Rear Admiral G.A.Zeibots meeting soldiers from the 1st Infantry Battalion in July 2003

THE MISSION OF THE NAF IS TO: • Provide for the inviolability of all national territory, its waters and air space; • Participate in international operations; • Participate in national threat elimination; • Provide for the training of personnel and military reserves.

Th e mission of the National Armed Forces Aft er joining NATO, the foundation of the in training our soldiers, procuring modern to deal with the identifi cation and clearance of (NAF) is to guarantee the sovereignty and Latvian defence system will shift from total equipment and developing modern technology. nuclear pollution. Th e successful participation territorial integrity of the nation and to defend territorial defence to collective defence. Th us, NAF soldiers have participated in of our soldiers in international exercises, its population against aggression. In order to along with providing for national defence, the international operations since 1996. Specialised operations and missions demonstrates that implement these tasks, the NAF provide for the NAF will also have to react immediately to units (e.g. units of military medics, military their professional skills already comply with the defence of the nation, its air space and national threats to other allies and to international crises. police, unexploded ordnance neutralisers, performance requirements set by the Alliance. territorial waters, participate in large scale crisis- It is already clear that will require small military divers and special forces) have been response operations, perform emergency rescue but highly professional troops that have been established in order to facilitate and enhance our operations, and participate in international fully integrated into NATO structures. Th at is participation in international operations. Special Th e Commander of the National Armed peacekeeping operations. why we are investing our fi nancial resources attention has been paid to establishing a unit Forces, Rear Admiral Gaidis Andrejs Zeibots The NAF Headquarters

Th e NAF Headquarters is the institution responsible for assisting the NAF Commander in carrying out continuous command and control functions. Th e mission of the NAF Headquarters is to prepare the information, documents and proposals required for making decisions on defence policy and to control the implementation of the orders and directives passed by the NAF Commander. Th e NAF Headquarters produces the NAF development plans, concepts, and directives and defi nes the main activities necessary for ensuring the development of the armed forces.

NAF Headquarters Management at a meeting in August 2003

Soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Battalion during exercises in August 2003 The NAF Staff Battalion has also welcomed several delegations to its base. Th e NAF Orchestra is a part of the Staff THE MISSION OF THE STAFF BATTALION IS TO: Th e NAF Staff Battalion was established in Battalion. Th e Orchestra’s musicians participate • Provide the Honour Guard at the 1992 in order to re-establish the national and in offi cial ceremonies as demanded by national Freedom Monument and the Palace; military traditions and rituals of the Republic of protocol, various events organised by the • Participate in military ceremonies and Latvia. Th e Battalion is a separate unit directly Minister of Defence and the NAF Commander, rituals; subordinate to the NAF Commander. as well as other top military ceremonies. • Guard the Ministry of Defence and NAF Th ough one of the main tasks of the NAF Several foreign conductors have contributed installations located within the Riga Staff Battalion is to participate in military to the professional growth of the orchestra garrison. ceremonies and rituals, it also provides other with concerts prepared and conducted by knowledge and skills required by soldiers. Th e bandmasters from diff erent countries. Th e A changing of the Honour Guard at the Riga Palace in Battalion has established good co-operation NAF Staff Orchestra has participated in several June 2003 with various schools and has organised diverse international military brass band festivals in The NAF Staff Orchestra at the XXIII Latvian Song military sports activities off -site. Th e Battalion Europe with great success. Festival in July 2003 The Land Forces

Th e Land Forces form the regular contingent of the National Armed Forces and provide for the defence of all national territories. Th e development of the Land Forces is directed towards improving their combat and professional capabilities. One of the main tasks of their development is to specialise in particular fi elds, e.g. the Land Forces will take over responsibility for the neutralisation of unexploded ordnance from the National Guard in the nearest future. Th erefore, much attention is being paid to preparing the respective experts. By the end of 2004, the Land Forces must prepare a professional infantry unit for participation in NATO-led operations. Th e Latvian Armed Forces have been participating in peacekeeping operations abroad since 1996. Currently, NAF soldiers are deployed on six international peacekeeping missions – in Afghanistan, Iraq, Georgia, Kosovo, Macedonia and Bosnia.

