GWhen it comes to defending her country, Smiltė Juraitė has come up with a catchy metaphor. “Even an eyelash in the eye, no matter how small and thin, can drive a person insane,” says the shooter. “Each of us is a tiny lash, but if we get in the eye of an evil enemy, maybe we can make a difference.”
Juraitė is a member of the “Lietuvos Šaulių Sąjunga”. Founded in 1919, the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union is a state-sponsored, voluntary paramilitary organization that provides military training to civilians. February 24, 2022 marked a new era, also for the Baltic States. After Russia invaded Ukraine, many Lithuanians asked themselves how they could contribute to the security of their country – and decided to join the Riflemen’s Union.
At the end of 2021, the Union had more than 10,000 members. Normally 500 to 600 people join the Union each year. Over the past eight months, more than 4,000 members have joined. Just over half of the approximately 14,000 members are older than 18, and a third are women. Not every member is a rifleman, some are involved in sports or culture.
Juraitė applied for membership before February 24th. Coincidentally, she wore her uniform for the first time on the very day of the Russian attack on Ukraine. “I felt endless excitement and a great responsibility. It was a feeling I’ve never felt before,” she says. She joined because of her family background. The Soviet Union occupied Lithuania on June 15, 1940, imprisoned and deported around 280,000 Lithuanian citizens. Among them were Juraitė’s grandfather and her husband’s parents.
Not just phrases
Juraitė is convinced that the best way to strengthen the country’s defense and resilience is through the Riflemen’s Union. The association promotes the nation’s sense of unity and brings civil society together. For Juraitė, these aren’t just empty phrases. She wants to be a role model for her children so that they never question what Lithuania “gave” them. They should ask, “How can I be useful to my country?”
One of the new women in the Union is Alina Sinicė. On the day the Russians invaded Ukraine, she and her son were visiting a book fair in Vilnius. There she got into conversation with members of the Union. “The war made me wonder whether I would be able to react properly and take care of families and neighbors in an emergency,” says Sinicė.
And she realized that she lacked the necessary knowledge and skills to do so. That same day she decided to join. She wants to be involved in educational programs and convey the importance of the Union to children in schools and kindergartens.
“It is important to become better, to help others, to inspire each other and to raise a new generation that loves their country,” says Sinicė. “I see that in the Ukrainian people. I think it also shows how strong our nation is.” Her husband Vaidas followed her example and also joined.
“We cannot run away from the dangers”
The Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union trains its members in armed and non-violent civil resistance to ensure public safety and defend the independence and integrity of Lithuania. In the event of an attack, the Union would support the Lithuanian armed forces with combat units and help protect critical infrastructure. The members only pay a small annual fee of around twelve euros, but have to pay for purchases such as their uniforms.
Anyone who joined the Union before February 24th has changed their role perception since then. Rifleman Emilė Balodytė, for example, now feels more strongly the importance of her mission and the need to continue on the path she has taken. Russia has proved that its imperialist ambitions have not disappeared. The dangers are real. “We can’t run away from them or try to ignore them.” The members learned practical things, “but God forbid we ever have to apply them,” says Balodytė.
Since its establishment, women have played an important role in the Lithuanian Rifle Union. In the past, they were more involved in charitable activities, setting up playgrounds for children and offering training and medical courses. Today, women are bolder when it comes to becoming a rifleman, says Dovilė Pukertaitė, who writes for the Rifle Association’s magazine Trimitas. More and more women went into the forest and did the exercises. There they learn the same as the men: tactics and shooting.
