Released from captivity in April 1921, Raštikis received a warm welcome in Kaunas – the train with the 17 former prisoners was greeted by guards of honor, a choir, and a banquet hosted by Minister of Defense Konstantinas Žukas.
Raštikis was assigned to the same 5th Infantry Regiment, now stationed along the Lithuania–Poland border, as a drill instructor.
He broke the same leg that was injured in 1919 – it continued to bother him for the rest of his life – and spent time recovering in a hospital.
He returned to the same duties, but due to conflicts with the regiment's commander was reassigned to the Intelligence Department of the General Staff in March 1922.
His participation in the Klaipėda Revolt of January 1923 is little understood: he did receive two state awards conferred to participants of the revolt, but his involvement is not mentioned in his extensive memoirs or known from other documents.
While working, he attended an evening school and obtained a high school diploma.
In 1925, he enrolled in the Kaunas University.

During the coup d'état of December 1926, Raštikis was promoted from the director of the Polish Section to the director of the entire Intelligence Department by Povilas Plechavičius.
The promotion was made official by a March 1927 decree of Antanas Merkys, Minister of Defense.
On August 1, 1927, he was promoted to the rank of major.
Raštikis continued his university studies and graduated with a veterinary degree in spring 1929.
In June 1929, he married Elena Marija, niece of Antanas Smetona, President of Lithuania.
The wedding took place at the St. Michael the Archangel Church, Kaunas and was officiated by Vladas Mironas.
This family connection proved instrumental in his future career.
From early 1930 to June 1932, Raštikis attended the officer's courses of the General Staff of Reichswehr (German: Führergehilfenausbildung).
He did not complete the courses, but obtained a recommendation that allowed him to work at the General Staff.
In exchange for the financial support during his studies, he had to complete six years of military duty.

Upon his return, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel (pulkininkas) and assigned to the 5th Infantry Regiment as a trainee of its commander Colonel Juozas Vidugiris.
In September 1933, Raštikis took over the command of the regiment.
At the same time he lectured at the Lithuanian officer's courses (including a course on military history) and contributed to military press becoming a member of the editorial board of Karys, the magazine of the Lithuanian military.
In early 1934, mutinous moods spread in the military and commanding officers were reshuffled in an attempt to forestall further disturbances.
Raštikis became the commander of the 3rd Infantry Division stationed in Šiauliai.
On June 7, 1934, General Petras Kubiliūnas, commander of the General Staff, and other members of the Iron Wolf organization attempted a coup d'état against President Smetona.
In an attempt to find trustworthy and reliable officers, Smetona replaced Zenonas Gerulaitis with Raštikis as the director of the General Staff Directorate.
At the same time, Jonas Jackus, the new commander of the General Staff, was ill and resigned in September 1934.
Raštikis was promoted in his place.
He was also promoted to colonel (pulkininkas) in November 1934.
In his memoirs, Raštikis later wrote that he was not satisfied with these promotions as he felt he did not have enough education and command experience.
Released from captivity in April 1921, Raštikis received a warm welcome in Kaunas – the train with the 17 former prisoners was greeted by guards of honor, a choir, and a banquet hosted by Minister of Defense Konstantinas Žukas. Raštikis was assigned to the same 5th Infantry Regiment, now stationed along the Lithuania–Poland border, as a drill instructor. He broke the same leg that was injured in 1919 – it continued to bother him for the rest of his life – and spent time recovering in a hospital. He returned to the same duties, but due to conflicts with the regiment's commander was reassigned to the Intelligence Department of the General Staff in March 1922. His participation in the Klaipėda Revolt of January 1923 is little understood: he did receive two state awards conferred to participants of the revolt, but his involvement is not mentioned in his extensive memoirs or known from other documents. While working, he attended an evening school and obtained a high school diploma. In 1925, he enrolled in the Kaunas University.
During the coup d'état of December 1926, Raštikis was promoted from the director of the Polish Section to the director of the entire Intelligence Department by Povilas Plechavičius. The promotion was made official by a March 1927 decree of Antanas Merkys, Minister of Defense. On August 1, 1927, he was promoted to the rank of major. Raštikis continued his university studies and graduated with a veterinary degree in spring 1929. In June 1929, he married Elena Marija, niece of Antanas Smetona, President of Lithuania. The wedding took place at the St. Michael the Archangel Church, Kaunas and was officiated by Vladas Mironas. This family connection proved instrumental in his future career. From early 1930 to June 1932, Raštikis attended the officer's courses of the General Staff of Reichswehr (German: Führergehilfenausbildung). He did not complete the courses, but obtained a recommendation that allowed him to work at the General Staff. In exchange for the financial support during his studies, he had to complete six years of military duty.
Upon his return, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel (pulkininkas) and assigned to the 5th Infantry Regiment as a trainee of its commander Colonel Juozas Vidugiris. In September 1933, Raštikis took over the command of the regiment. At the same time he lectured at the Lithuanian officer's courses (including a course on military history) and contributed to military press becoming a member of the editorial board of Karys, the magazine of the Lithuanian military. In early 1934, mutinous moods spread in the military and commanding officers were reshuffled in an attempt to forestall further disturbances. Raštikis became the commander of the 3rd Infantry Division stationed in Šiauliai. On June 7, 1934, General Petras Kubiliūnas, commander of the General Staff, and other members of the Iron Wolf organization attempted a coup d'état against President Smetona. In an attempt to find trustworthy and reliable officers, Smetona replaced Zenonas Gerulaitis with Raštikis as the director of the General Staff Directorate. At the same time, Jonas Jackus, the new commander of the General Staff, was ill and resigned in September 1934. Raštikis was promoted in his place. He was also promoted to colonel (pulkininkas) in November 1934. In his memoirs, Raštikis later wrote that he was not satisfied with these promotions as he felt he did not have enough education and command experience.
Stasys Raštikis