Call to Arms: Lithuania Begins Military Draft, First Time Since 2008

A military conscription campaign was launched on Monday in Lithuania — the first since 2008 – and lists of conscripts are being randomly formed by special software.

The lists are formed for six regions. Public representatives will monitor the transparency of the procedure.

Two days after the lists are ready they will be published and constantly updated on the official website of the country’s Defense Ministry.

Those who are on the lists will be notified by mail. Then they will have to arrive at conscription points, fill out the application form and pass medical tests.

This year, 3,000 people from 19 to 26 years of age will be conscripted for the army. Some of them are volunteers. In the month of May 8, 991 people applied as volunteers.

However, the submission of volunteers’ applications will be suspended until May 11, when all conscripts lists for 2015 are published. Then the acceptance of applications from volunteers will be resumed for those who are not on the lists.

Lithuania abandoned conscription military service in 2008, having switched to a professional army. In March 2015, military conscription was temporarily resumed for five years. The initiative was proposed by the National Defense Council and approved by parliament and president.

The move was explained by geopolitical interests, threats to national security and the need to bolster the defensive capabilities of the state.

According to the law, the total number of forces are planned to be between 16,800 to 21,900 servicemen.