Lithuania cancels deferment for university students and will draft them immediately after school

The Lithuanian parliamentary committee allowed conscription immediately after school graduation and approved the idea of the Defense Ministry to cancel the deferment for students.

The Lithuanian publication Delfi reported on this.

“A student who graduates from school should know that they are already on the draft list, there should be a minimum number of exceptions (…). Not all students will be able to serve in the military in this or that order during their studies, and there will be many conflict situations. We propose to draft after school, making an exception for a small group,” Artūras Žukauskas, the committee’s chairman, said.

A month ago, the Committee on Education of Lithuania proposed not to interfere with the learning process of current students, and to draft young people after school with only a few exceptions: postponing service for very bright students, athletes, and artists.

The parliamentary committee members noted that such exceptions are a social disconnect among young people. The committee did not approve the proposals of the Lithuanian Students’ Union, Vilnius University, and the Students’ Representation not to draft students currently enrolled in higher education.

Minister of Defense Laurynas Kasčiūnas opposed the decision to draft students.

In December 2023, the Lithuanian parliament approved the reform of the Ministry of Defense’s compulsory service in the first reading. Its goal is to increase the number of conscripts and accelerate the training of the reserve.

According to the new rules, there will be no deferral for university students, but they can choose to serve in the young officers’ courses or on weekends in the volunteer forces.

Students will be able to postpone their studies for 9 months and serve in the military. One of the main changes in the conscription reform is the possibility to reduce the time of service, which will be 9 months.

However, considering the needs of the Lithuanian military, the service may be reduced to 6 months, and in some cases 3 months. According to the amendments, young people aged 18-21 will be drafted into the military, and it is proposed that 18-19-year-olds be drafted immediately after graduation.

In January, it was reported that the State Defence Council of Lithuania approved the increase in the number of Armed Forces and the number of conscripts.

The draft amendments to the Law “On the Basic Structure of the Armed Forces and the Limit of the Armed Forces” stipulate that the total number of soldiers in the Armed Forces will increase from 20,840 to 29,380.

It is also reported that the maximum number of persons subject to conscription will increase from 4,240 to 7,040. The innovation should come into force after approval by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.