When Germany suspended conscription in 2011, it seemed to spell the end of the people-based armed forces. For historical reasons, Germany had been perhaps the most ardent believer on a non-professional army. And there it was, returning to exactly that. (The result, one hastens to add, are armed forces that are not just professional but extremely respectful of every aspect of democracy.) So when even Germany decided that there was not enough reason to maintain armed forces focused on territorial defense—as conscription armies are—it was a sign that the era of the swift, mission-based armed forces, whose primary mission would be to assist in foreign hotspots such as Afghanistan, had arrived.

But last week the government of Lithuania announced that it will reactivate conscription, which the country abolished in 2008. In making the announcement, President Dalia Grybauskaite referred to the “the current geopolitical environment” in the Baltic states. Latvia, I understand from sources, is considering a similar move, while Estonia never abolished conscription in the first place. Even in Sweden, which ended conscription only five years ago, a growing chorus is now calling for the reintroduction of military service. Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist plans to appoint a commission to study the matter.

But no matter how many young men the Lithuanian armed forces trained, they’d quickly be overcome by an adversary like Russia. And with NATO support guaranteed, no small country really needs to worry about large-scale military training of young men (and women). In that sense, Lithuania’s move is primarily symbolic: Conscriptions gives citizens a role in the developments around them and shows potential invaders that the country, small though it may be, is not defeatist in the face of an overwhelming adversary. Teenagers not just in Lithuania may soon find themselves awaiting not letters not just from their chosen universities but from the army as well.