Lithuania seeks ways to involve more motivated citizens in national defence
Lithuania’s military leadership is exploring new approaches to expand citizen participation in state defence, including voluntary service options for those with specialised skills, chief of defence Raimundas Vaikšnoras wrote in a social media statement on Monday.
Over the past year, Lithuania has increased its training capacity for non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and expanded its reserve officer courses at the Lithuanian Military Academy, broadening the range of military specialisations from drone operators and electronic warfare specialists to air defence and artillery crews, Vaikšnoras said. Parallel infrastructure upgrades and equipment stockpiling have raised annual troop training numbers to nearly 6,000—an increase of about 1,000 compared to previous years.
Yet challenges remain, particularly as the country moves closer to implementing universal conscription. “We are naturally approaching the limit of what real universal conscription would entail,” Vaikšnoras noted, citing health-related ineligibility among half of conscription-age youth as a key obstacle. Poor physical fitness and medical conditions frequently disqualify potential recruits, he added.
To address shortfalls, the military is considering flexible service models, including voluntary enlistment for civilians who may not meet all health requirements but possess critical expertise. “This is especially relevant for IT, engineering, electronics, communications, cybersecurity, and other specialists whose skills are as vital to modern warfare as physical readiness,” the statement read.
Vaikšnoras emphasised that effective defence depends not on the number of conscripts trained annually but on the total pool of reservists available in a crisis. After completing their initial nine-month service, conscripts join the active reserve, participating in drills for roughly 15 years. This year alone, some 4,000 reservists are slated for refresher training. Civil defence units, overseen by wartime commandant offices, further bolster readiness by preparing thousands of civilians for emergency roles.
On the prospect of mandatory conscription for women—a topic of recent public debate—Vaikšnoras clarified that opportunities for female service already exist. Women may volunteer for initial military training, join the National Defence Volunteer Forces, enrol in reserve officer programmes, or pursue professional military careers. “Currently, the number of conscription-age men suffices to meet the army’s needs, particularly as a significant share of new recruits are volunteers,” he stated.