up to 1 period of leave.

The country besides plans to increase its defence budget to 3% of GDP by 2027, compared to 2.4% this year

As we have already informed in the text “A nation ready to fight is simply a safe nation. Military work is necessity’, Latvians may have military training or replacement service. The military itself offers 3 service paths: 1) 11-month service in the National Armed Forces of Latvia or in the National defender units; 2) 5 years service in the National Guard, with at least 21 individual training days per year and 7 collective training days per year; 3) 5 years of education (intended for students) to get the rank of reserve lieutenant. The service is to be associated with privileges – e.g. children of soldiers will be enrolled in state kindergartens getting the first order on the lists, and volunteers will be able to survey free of charge in the first degree (studies in Latvia are paid).

Latvians will besides have the chance to service as a substitute in the armed forces or the National Guard, but besides in: Centre of the Youth Guard, Centre of Purchases and Military Facilities for State Defence, Latvian Geospatial Information Agency, Latvian War Museum, State Defence and Logistics Procurement Centre, National Defence Academy and Military School, Lieutenant Oskars Kalpaks, Agency for the Prevention of Information safety Incidents Cert.lv, as well as in intelligence structures and counterintelligence. They may be willing to be seconded, taking into account their skills, place of residence and education. The duration of specified duties is 40 hours a week.

In the countries of our region, compulsory military service is already a standard – Estonia plans to extend the word of conscript service to 2 years, Lithuania reintroduced compulsory military service in 2015 for a period of 9 months, and it is besides a reality in the Nordic countries (Norway was, for example, the first NATO country to adopt the concept of "universal collection" for women and men).

Universal and compulsory military service is besides successful in another parts of the world. All Swiss at the age of 18-30 relate to the work of military service. Basic service lasts about 18 weeks. Then, within 10 years of the primary service, six 19-day trainings should besides be carried out. In 2013, over 73% of voters voted against the liquidation of the system. Further examples of militarised societies include Israel and South Korea. In this first country, military service is compulsory for all citizens over the age of 18 and lasts almost 3 years. Korea maintains a compulsory military service strategy for persons aged 18-35 years, which lasts at least 18 months.

SEE ALSO: Militaryization of the Nation - outline of the idea

The civilian Army?

Universal military training could become an integral part of the education strategy in Poland and its extension. For example, after the elder exam, checking the cognition of a young man, he enjoys the longest vacations in life, which mostly last from early June to late September. These are 4 months, usually before going to college, which any young people spend on work and any on rest. Graduation during this period of training taking place under the conditions of disaggregation in a selected military unit or training centre should be a prerequisite for obtaining a full certificate of maturity and opportunities, for example, for university education. The program could be based on a training program of Voluntary Primary Military Service.

SEE ALSO: Militaryization of the nation. Proposals and considerations

Several deadlines for a four-month vacation period would let for a appropriate match of plans for this period to be made to the service. They should be able to have longer, paid and extended training, which would later entail privileges in terms of, for example, employment in state administration or enrollment for studies. The values that students should get at this phase of education are: soldier's honor, sense of responsibility, patriotism, feeling of strength, solidarity, cooperation, resilience, fortitude.

The concept of citizenship has always been linked to the readiness to sacrifice for the community, leading with the readiness to sacrifice their lives. This has been the case for centuries in all functioning social structures. From ancient Greece and Rome, for a period initiated by the French revolution (since societies began to take mass and egalitarian form), to the time of the large wars of the 20th century. There are certain rules in our reality that do not change.