About the National Defence Academy
APPLY AND STUDY IN DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT
We are the only academy in Latvia that:
• Prepares professional officers and studies are paid by the state
• Provides a job after graduation
• Pays monthly salary and provides social guarantees
• Develop skills together with foreign experts
• Teaches to achieve the goal, and it is not tiresome with us.
If you have any questions about admission, contact:
• call: 1835 or write: studijas@mil.lv
Fill in the Study Application (only in Latvian)
NATIONAL DEFENCE ACADEMY OF LATVIA
EDUCATION FOR MILITARY CAREER AND LIFE
OUR VALUES:
Study Opportunities and Admission
Selection, Admission, and Training Phase for Cadet Candidates
July 6 – August 30, NDAL
During the selection, admission, and preparation phase for cadet candidates, candidates’ physical fitness, health, psychological resilience, discipline, and motivation are assessed, along with other relevant formalities.
Opportunities for High School Students
The National Defence Academy of Latvia offers several events for high school students to explore National Defence Academy study programs, environment, and infrastructure, which can help them choose their future career path.
International cooperation
Heavy Bombardier Operator Course
June 22-26, Ukraine
The course is designed to provide participants with an understanding of the capabilities, limitations, and operational considerations of heavy unmanned aerial vehicle systems in today’s operational environment. Four NDAL representatives, including instructors and trainers, will participate in the course.
Historic NATO Naval Cooperation Flag – Gift to the National Defence Academy
The flag was gifted to the National Defence Academy in 2023 during the visit of U.S. cadets. It had belonged to U.S. Navy Captain (Ret.) Stephen H. Edwards, an officer of NATO’s Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) and commander of the ship “USS Furer DEG-6”.
The flag was presented after joint allied service as a symbol of friendship and was kept for more than 50 years in the family archive. It symbolizes NATO unity and allied cooperation.
Courses and Training
Combat Skills Maintenance “Summer Field Camp” (“Burning Sand 2026”)
June 25 – July 25, Ādaži Training Area
“Summer Field Camp” is one of the courses in the National Defence Academy (NDAL) study program for NDAL cadets within the Tactics module, which is divided into four levels and serves as the basis for NDAL cadet training and collaboration. The objective of the training is to provide cadets with the necessary knowledge, improve their combat skills and tactical abilities in field conditions, with an emphasis on tactical and combat conditions that are as realistic as possible, to strengthen cooperation, and to maintain the field combat skills necessary for a professional soldier to perform their basic duties.
Events
Graduation Ceremony for the Land Tactical Operations Course
July 10, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., NDAL Klinson Hall
The Land Tactical Operations Course has resumed after a one-year hiatus and is being successfully conducted. Lecturers include officers from the National Armed Forces of Latvia as well as NATO officers from Europe. The course is conducted in English, and participants include officers and instructors from NATO member countries.
NDAL Student Council
Forum "CUBE" Seminar
August 13–16, Lode Manor, Cēsis Municipality
On July 25–26, a "CUBE" Meet and Greet event will take place in Riga, featuring cadets from the National Defence Academy (NDAL) who are members of the NDAL Student Council. "CUBE" is a place where cadets meet and collaborate with student councils from other higher education institutions. For participants, it is a unique opportunity to build valuable contacts and learn about various higher education institutions, while for organizers, it is a chance to test and develop their team’s skills by collaborating with representatives from other universities.
Security Research and Innovation Center
The book “Democratic Resilience in the Baltics, Vol. 2.”
The book “Democratic Resilience in the Baltics, Vol. 2” (Springer Publishing House) is published as part of a joint cooperation project between the military academies of the three Baltic states. Researchers from the National Defence Academy of Latvia Centre for Security Research and Innovation co-authored “Democratic Resilience in the Baltics, Vol. 2”. Senior researchers Ieva Bērziņa and Jānis Bērziņš, as well as researcher Gita Leitlande, contributed chapters examining the resilience of the Baltic states. The book gathers perspectives from Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia on contemporary threats to democracy and solutions, as part of the Baltic Security and Defence series. The Open Access book is available for free download.
Library
New books
The library has received a donation of books from the United States (43 boxes of books). The library's collection will be gradually supplemented with donated books covering topics such as the Cold War era and the history of espionage. The publications examine the activities of Western and Soviet intelligence services (including the Central Intelligence Agency and the Committee for State Security), their historical development, and specific operations. Some books are dedicated to the biographies of notable spies, the role of women in intelligence, special units and covert operations, as well as the phenomenon of ninjutsu. The collection is supplemented by works of fiction about war and espionage, as well as publications on the techniques and equipment used in espionage. The books are from the personal library of a Latvian émigré, which was built up over many years.