The Land Forces 1st Infantry Battalion

THE MISSION OF THE LAND FORCES IS TO: • Provide for the defence of all national territories; • Ensure combat readiness and the mobilisation of units; • Exterminate explosives; • Provide public assistance. The National Guard forces, which can be deployed immediately on international military operations. Th e National Guard was established in August Th e youth organisation of the National 1991 as a voluntary public military self-defence Guard, the “Jaunsardze” (Youth National Guard), organisation. It is the largest NAF structure in was established in 1992. It is the largest youth terms of numbers. Its goal is to involve Latvian movement in Latvia, bringing together young citizens in the defence of the nation and its people from the age of 12 to 18. people. Th e National Guard has always played (at the top) The National Guard’s open competition in an essential role in the national defence system archery in June 2003. by allowing the public to be involved in national defence. Th e National Guard has established The Young National Guards at their summer camp in close co-operation with similar organisations Skulte in August 2003 abroad – the US Michigan National Guard, THE MISSION OF THE NATIONAL the UK Territorial Army, and the Home Guard GUARD IS TO: Organisations of Denmark, , , • Involve Latvian citizens in providing for and . national defence and public law and Th e development goals of the National order; Guard are to increase the combat capabilities • Ensure the combat and mobilisation readiness of its own units; of National Guard units and to improve the • Provide legal and military training for organisation of the service and the quality of its National Guard soldiers; training. A number of National Guard battalions • Provide national juridical order. will be transformed into high-readiness reserve The Special Tasks Unit THE MISSION OF THE SPECIAL TASKS UNIT IS TO: Th e Special Tasks Unit (STU) was established • Perform special operations for national in September 1991. It is specially trained to defence and security interests; • Participate in anti-terrorist operations; perform highly dangerous tasks. • Perform operations on Th e STU co-operates with Latvian security land and sea. institutions in fi ghting crime. Th e unit is prepared to perform anti-terrorist and security operations during offi cial visits by foreign offi cials. It (on the right) Soldiers from the Special Tasks participates in search and rescue operations in Unit at the NAF Information Day in Jelgava in collaboration with the Naval and Air Forces and April 2003 it trains soldiers from other NAF units. Soldiers from the Special Tasks Unit Th e Special Tasks Unit consists of specially demonstrating their abilities in Aluksne in trained professional soldiers who are specialised August 2003 in certain areas, e.g. parachutists, divers, climbers, snipers or dog handlers. Th e soldiers of the Special Tasks Unit are continuously trained to enhance their professional preparedness and are equipped with the most modern armour and equipment in order to carry out their tasks effi ciently. The Military Police for NAF subdivisions. One of their priorities is to establish an MP Th e Military Police (MP) provide military unit for participation in NATO-led international discipline and legal order. Th ey were established operations. MP soldiers have participated in the in 1997. Th e MP are responsible for public peacekeeping mission in Kosovo since 1999. In law and order during NAF events, as well as addition, the fi rst MP unit was deployed in Iraq for guarding and patrolling. Th e MP organise in 2003. MP soldiers are always well-prepared for activities to maintain military discipline, they their work on these missions, thus their input is give lectures to soldiers and organise seminars always highly appreciated.

