US-born National Guard member says Latvians must be ready to resist

Latvians should prepare to resist rather than flee if a large-scale war begins, says Nils Students, a US-born member of Latvia’s National Guard. LSM reported his comments in its “Formā!” podcast, where he said he was not worried about Latvia’s military security but believed everyone should be ready to act.

Students said Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 changed how he viewed his connection to Latvia. Loving the country was no longer enough, he said; he needed to contribute in practical ways. He joined the National Guard and now serves in a mortar unit of its Student Battalion.

He regrets not joining ten years earlier. Students recalled that he was the oldest person in his unit and had lower physical fitness when he started training, but said he learned a great deal during six weeks of instruction.

Students believes some people in Latvia are experiencing war fatigue and uncertainty. He said a 72-hour emergency bag alone would not be enough and urged Latvians returning from abroad to join the National Guard. He also actively supports Ukraine, describing that support as mutually beneficial.

Born in the United States, Students first visited Latvia in 1980, aged 12, with his mother. As a child, he disliked getting up early on Saturdays to attend Latvian school in the US.