Latvian National Guard commander Aivars Krjukovs would like to see greater involvement from residents of Latvia’s regions in joining the National Guard.
In an interview with TV3, Krjukovs admitted that overall he had hoped for a larger number of applications for service in the National Guard. In Riga and the surrounding area, public interest in joining the organization is comparatively higher and all units are fully staffed, while in the regions he would like to see greater activity from residents.
The unit commander explained that interest in serving in the National Guard tends to fluctuate in waves. At present, he expects that the largest number of recruits in his structure will come through Latvia’s mandatory State Defence Service conscription system.
Speaking about the newly planned National Guard supporter status,
Krjukovs noted that a broad range of specialists are expected to join as supporters,
including experts in transportation, IT, and other technologies.
Security institutions monitor the process to ensure that pro-Kremlin elements do not enter the ranks of the National Guard or its supporters, and some such individuals have already been filtered out, the military official added.
Krjukovs also emphasized that the National Guard is learning extensively from Ukraine’s practical wartime experience and examining how those lessons can be adapted to Latvian conditions.
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