Development of Skrunda military base for defense service personnel
The Latvian Ministry of Defense has unveiled ambitious plans for the future of the "Mezžaine" base, located at the former Soviet army site in Skrunda. According to the plans, the base will undergo significant renovations and will be home to 600 VAD soldiers after 2025.
The renovations include the refurbishment of former barracks buildings, a gym, and a canteen. These improvements aim to provide better living conditions for the soldiers and the additional personnel, such as officers and instructors, who will be stationed at the base to train the VAD soldiers.
Currently, some of the army's camp buildings remain at the "Mezžaine" base, a relic of the Russian army's withdrawal in the 90s. However, the base lacks heating and accessible water, making it unsuitable for long-term stays. The Ministry's plans aim to address these issues and transform the base into a modern training facility.
In addition to the "Mezžaine" base, the Ministry plans to deploy soldiers to multiple locations in Latvia. The VAD soldiers will also be deployed to the Lužnava base and the Alūksne base. A total of 550 VAD soldiers will be deployed to the Luźnava base, and 150 to the Alūksne base, according to the Ministry's plans.
The Ministry has taken over the "Mezžaine" base from the Skrunda municipality since January 2018. Currently, soldiers and national guardsmen are staying at the base for training purposes. The Ministry's plans for the base also include the deployment of additional personnel to train VAD soldiers.
Recruits volunteering for VAD can indicate their preferences, and, as far as possible, they are sent to the desired location. The planned capacity after 2025 will be 600 VAD soldiers at the "Mezžaine" base, but the total number of deployed soldiers will be higher due to the additional personnel.
On November 7, the Ministry presented plans to deploy 600 VAD soldiers to the "Mezžaine" base after 2025. The base will also accommodate 28 officers and teachers to train the VAD soldiers. However, it is not specified how many soldiers will be deployed to the other bases.
It is unclear if the renovations also apply to the other bases, but the Ministry plans to deploy soldiers to multiple locations in Latvia. The total number of deployed soldiers will be higher due to the additional personnel, but it is not specified how many personnel will be deployed to the other bases.
The Ministry's plans for the "Mezžaine" base mark a significant step towards modernising Latvia's military infrastructure and strengthening its defence capabilities. The renovated base, along with the other planned deployments, will provide better training facilities and living conditions for the VAD soldiers and personnel.
