From Easter 1924 until Easter 1928, Lent attended the local public primary school at Pyrehne. His father and oldest brother Werner then tutored him at home in preparation for the entrance examination at the public secondary school at Landsberg. In February 1933, Helmut joined the "Jungvolk", the junior branch of the Hitler Youth. From March 1933, he acted as a youth platoon leader, or "Jungzugführer" (1 March 1933 – 1 April 1935) and flag-bearer, or "Fähnleinführer" (1 April 1935 – 9 November 1935) until he left the "Jungvolk" to prepare for his "diploma" examination. Helmut passed his graduation examinations at the age of seventeen on 12 December 1935. On 2 February 1936, he began the eight-week compulsory National Labor Service (Reichsarbeitsdienst) at Mohrin. He joined the military service in the Luftwaffe as a "Fahnenjunker" on 1 April 1936, against the wishes of his father.