Norwegian Armed Forces


The Norwegian Armed Forces are the armed forces responsible for the defence of Norway. It consists of five branches, the Norwegian Army, the Royal Norwegian Navy, which includes the Coast Guard, the Royal Norwegian Air Force, the Home Guard, and Norwegian Cyber Defence Force as well as several joint departments.
The military force in peacetime is around 17,185 personnel including military and civilian staff, and around 70,000 in total with the current military personnel, conscripts and the Norwegian Home Guard in full mobilization.
Among European NATO members, the military expenditure of US$7.2 billion is the highest per capita.

History

An organised military was first assembled in Norway in the 9th century and its early focus was naval warfare. The army was created in 1628 as part of Denmark–Norway, followed by two centuries of regular wars. A Norwegian military was established in 1814, but the military did not see combat until the German occupation of Norway in 1940. Norway abandoned its position as a neutral country in 1949 to become a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The Cold War saw a large build-up of air stations and military bases, especially in Northern Norway. Since the 2000s, the military has transformed from a focus on defence from an invasion to a mobile force for international missions.
Norway had its combat units withdraw from the War in Afghanistan in 2021. During the war, Norwegian combat forces had been on loan to ISAF, and later on loan to Resolute Support Mission.

Organisation

The formal commander-in-chief is King Harald V; however, the de facto supreme decision-making is made by the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister. The Chief of Defence is the professional head and leader of the armed forces, and is the principal military adviser to the Minister of Defence. The Chief of Defence and his staff is located at Akershus Fortress in Oslo, while the Norwegian Joint Headquarters, responsible for commanding operations, is located in Bodø. The main naval base is Haakonsvern in Bergen Municipality, the main army camps are located at Setermoen in Bardu Municipality, Bardufoss in Målselv Municipality, and Rena in Åmot Municipality. The main air station is Ørland Main Air Station in Ørland Municipality.
Military branches :
Other main structures include:
  • Defence Staff Norway in Oslo acts as the staff of the Chief of Defence. It is headed by a three-star general or admiral. DEFSTNOR assigns priorities, manages resources, provides force generation and support activities. Each of the four branches of defence is headed by a two-star general/admiral who are subordinate to DEFSTNOR.
  • Norwegian Joint Headquarters located at Reitan, close to Bodø has operational control of Norwegian armed forces worldwide 24/7. It is headed by the Supreme Commander Norwegian Forces – a three-star general or admiral.
  • Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation at Kolsås in Bærum Municipality is responsible for engineering, procurement, investment, supply, information and communications technology. It is also responsible for the maintenance, repair and storage of materials.

    Conscription

Conscription was constitutionally established on 12 April 1907 with Kongeriket Norges Grunnlov § 119. In earlier times, up until at least the early 2000s, all men aged 19–44 were subject to mandatory service, with good reasons required to avoid becoming drafted. Norway currently employs a weak form of mandatory military service for men and women. For example, in 2010, while 62,873 men and women were called to be examined as persons eligible for military service, only 9,631 were actually conscripted. In practice, all recruits deemed eligible for conscription are not forced to serve, with only those who are judged the most motivated actually being selected.
Since 1985, women have been able to enlist for voluntary service as regular recruits. On 14 June 2013, the Norwegian Parliament voted to extend conscription to women. In 2015 conscription was extended to women making Norway the first NATO member and first European country to make national service compulsory for both men and women. In 2020, women made up one-third of new conscripts.
There is a right of conscientious objection.
Students of professional subjects may serve their conscription after completing a six weeks course, receiving lieutenant ranking when they begin their service. This arrangement is called Conscript Academic Officer.
In 2020, the media said that "several soldiers said that they were informed about additional four months of service; the information was given after military service had started".

Structure

Joint

From 1 August 2023 the Norwegian Army has this structure:
The Norwegian Special Operations Command , was formed on 1 January 2014 by bringing the Special Operations Command, The army's special warfare unit, and the Naval Special Operations Command, The navy's special warfare unit, together under a unified command.
NORSOCOM, Akershus Fortress, Oslo
  • Chief of NORSOCOM, a two-star officer, member of the Commander of the Armed Forces's management group
  • Taktisk Kommando - special forces-specific command element embedded with the Norwegian Joint Headquarters ) outside Bodø.
  • Special Operations Commando , at Rena Army Camp, part of Østerdal Garrison
  • * FSK Staff
  • * unknown number of combat squadrons
  • * Paratrooper Troop- platoon consisting of conscripts highly trained for raid and airborne ISTAR operations.
  • * Hunter Troop - special reconnaissance training unit made up of female conscripts
  • * Initial and Operational Special Forces Training Base on the tiny islet of Vealøs facing the former Karljohansvern Naval Base in Horten Municipality
  • Naval Special Operations Commando , at Jaeger's Bight in Haakonsvern Naval Base, near Bergen. A research paper of the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment puts the force structure of the MJK at a staff and six combat squadrons
  • *MJK Staff
  • *Alfa Squadron - combat divers squadron, Norway's premier naval special warfare unit
  • *Bravo Squadron - combat divers squadron, entry unit for recent graduates of the frogmen training course
  • *Reconnaissance Squadron - special reconnaissance and intelligence unit
  • *Echo Squadron - special boat squadron
  • *Lima Squadron - combat support squadron
  • *Training Squadron, at Ramsund Naval War Station in Tjeldsund Municipality
  • 339 Special Operations Aviation Squadron , at Rygge Air Station and Bardufoss Air Station, flying Bell 412SP helicopters, providing air support to the special forces. Being an air force unit, chief NORSOCOM executes tactical command of 339 SOAS.
  • Special Operations Air Task Group, at Rygge Air Station, providing operational planning, command and control for Norwegian Air Force assets deployed in support of special operations.