The Latvian Land Forces () together with the

Latvian National Guard The Latvian National Guard or NG (, ZS) is a part of the Military of Latvia, Latvian National Armed Forces. The National Guard is a basic land component, consisting of volunteers who perform traditional National Guard (disambiguation), national g ...

form the land warfare branch of the Latvian National Armed Forces. From 2007 to 2024, the Land Forces were organized as a fully professional standing army until the re-introduction of

conscription Conscription, also known as the draft in the United States and Israel, is the practice in which the compulsory enlistment in a national service, mainly a military service, is enforced by law. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it conti ...

Mission

The main missions of the national Land Forces are to: * Provide for the defense of all national territories; * Ensure combat readiness and the mobilization of units; * Dispose of explosive ordnance; * Provide public assistance.

Structure

Insignia of Latvian Land Forces Mechanized Infantry Brigade

Land Forces Mechanized Infantry Brigade ** Latvian Land Forces logo

Headquarters (''SzS KBde)'' ** Latvian Land Forces logo

Headquarters and Signal Company (''SzS KBde Štāba un sakaru rota'') ** 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion (LATBAT, ''1. MKB'') *** Headquarters and Support Company *** 1st Mechanized Infantry Company *** 2nd Mechanized Infantry Company *** 3rd Mechanized Infantry Company *** Combat Service Support Company ** 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion (''2. MKB'') *** Headquarters and Support Company *** 1st Mechanized Infantry Company *** 2nd Mechanized Infantry Company *** 3rd Mechanized Infantry Company *** Combat Service Support Company ** SzS 3KB emblema

3rd Infantry Battalion (trains active service soldiers, national guardsmen and reserve soldiers, ''3. KB'') *** Headquarters and Support Company *** 1st Infantry Company *** 2nd Infantry Company *** 3rd Infantry Company *** Combat Service Support Company ** UZSUVE PNG

Artillery Unit ( M109A5Ö howitzers, ''Artilērijas divizions'') ** Combat Support Battalion (''KAB'') *** Staff and Signal Company *** Anti-tank Company ( Spike-LR missiles) *** Fire Support Company *** Engineer Company *** Military Intelligence Company *** Forward Air Control Unit ** Kaujas nodrosinajuma bataljons emblema

Combat Service Support Battalion (''KNB)'' *** Staff and Signal Company *** Supply and Transport Company *** Technical Support and Maintenance Company *** Medical Company

Cooperation

Since 1996 the National Armed Forces' soldiers have been deployed on nine international peace-keeping missions in

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...

Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...

Bosnia Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...

Central African Republic The Central African Republic (CAR) is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to Central African Republic–Chad border, the north, Sudan to Central African Republic–Sudan border, the northeast, South Sudan to Central ...

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

Kosovo Kosovo, officially the Republic of Kosovo, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe with International recognition of Kosovo, partial diplomatic recognition. It is bordered by Albania to the southwest, Montenegro to the west, Serbia to the ...

North Macedonia North Macedonia, officially the Republic of North Macedonia, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe. It shares land borders with Greece to the south, Albania to the west, Bulgaria to the east, Kosovo to the northwest and Serbia to the n ...

and

Somalia Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. The country is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, th ...

. Starting from January 1, 2015, Latvian Armed Forces are taking part in EU's Nordic Battle Group. On March 29, 2004, Latvia became a full member of

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO ; , OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental Transnationalism, transnational military alliance of 32 Member states of NATO, member s ...

Equipment

Rank structure

The rank structure of the Latvian army is adjusted to the rank structure of the

countries in Europe. Rank insignia are worn historically on the collars and today also on shoulder marks. Starting 2016, only the Staff Battalion wears the collar insignia.

Commissioned officer ranks

The following are the current insignia of

commissioned officer An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service. Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer (NCO), or a warrant officer. However, absent ...

Other ranks

The rank insignia of

non-commissioned officer A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is an enlisted rank, enlisted leader, petty officer, or in some cases warrant officer, who does not hold a Commission (document), commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority b ...

s and

enlisted personnel An enlisted rank (also known as an enlisted grade or enlisted rate) is, in some armed services, any rank below that of a commissioned officer. The term can be inclusive of non-commissioned officers or warrant officers, except in United States ...

References

External links

Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Latvia

{{Allied Land Command Military of Latvia Military units and formations established in 1918 Military units and formations disestablished in 1940 Military units and formations established in 1991 1991 establishments in Latvia