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The Swedish Armed Forces (Swedish: Försvarsmakten), is a Government agency responsible for the operation of the armed forces of Sweden. The primary peace time task of the agency is to train and deploy military forces abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to defend the country in the event of war. There are three service branches: Army, Air Force and Navy, all reporting to the Supreme Commander (Överbefälhavaren, ÖB) who is the highest ranking officer in the country. He, in turn, reports to the Ministry of Defence. Sweden's military is built on conscription, and until the end of the Cold War nearly all males reaching the age of military service were conscripted. In recent years, the number of conscripted males has been reduced dramatically, while the number of female volunteers has increased slightly. Recruitment has generally shifted towards finding the most motivated recruits, rather than solely on the otherwise most fit for service, although there are exceptions. The government has revealed plans to abolish conscription altogether within a few years. Units from the Swedish armed forces are currently deployed in Afghanistan and Kosovo. Moreover, Sweden contributes with military observers in various countries and serve as the lead nation for an EU Battle Group approximately once every three years.
[edit] DoctrineThe Armed Forces have four main tasks[2]:
Sweden aims to have the option of remaining neutral in case of proximate war.[3] However, Sweden cooperates with a number of foreign countries. As a member of the European Union, Sweden is acting as the lead nation for EU Battlegroups[4] and also has a close cooperation, including joint exercises, with NATO through its membership in Partnership for Peace and Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council.[5] In 2008 a partnership was initiated between the nordic countries to, among other things, increase the capability of joint action.[6][7] As a response to the expanded military cooperation the defence proposition of 2009 stated that Sweden won't remain passive if a nordic country or a member of the European Union is attacked.[8] Recent political decisions have strongly emphasized the will to participate in international operations, to the point where this has become the main short-term goal of training and equipment acquisition.[9][10][11] [edit] Personnel[edit] IntroductionIn 1975 the total number of conscripts was 45,000. By 2003 it was down to 15,000. After the Defence Proposition 2004, the number of troops in training will decrease even further to between 5,000 and 10,000 each year, which emphasizes the need to recruit only the soldiers later prepared to volunteer for international service. As of 2007, the government has discussed dropping the peacetime draft altogether. Today, the total manpower available to the Swedish Armed Forces when fully mobilized is said to consist of about 321,500. This stands in sharp contrast to the 1980s, before the fall of the Soviet Union, when Sweden could gather up to 800,000 men when total mobilization had been declared; but the importance placed on defensive spending during the Cold War is perhaps best reflected by the fact that Sweden in the late 1950s ran the world's fourth-largest air force. This is now far from being the case. Indeed, after rapid draw-downs in the mid-to-late 1990s, there are now more admirals and generals in the Swedish Armed Forces force than there are ships and artillery pieces, respectively, for them to command. As of 2006, wartime placement had been resumed, after being scrapped in 2003. At present Sweden can mobilize a force consisting of two mechanized battalions and some auxiliary companies after 90 days of mobilization (see military units below) and 37,000 Home Guard/Defense. Full mobilisation is assumed to take one year (although no mobilisation readiness exists), and the formations assumed are of battalion level size. With the Home Guard being available within 12-72 hours.[12] [edit] Criticism and researchIn an article based on his doctoral dissertation, Dr. Karl Ydén of the University of Göteborg described the Swedish Armed Forces as foremost a peacetime career system for desk officers, while questioning its drive to let actual military operations guide organizational development and use of resources. [13][14] [edit] Distribution of personnelThis is the distribution of personnel vs rank as reported by the Swedish Armed Forces in their annual report 2009-01-01: The mean average age for employed officers and NOC equivalents is 42.2 and for reserve officers 47.7. Ref: [15]
[edit] TrainingOfficers are trained in the different combat schools and also at the Military Academy Karlberg which has establishments at Karlberg Palace in Stockholm, and in Halmstad. Conscripts are trained at the different units of the three branches. [edit] Harmonization with other countriesSweden has adjusted its rank system through a series of reforms. The 1983 NBO reform saw employed personnel such as NCOs, WOs, and regular officers merged into a single corps called professional officers (YO). In a 2009 reversal of this reform, officers will be split into a NCO corps (called "specialistofficerare") and an officers corps respectively. With the new system, the traditional name Furir has been changed to Sergeant and Sergeant is now Förste Sergeant. However, they remain OR-5 and OR-6 respectively. A typical Swedish rifle squad consists of between 6 to 8 men (depending on role and type). A rifle squad can be commanded by either an OR-4 Korpral (Corporal) or a OR-6 Förste Sergeant (Sergeant 1 class). Specialized squads are led by an OR-6 Förste Sergeant (Sergeant 1 class). An OR-6 will have graduated from a 18 month training programme after completing either 11 months basic training or a 6 month aspirant/candidate programme. An OR-4 will have been selected for command duties during the 11 months of basic training. HKV-PERS of the Swedish Armed Forces have adopted a STANAG perspective, and attempted to use a terminology as close to other European nations as possble, mainly that of the United Kingdom. Inevitably, this has led to certain confusion. As an example, the United Kingdom does not have other ranks at level OR-5, but many other countries do, such as the United States where an OR-5 is a Sergeant. In Canada an OR-5 is a Master Corporal. [edit] RanksFor details regarding ranks: Military ranks of the Swedish armed forces. [edit] Military unitsThe table describes briefly what Sweden currently has deployed abroad and may mobilize within one year. Ready-within-one-year means that there is equipment but no currently contracted personnel. Mobilizing units outside of the R10-R90 readiness range will entail placing units on a wartime footing, wherein officers would have to leave their current assignments in order to command their units.
References: [1] International troops [edit] Nordic Battle GroupNordic Battle Group is a temporary formation of the Swedish Armed Forces, tasked as one of the EU Battle Groups. The next period in which Sweden will be lead nation for a Battle Group is during the first half of 2011. [edit] International units/deploymentsCurrently, Sweden has deployed military forces in Afghanistan with the International Security Assistance Force and in Kosovo as a part of the multi-national Kosovo Force as well as a a naval force about to be deployed to the gulf of Aden as a part of recently established EU anti-piracy mission named Operation Atalanta . Military observers from Sweden have been sent to a large number of countries, including Georgia, North Korea, Lebanon, Israel and Sri Lanka and Sweden also participates with staff officers to missions in Sudan and Chad [edit] Organization   [edit] Armed Forces HeadquartersThe Armed Forces Headquarters is the highest level of command in the Swedish Armed Forces.[16] It is led by the Supreme Commander with a civilian Director General as his deputy and separated into several divisions with different responsibilities (e.g. the Military Intelligence and Security Service). Overall, the Armed Forces Headquarters have about 1000 employees, including civilian personnel.[17][18] [edit] Branches
[edit] SchoolsSome of the schools listed below answer to other units, listed under the various branches of the Armed Forces.
[edit] Centres
[edit] Government agencies reporting to the Ministry of DefenceMain article: Government agencies in Sweden
[edit] Voluntary Defence Organizations
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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