Latvian Land Forces Explained

Unit Name:Latvian Land Forces
Native Name:Sauszemes spēki
Dates:1918–1940, 1991–present
Country:Latvia
Type:Army
Role:Land warfare
Size:7,345 Professional soldiers
10,000 National Guard
38,000 Reserve
Url:https://www.mil.lv/lv/par-mums
Command Structure:Latvian National Armed Forces
Motto:Vienotībā spēks
[1]
Battles:
Anniversaries:30 April
4 May
Commander1:Colonel [2]
Commander1 Label:Commander

The Latvian Land Forces (Latvian: Sauszemes spēki, SzS) together with the Latvian National Guard form the land warfare branch of the Latvian National Armed Forces. Since 2007, land forces are organized as a fully professional standing army.

Mission

The main missions of the national Land Forces are to:

Structure

Cooperation

Since 1996 till today the National Armed Forces' soldiers have been deployed on nine international peace-keeping missions in Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia, Central African Republic, Georgia, Iraq, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Somalia.[5] Starting from January 1, 2015, Latvian Armed Forces are taking part in EU's Nordic Battle Group.[6] [7] On March 29, 2004, Latvia became a full member of NATO.[8]

Equipment

See main article: List of equipment of the Latvian Land Forces.

Rank structure[9]

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

Officers of the Latvian Army
Flag OfficersSenior OfficersJunior Officers
Rank insignia
RankLieutenant General
Ģenerālleitnants
Major General
Ģenerālmajors
Brigadier General
Brigādes Ģenerālis
Colonel
Pulkvedis
Lieutenant Colonel
Pulkvežleitnants
Major
Majors
Captain
Kapteinis
First Lieutenant
Virsleitnants
Second Lieutenant
Leitnants
NATO Rank GradeOF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1
Non-Commissioned Officers of the Latvian army
General NCOsSenior NCOsJunior NCOsPrivates
Rank insignia
RankSenior Warrant Officer
Augstākais virsseržants
Warrant Officer
Galvenais virsseržants
Senior Sergeant
Štāba virsseržants
Sergeant First Class
Virsseržants
Sergeant
Seržants
Corporal
Kaprālis
Private First Class
Dižkareivis
Private
Kareivis
NATO Rank GradeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2

References

  1. Web site: Simbolika. Nacionālie bruņotie spēki. 30 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151001004121/http://www.mil.lv/Vienibas/Kajnieku_brigade/Par_mums/Simbolika.aspx. 1 October 2015. dead.
  2. Web site: Nacionālie bruņotie spēki. 8 June 2019.
  3. Web site: Mechanized Infantry Brigade . Latvian Army . 29 October 2019.
  4. Web site: 1. mehanizētā kājnieku bataljona vēsture Nacionālie bruņotie spēki . 2023-05-10 . www.mil.lv . lv.
  5. Web site: Nacionālie bruņotie spēki. 24 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141231023656/http://www.mil.lv/Operacijas.aspx. 31 December 2014. dead.
  6. Web site: Nordic battlegroup - Swedish Armed Forces . 2015-02-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150320002205/http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/en/about/our-mission-in-sweden-and-abroad/international-activities-and-operations/nordic-battle-group/ . 2015-03-20 .
  7. Web site: Archived copy . 2015-02-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141223180855/http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/siteassets/english/nbg15---eng/14mar_-fcdr_master-f.pdf#page=13 . 2014-12-23 . dead .
  8. Web site: Member countries. 24 December 2014.
  9. Web site: Latvia Latvian Army ranks military combat field uniforms dress grades uniformes combat armee lettone - Army Recognition - Army Recognition. 24 December 2014.

External links