[1][2] In January 1919, Rėklaitis joined the Lithuanian Armed Forces as a volunteer and participated in the Lithuanian Wars of Independence with the Russian SFSR in Kurkliai – Panevėžys operation and Zarasai operation, in 1920 – with the Polish Armed Forces.

[2] In 1922, Rėklaitis graduated from the higher officers' courses at the War School of Kaunas and contributed to the drafting of the Statute of the Infantry Order (Part 2, 1922–23).

[2] In 1938, Rėklaitis was awarded the military rank of division general and served as chief of supply of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.

[1][2] He was appointed Chief of the Lithuanian State Commission to coordinate all matters related to the placement of Soviet crews.

[8] The Soviet-side had claims to expand its bases widely throughout Lithuania, as well as in Kaunas and Šiauliai districts; however, the Lithuanian State Commission was principled and achieved that the headquarters of the Red Army would not be located in Vilnius but in Naujoji Vilnia and that at least half of the entire Red Army forces would be kept in the Vilnius Region.

[8] In January 1940, Rėklaitis was appointed a representative of the Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania to maintain relations with the Red Army.

[8] Unaware of Vyacheslav Molotov threats to Merkys and the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, Rėklaitis did not immediately understand the real Kremlin's intentions.

[1][2] Rėklaitis was appointed as a member of the National Defense Council and chief of staff of the Armed Forces by the Provisional Government of Lithuania.