2025-10-16
The National Audit Office audit Administration of the Lithuanian Armed Forces conscription and recruitment revealed deficiencies in the selection of candidates for voluntary non-regular military service and in the management of the active personnel reserve.
The regional branches of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Military Conscription and Recruitment Service receive five times more applications for voluntary non-regular military service than they can accommodate. Despite the high level of interest, a large number of soldiers also voluntarily leave this service. Those who leave on their own initiative account for as much as 63% of all dismissed soldiers.
When accepting candidates for voluntary non-regular military service, their education, health, previous service, and participation in the activities of the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union are assessed. Physical fitness is also taken into account. If candidates receive the same competitive score, priority is given to those who submitted their application to serve earlier.
The audit found that these selection assessment criteria applied in practice are insufficient for selecting motivated candidates for voluntary non-regular military service.
“The strength of the military begins with a motivated individual's decision to serve. Therefore, it is necessary to have a selection process that would help identify individuals who are firmly committed to defending their country. The current selection criteria do not sufficiently demonstrate how motivated the candidates are. It is necessary to consider additional indicators that would help to better assess their motivation, rather than just their physical data or education,” says Auditor General Irena Segalovičienė.
The audit also revealed that the Lithuanian Armed Forces do not have up-to-date information on the education and competences acquired by soldiers in the active military reserve. At the end of 2024, there were more than 31,000 conscripts in the active personnel reserve. In 2023–2024, approximately 96% of the planned number of conscripts were invited to participate in exercises and training.
According to the auditors, the Lithuanian Armed Forces do not have information about the education and specialties acquired by each of them after completing their service. This lack of information limits the effectiveness of staffing and inviting soldiers to exercises and training, as it is not possible to specifically call up those reservists who have the necessary civilian specialties that are important to the army. In addition, this would also allow the army to recruit personnel from conscripts included in the reserve.
Summary of the public audit report: Administration of the Lithuanian Armed Forces conscription and recruitment.
Photo: Frame from the video of the 2025 exercise Dragūno įniršis, producer: Senior Sergeant G. Pūžė.