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Latvia - Military (Facts)

Military branches: Latvian Republic Defense Force: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Spelki), Border Guard, Latvian Home Guard (Latvijas Zemessardze) (2007) Military service age and obligation: 19 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age for volunteers; 12-month conscript service obligation; conscription to be abolished in 2007; under current law, every citizen is entitled to serve in the armed forces for life (2006) Manpower available for military service: males age 19-49: 517,713 females age 19-49: 519,631 (2005 est.) Manpower fit for military service: males age 19-49: 361,098 females age 19-49: 422,913 (2005 est.) Manpower reaching military service age annually: males age 18-49: 19,137 females age 19-49: 18,505 (2005 est.)