Raivo Grablovskis was 11 years old when he moved to Turin, Italy. His mother was already working there, and Raivo began attending school. He learned Italian within two to three months; his teachers were very supportive and worked with him individually. Turin is located in northern Italy, 40 kilometers from the French border.
In Italy, he completed secondary school with a specialization in computer science and software. After qualifying in this field at the age of 19, Raivo went on to work in logistics and management roles for various local companies. Eventually, he volunteered for the State Defence Service, was accepted, and began his service this summer. Raivo Grablovskis is now 26 years old.
Raivo arrived in Riga on July 16 of this year, spent the night at the airport, and headed to his service on July 17. He had applied voluntarily and successfully passed the selection process. Raivo had long wished to return to Latvia, but he did not know where to start, where to go, or what to do—his grandparents had already passed away. When Raivo heard that Latvian citizens up to the age of 27 could voluntarily sign up for the State Defence Service, he saw it as a great opportunity to return to Latvia.
Raivo recounts: “In Italy, I had a job, friends, and a girlfriend. I lived in a distinctly Italian environment, immersed in the Italian mentality. I spoke only Italian. I was even planning to build my own house, yet I couldn’t shake an inner feeling that, while Turin was supposedly my home, it didn’t truly feel like it. In Italy, I met people from all over the world, but I missed my own land and fellow Latvians. There wasn’t a single person nearby with whom I could speak Latvian. Throughout my life, the only reason I had ever visited Latvia was because my passport had expired and I needed a new one. Gradually, my inner state in Italy became more complex—it’s hard to explain simply. The only time I encountered Latvians while living in Italy was on a bus—they were tourists. Of course, I would also hear Latvians at airports. I increasingly longed to live in Latvia. But I was afraid to just return—without a good command of the Latvian language and with no idea where to start or what the future would hold. The opportunity to join the State Defence Service gave me the confidence that returning was actually possible.”
Raivo Grabovskis has completed three months of training within the State Defence Service, during which he received significant help and support from his instructors. Raivo has now been assigned to a unit where he will serve for another 11 months; he has already applied to continue his service in the professional military—the National Armed Forces. More information on how to apply for the State Defence Service can be found at www.klustikaravirs.lv.
Raivo says: “Taking the solemn soldier’s oath at the Freedom Monument—pledging to fulfill a soldier’s duties and defend my country—has been the biggest and most significant day of my life so far. It evoked deep emotions. To young Latvians living abroad who are planning to return home, I would say: do not be afraid to take this step—apply for the State Defence Service. It is an excellent opportunity to return, a way to immediately integrate into a structured system, and a chance to speak the Latvian language. For me, military service represents a future prospect.”
For information regarding a return to Riga or the Riga region, please contact the remigration coordinator, Daina Šulca.
Tel: +371 26614179
Email: koordinators@rpr.gov.lv
For questions regarding application to the State Defence Service, please contact the State Defence Service Department of the Ministry of Defence.
Tel: +371 67335009
Email: VAD@klustikaravirs.lv
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