The Latvian Land Forces ( lv, Sauszemes spēki, SzS) together with the
Latvian National Guard form the land warfare branch of the
Latvian National Armed Forces
The Latvian National Armed Forces ( lv, Latvijas Nacionālie bruņotie spēki), or NBS, are the armed forces of Latvia. Latvia's defense concept is based on a mobile professional rapid response force and reserve segment that can be called upon re ...
. Since 2007, land forces are organized as a fully professional standing army.
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
*
Mechanized Infantry Brigade
**
Headquarters
**
Headquarters and Signal Company
**
1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion
*** Headquarters and Support Company
*** 1st Mechanized Infantry Company
*** 2nd Mechanized Infantry Company
*** 3rd Mechanized Infantry Company
*** Combat Service Support Company
**
2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion
*** Headquarters and Support Company
*** 1st Mechanized Infantry Company
*** 2nd Mechanized Infantry Company
*** 3rd Mechanized Infantry Company
*** Combat Service Support Company
**
3rd Infantry Battalion (trains active service soldiers, national guardsmen and reserve soldiers)
*** Headquarters and Support Company
*** 1st Infantry Company
*** 2nd Infantry Company
*** 3rd Infantry Company
*** Combat Service Support Company
**
Artillery Unit (
M109A5Ö howitzers)
**
Combat Support Battalion
*** Staff and Signal Company
*** Anti-tank Company (
Spike-LR missiles)
*** Fire Support Company
*** Engineer Company
*** Military Intelligence Company
*** Forward Air Control Unit
**
Combat Service Support Battalion
*** Staff and Signal Company
*** Supply and Transport Company
*** Technical Support and Maintenance Company
*** Medical Company
Cooperation
Since 1996 till today the National Armed Forces' soldiers have been deployed on nine international peace-keeping missions in
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
,
Albania
Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...
,
Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and He ...
,
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic (CAR; ; , RCA; , or , ) is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to the north, Sudan to the northeast, South Sudan to the southeast, the DR Congo to the south, the Republic of th ...
,
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
,
Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...
,
Kosovo
Kosovo ( sq, Kosova or ; sr-Cyrl, Косово ), officially the Republic of Kosovo ( sq, Republika e Kosovës, links=no; sr, Република Косово, Republika Kosovo, links=no), is a partially recognised state in Southeast Euro ...
,
North Macedonia
North Macedonia, ; sq, Maqedonia e Veriut, (Macedonia before February 2019), officially the Republic of North Macedonia,, is a country in Southeast Europe. It gained independence in 1991 as one of the successor states of Socialist Feder ...
and
Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...
. Starting from January 1, 2015, Latvian Armed Forces are taking part in
EU's
Nordic Battle Group
The Nordic Battlegroup (NBG) is one of eighteen European Union battlegroups. It consists of around 2,500 soldiers including officers, with manpower contributed from the seven participating Northern European countries, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Ire ...
. On March 29, 2004, Latvia became a fully fledged member of the
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...
.
Equipment
Rank structure
The rank structure of the Latvian army is adjusted to the rank structure of the
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...
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.
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