Since last Friday, 1,277 citizens of Latvia have joined the service. Of these, 1,225 individuals are undergoing an 11-month National Defense Service in six military units across the country, writes Latvijas Avīze. The recruits are distributed among the mechanized infantry brigade and the Military Police in Adazi, the air defense division of the Air Force in Lielvarde, the 25th and 36th combat support battalions of the National Guard in Aluksne and Luznava, as well as the base of the 4th Kurzeme Brigade of the National Guard in Mežaine. Another 52 young people have chosen an alternative form of service — a five-year term in the National Guard. Most of them will undergo training as part of the 53rd Battalion of the 1st Riga Brigade. This form of service requires at least 28 days of military training annually and is available exclusively on a voluntary basis. As Senior Sergeant Ilmar Rešņa from the 1st Infantry Battalion of the mechanized brigade explained, this current draft is already the fourth for the military base in Adazi. According to him, during this time, instructors have gained significant experience and adapted the training program to the characteristics of the new generation of conscripts. He noted that in the early years, it was necessary to find the most effective training methods, as both volunteers and young people conscripted by lottery were being trained simultaneously. In addition to military skills, many recruits also have to learn basic everyday habits — organizing their own living arrangements, adhering to a daily routine, and working in a team. According to the National Armed Forces, about one in three servicemen decides to continue their career and transitions to professional military service after completing the 11-month term. The increase in the number of volunteers is viewed by the authorities as one of the signs that interest in the National Defense Service is gradually growing, and the system itself is starting to function as a source for replenishing the professional army.