First Lithuanian military conscripts start service

Almost 500 Lithuanian servicemen have started their nine-month compulsory military service on Monday, marking the reconstruction of the conscription in Lithuania after seven years.

According to the Lithuanian Defense Ministry, 495 servicemen, including 19 women, who have started their nine-month service in Klaipeda, Western Lithuania port, are volunteers. Volunteers have an option to choose the place for their service.

The first servicemen were welcomed by Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite and the leaders of Lithuanian defense system. The president highlighted the activity of volunteers deciding to choose compulsory service.

"The willingness of youth to serve for their country shows the spirit of Lithuania's strength and unity is alive," said Grybauskaite in a press release.

"Lithuanian people know how to cherish the freedom and know, that it needs to be preserved and defended," she added.

According to Juozas Olekas, the defense minister, around 2,600 volunteers have applied for the compulsory service.

"An active aspiration of the youth to do their duty for the homeland allows as thinking, that soon Lithuanian army will be based only on volunteers," said Olekas.

Olekas has earlier suggested drafts to mandatory military service may not be needed judging by increasing number of volunteers. Around 3,000 conscripts are to be drafted to compulsory service this year.

After the nine-month military service, the conscripts will be capable of attending military exercises and trainings jointly with NATO troops. They will also form specialized units to supplement military reserve.

During the five year period of temporarily reintroduced military conscription, Lithuanian defense authorities expect to increase the reserve by 16,000 soldiers.

Lithuania, a small Baltic country, reintroduced mandatory military conscription in response to the changing security situation in Eastern Europe, aiming to improve manning in military units and build up the sufficient military reserve. The conscription in Lithuania was abolished in 2008.

This year the total number of professional troops, conscripts, volunteers and soldiers from the active reserve is expected range from 16,840 to 21,960.