The number / day of the NAF Professional Service Soldiers increases by 500

This will allow the NAF to reach 8,000 troops this year, help the defense department promptly strengthen the professional service units and integrate more closely into NATO’s defense structure, Defense Minister Andris Sprūds (P) said.

In order to secure the seats of 500 professional service soldiers faster, no more than EUR 7, 7 million is expected to be rewarded this year and will be redistributed in the Ministry of Defense budget between sub -programs based on real posts.

Taking into account that the NAF Development Plan 2025-2036 was planned to increase posts, some of these positions are already planned at the budget base of the 2026. Consequently, funding for the remuneration in 2026 is required for 228 posts of EUR 6.5 million, when it will be incorporated into the budget base.

Professional service staff supplement to the NAF is necessary for officers and for the preparation of soldiers and instructors.

It is planned to be provisionally planned to be awarded the new posts to the Land Force Mechanized Brigade, the crew of the Infantry Machines, the air defense units, the artillery units, and the additional cadet places at the National Defense Academy.

According to the instructions of the State Chancellery, 432 posts available at Vacancy Bank are used and the total number of posts in public administration is increased by 68 positions.

It has already been reported that the NAF has begun to move targeted towards the state defense concept to increase the peace -time structure to 31,000 soldiers. This is to be done by 2030.

According to the Development Plan, the NAF Peace Time Structure is expected to be assembled with 4,000 National Defense Service (SAD) soldiers, 8,000 professional service soldiers, 12,000 national guards, and 7,000 high readiness for reserve soldiers, which are called to study skills and combat readiness annual.

According to information on the NAF website, the NAF currently has 7,870 professional service soldiers, 10,000 national guards and 38,000 reserve soldiers, including those who serve in the mandatory military service until December 2006.

The National Defense Concept approved in 2023 states that the NAF war -time should reach 61,000 troops, consisting of 31,000 soldiers’ peace -time structure and 30,000 general reserve soldiers.