The Lithuanian Armed Forces’ Military Commandants‘ Command receives a significant number of inquiries from young people, their parents, and relatives regarding opportunities to enroll in educational institutions for students who will graduate from school in 2026 and wish to serve in the military or are included on the conscription list. While the final decision must be made individually by each young person, we invite you to consider several important aspects.
First of all, compulsory initial military service is performed only by individuals who are deemed fit for service based on their health condition. Fitness is assessed individually by medical specialists of the Military Medical Examination Commission. Therefore, situations may arise where not everyone who wishes to serve is able to do so due to health-related reasons.
Second, given the large number of young people who choose to perform military service voluntarily, situations may occur in which available positions in specific military units are already filled by those who applied earlier. Although priority is given to volunteers, the intake capacity of each military unit is limited, meaning that not everyone may be assigned to their preferred unit.
When planning whether to enroll in an educational institution in September 2026 or to complete military service first, it is important to consider the following options:
First, students who enroll in a higher education institution in the autumn of 2026 have the right to take academic leave in order to complete compulsory initial military service. This is stipulated in Article 62 of the Law on Higher Education and Research of the Republic of Lithuania. During academic leave, students retain their student status and, upon returning after service, have the right to continue their studies. For those studying in state-funded places, the funded study place is also preserved.
Second, for young people who decide to complete compulsory initial military service first and apply to educational institutions afterwards, it should be noted that upon completion of service, an additional 0.5 points are added to the admission score. This is established by an order of the Minister of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania, which regulates the formation of competitive admission rankings for state-funded places in short-cycle, first-cycle, and integrated study programs.
Each decision—whether to enroll immediately or to complete military service first—is a personal one. The most important thing is to make this decision with full access to the necessary information and a clear understanding of the current situation.
Lietuviškai