Military Police providing an escort in July 2003 (on the left) Soldiers from the Military Police THE MISSION OF THE MILITARY POLICE IS TO: • Assist in the provision of security during military events and provide military discipline, law and order; • Guard objects as ordered by the NAF Commander; • Control military traffic, escort officials and guard military cargo. The Naval Forces various exercises with great success. during the International Mine- THE MISSION OF THE NAVAL Sweeping and Extermination Operation MCOPLAT Th e main development priorities of the NF FORCES IS TO: 2003 in the Bay of Riga in May 2003 Th e fi rst units of the Naval Forces (NF) were are to expand their activities within the Baltic • Guard the national sea border and established in 1991. Today, the NF are fully States’ Ship Squadron BALTRON and to develop defend national sea and inland waters operational and successfully perform all the tasks a Sea Surveillance System. Th e NF pay a great (except rivers and lakes); entrusted to them. deal of attention to professionally specialised • Search for explosives at sea and exterminate them; Th e NF perform mine and explosive sweeping training and English-language teaching. One of • Participate in ecological monitoring on the , as well as search and rescue the key tasks facing the NF is to develop the NF’s activities, search and rescue operations operations and ecological monitoring activities. infrastructure. at sea, as well as crisis response Th e NF have participated in international operations. NATO/ operations and The Air Forces as other high-level Latvian and foreign offi cials during their visits to Latvia and abroad. AF Th e fi rst Air Force (AF) units were established aircraft also assist other NAF units, the Interior in 1992. Ministry and the Crisis Medicine Centre. Th e AF provide for the inviolability of the One of the key priorities for the development nation’s air space by controlling it through the of the AF is their integration into the NATO ’ Joint Air Space Surveillance system Air Defence System. Th e modernisation of air BALTNET. defence equipment and the training of personnel Th e AF participate in managing natural is carried out with this purpose in mind. catastrophes and other crises. Air Force aircraft Enhancing the Air Space Surveillance System, participate in search and rescue operations over developing a search and rescue helicopter the Baltic Sea, the Bay of Riga and dry land. Th ey subdivision and personnel training are also also transport NAF soldiers and cargo to Kosovo, included on this list of priorities. provide transport for the State President, as well

THE MISSION OF THE AIR FORCES IS TO: • Provide for the control and defence of the national air space; • Participate in search and rescue The Information Centre at the Riga Airport operations; A MI-8 Air Force Helicopter used in search • Perform air transportation duties. and rescue operations The Logistics Command

Th e NAF Logistics Command (LC) was established in December 2001 with the intention of establishing a centralised NATO-compliant NAF Logistics System. By taking over all NAF logistics functions, the LC has eased the burden placed on NAF Commanders and NAF Staff at all levels, thus giving them more opportunities to focus on soldier training and maintaining the combat readiness of their units and subdivisions. Th e further development of the LC is described in the NAF Plan on Re-structuring and Improvement. Th e new structural unit is based on NATO logistics standards and terms. Th e reason for establishing a new structural unit is to ensure that the system, structure, working procedures and equipment used by logistics comply with NATO and that Latvian national resources are consumed effi ciently and appropriately. Th e development of Latvia’s host nation support capabilities and the improvement of the logistics for NAF units deployed on international peacekeeping missions are very important elements in the process of improving the logistics system and establishing a new structure.

The Baltic States’ Divers Training Centre in Liepaja THE MISSION OF THE LOGISTICS COMMAND IS TO: • Plan and perform centralised procurement; • Provide centralised logistics to NAF units; • Accrue technical equipment (TE), including creating and maintaining mobilisation reserves; • Transport NAF personnel and TE; • Perform centralised repairs of TE; • Provide medical care; • Implement maintenance and development plans for infrastructure. The Training and Doctrine unit for all fi elds of military doctrine, education Command and training. TRADOC is responsible for the organisation of the training process for NAF soldiers and military and civil personnel, as well Th e Training and Doctrine Command as for operational doctrine development. (TRADOC) was established in 2002. Its task is TRADOC participates in the elaboration to improve the military education and training of NAF combat and mobilisation documents, system of the NAF. prepares and updates manuals, training A prerequisite for well-trained offi cers, non- programmes, training standards and study commissioned offi cers and the effi cient operation literature. TRADOC ensures research in the of units is a good military education system. military fi eld. It performs training analysis and A centralised military training and doctrine control together with education planning for system improves educational planning and its offi cers and non-commissioned offi cers. Much co-ordination with the NAF thus improving the attention is paid to improving the teaching of NAF training system in general. foreign languages, especially English. TRADOC is a contact and co-ordination

