Daudznacionālās tikšanās laikā pārrunā NATO bataljona lieluma kaujas grupas gatavību ierasties Latvijā

On October 25 Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Raimonds Graube informed the National Security Council about his application to President Raimonds Vējonis. In the application Lt.Gen. Graube expressed his intent to retire before the end of the term of office.

National Armed Forces Law (section 14, paragrahp 1) states that The Commander of the National Armed Forces shall be confirmed in office for a period of four years and removed from office by the Saeima on the basis of a proposal from the President.

Lt.Gen. Graube (brigadier general at that time) became Chief of Defence of Latvia on July 6, 2010. His candidacy was discussed in the National Security Council meeting on March 17, 2010. Saeima confirmed him in office on April 15, 2010.

It is planned that Lt.Gen. Graube will continue to serve as the Chief of Defence of Latvia till the beginning of 2017, when he turns 60 and Saeima confirms in the office his successor.

National Armed Forces Law (section 13, paragraph 1) states that the management of the National Armed Forces shall be exercised by the Commander of the National Armed Forces who is subordinated to the Minister for Defence. The Commander of the National Armed Forces is the most senior military official in the State. The Commander of the National Armed Forces shall have a deputy who shall fulfil his duties in the Commander’s absence. The deputy of the Commander of the National Armed Forces is the Chief of the Joint Headquarters of the National Armed Forces. The Chief of the Joint Headquarters is Brigadier General Leonīds Kalniņš.

Military Service Law, section 13 states that the maximum age of a soldier for the performance of military service for higher officers in professional service is 60 years.

Lt.Gen Graube ( Major General at the time) served as the Chief of Defence also from 1999 to 2003. Chief of defense is appointed for a term of four years.