Latvian Land Forces
Military unit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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. From 2007 to 2024, the Land Forces were organized as a fully professional standing army until the re-introduction of conscription.
| Latvian Land Forces | |
|---|---|
| Sauszemes spēki | |
 Emblem of the Latvian Land Forces HQ | |
| Active | 1918–1940, 1991–present |
| Country | Latvia |
| Type | Army |
| Role | Land warfare |
| Size | 7,870 Professional soldiers 10,000 National Guard 38,000 Reserve[1] |
| Part of | Latvian National Armed Forces |
| Mottos | Vienotībā spēks (English: "Power in unity")[2] |
| Anniversaries | 30 April (Land Forces Day) 4 May (Independence Restoration and Armed Forces Day) |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Commander of the HQ | Colonel Oskars Kudlis[3] |
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.
Organization
Mechanized Infantry Brigade[4]
- Headquarters and Signal Company
1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion[5]
- Headquarters and Signals Platoon
- 3× Mechanized infantry companies
- Combat Support Company
- Combat Service Support Company
2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion[6]
- Headquarters and Signals Platoon
- 3× Mechanized infantry companies
- Combat Support Company
- Combat Service Support Company
3rd Infantry Battalion (Training unit)[7]
- Headquarters and Signals Platoon
- 3× Infantry companies
- Combat Service Support Company
Artillery Battalion (M109A5Ö self-propelled howitzers)[8]
- Headquarters and Signals Platoon
- 3× Artillery batteries
- Joint Fire Support Forward Observers (JFOs)
- Joint Air Support Controllers (JTACs)
Combat Support Battalion[9]
- Headquarters and Signals Platoon
- Reconnaissance Company
- Air-defence Battery
- Engineer Company
Combat Service Support Battalion[10]
- Headquarters and Signals Platoon
- Supply and Transport Company
- Technical Support and Maintenance Company
- Medical Company
- Security Company
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Cooperation
Since 1996 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.[11] Starting from January 1, 2015, Latvian Armed Forces are taking part in EU's Nordic Battle Group.[12][13] On March 29, 2004, Latvia became a full member of NATO.[14]
Equipment
Rank structure
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.
Commissioned officer ranks
The following are the current insignia of commissioned officers.
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||||||||||||||
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 Latvian Land Forces[15] |
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| Ģenerālleitnants | Ģenerālmajors | Brigādes ģenerālis | Pulkvedis | Pulkvežleitnants | Majors | Kapteinis | Virsleitnants | Leitnants | ||||||||||||||||
Other ranks
The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Latvian Land Forces[15] |
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| Augstākais virsseržants | Galvenais virsseržants | Štāba virsseržants | Virsseržants | Seržants | Kaprālis | Dižkareivis | Kareivis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||