The NAF Language School

Soldiers from the Unexploded Ordnance Neutralisation School during exercises in June 2003

THE MISSION OF THE TRAINING AND DOCTRINE COMMAND IS TO: • Develop and issue military manuals, training programmes, training standards and study literature; • Plan and organise the training of NAF privates, non-commissioned officers, officers and experts; • Carry out performance control and evaluation. THE MISSION OF THE NDA IS TO: • Prepare officers for service in the NAF; • Carry out the supplementary training and re-training of defence system personnel; • Carry out research in the fields of national defence and security; • Produce and publish educational materials and scientific research.

The National Defence Academy Th e National Defence Academy (NDA) was established in 1992. It is the state educational and research institution providing higher military professional education. Th e NDA began to implement NAF military education for offi cers in 2002 in order to establish a unifi ed education system for all NAF offi cers, which would ensure the quality and continuity of their military education and facilitate offi cer career planning. Cadets with Bachelor’s Degrees from any civil university can be admitted to study at the NDA. Th e knowledge obtained from civil universities is integrated into the NDA educational process. Th e NDA education programme ensures that NAF offi cers are well prepared to successfully participate in international operations and exercises together with other NATO offi cers. One of the NDA’s priorities is to develop and extend its international co-operation. Th e NDA’s Scientifi c Research Centre organises and carries out scientifi c research in the fi elds of national security, defence policy and military science for the Ministry of Defence, the NDA and the NAF. Th e NDA publishes scientifi c research, books and methodological materials, which are also used in the NDA’s own course of study.

Cadets from the National Defence Academy during exercises in May 2003 The Sports Club competitions at the national and international at the Olympic Games, as well as at World level as well. Th e main priorities of the SC are and European Championships, e.g. a SC Th e Sports Club (SC) was established in 1994 to re-construct its infrastructure and to provide representative, Aigars Fadejevs, won the Olympic and has been granted the status of National physical training to youth in order to prepare Silver medal in 50 km foot-racing at the Sidney Sports Base. them for their military service. Olympics. NAF SC coaches and instructors carry out Latvia has been a member of the fi tness training for NAF personnel. Th e club also International Military Sports Council (CISM) (on the left) The Ministry of Defence’s Sports Games in organises NAF competitions, championships since 1995. Latvian sportsmen oft en receive Adazi organised by the Sports Club in August 2003 and seminars, and ensures the fi tness of NAF fi rst prize in the sports games organised by personnel. Th e SC organises sports games and the Council. Th ey have also received awards The fi tness centre at the Sports Club

THE MISSION OF THE SPORTS CLUB IS TO: • Develop and facilitate the fitness of soldiers; • Facilitate sports development at the NAF; • Organise sports competitions and championships; • Prepare sportsmen and sports teams for participation in international competitions. The Security Service

Th e Security Service of the Parliament and State President of the Republic of Latvia is a separate unit of the NAF. Its mission is to provide security to the Parliament and State President and to guard objects, institutions and persons of national importance. Th e Security Service maintains close co-operation with the State Chancellery, the Riga Municipal Police and other municipal institutions. While providing security to high- level offi cials in Latvia and abroad, the Security Service co-ordinates its activities with the respective foreign Security Service. Security Service soldiers have demonstrated their excellent fi tness in diverse NAF sports games, where they are frequently awarded fi rst prize at individual and team sports. Th e sports competition organised by the Security Service has become a tradition and receives a huge amount of interest from the public.

The Security Service providing security during the offi cial visit of the President of the European Parliament, P. Cox, to Riga in September 2003

THE MISSION OF THE SECURITY SERVICE IS TO: • Provide security for the State President, his/her family members, the State President’s Chancellery and Residence; • Provide security to Members of Parliament, the Presidium of the Parliament and its affiliated institutions (objects); • Provide security to foreign officials and representatives of international organisations during their official visits to Latvia