Latvian Land Forces
Sauszemes spēki
Emblem of the Latvian Land Forces
Active1918–1940, 1991–present
CountryLatvia
TypeArmy
RoleLand warfare
Size6,700 personnel[1]
Part ofLatvian National Armed Forces
Motto(s)Vienotībā spēks
(English: "Power in unity")[2]
Anniversaries30 April (Land Forces Day)
4 May (Independence Restoration and Armed Forces Day)
Engagements
Commanders
CommanderColonel Sandris Gaugers [lv][3]

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

Latvian Land Forces is located in Latvia
Latvian military units and bases[4]
Note: "Special Tasks Unit" is a special forces unit of battalion size.
Structure of the Latvian Armed Forces, 2019

Cooperation

Latvian, US, and Afghan soldiers on patrol in Afghanistan

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.[7] Starting from January 1, 2015, Latvian Armed Forces are taking part in EU's Nordic Battle Group.[8][9] On March 29, 2004, Latvia became a full member of NATO.[10]

Equipment

Main article: List of equipment of the Latvian Land Forces

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.

Officers of the Latvian Army
Flag Officers Senior Officers Junior Officers
Rank insignia
Rank Lieutenant 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 Grade OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
Non-Commissioned Officers of the Latvian army
General NCOs Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Privates
Rank insignia
Rank Senior 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 Grade OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2

References

  1. ^ |url=https://www.mil.lv/lv/par-mums
  2. ^ "Simbolika". Nacionālie bruņotie spēki. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  3. ^ "Nacionālie bruņotie spēki". Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  4. ^ Jane's World Armies Issue 23 - 2008
  5. ^ "Mechanized Infantry Brigade". Latvian Army. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  6. ^ "1. mehanizētā kājnieku bataljona vēsture | Nacionālie bruņotie spēki". www.mil.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  7. ^ "Nacionālie bruņotie spēki". Archived from the original on 31 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  8. ^ "Nordic battlegroup - Swedish Armed Forces". Archived from the original on 2015-03-20. Retrieved 2015-02-25.
  9. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-23. Retrieved 2015-02-20.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ "Member countries". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  11. ^ "Latvia Latvian Army ranks military combat field uniforms dress grades uniformes combat armee lettone - Army Recognition - Army Recognition". Retrieved 24 December 2014.