Lithuania’s Defence Ministry has invited people to join the commandant’s offices, which are set to be fully operational in 2025.
Members of the public will be able to sign up for the commandant’s offices from May until the end of August. Their military training will start in October.
“We seem to be turning a new page in the field of universal defence,” Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas told a press conference on Friday.
Lithuanian lawmakers are now debating the legalisation of commandant’s offices. In total, 27 such offices are planned to be set up in Lithuania.
“We will establish six district commandant’s offices, which will be located in major cities, including the capital, and an additional 21 will be established in other districts,” said Lithuania’s Chief of Defence Valdemaras Rupšys.
In the event of war, the commandant’s offices would be the link between the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the citizens who can defend the country with arms.
The bill submitted to the Seimas envisages that commandant’s offices would have units under their command, made up of members of the Ready Reserve, riflemen, as well as all weapon owners, including hunters.
In total, 10,600 members of the Ready Reserve, around 2,000 riflemen, and 800 members of the National Defence Volunteer Forces are expected to join the commandant’s offices. Kasčiūnas also expects that several thousand active citizens will respond to the call.
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