![På Skaraborgs flygflottilj rycker 92 st värnpliktiga in idag 20 september. Av dessa är 39 procent kvinnor. Årets befattningar är stabsassistent, flygmekaniker, drivmedelssoldat, flygbassäkerhetssoldat, R3 – fälthållningssoldat samt logistiksoldat.]()
The current, unstable security policy situation has resulted in many applying to join the Swedish Armed Forces.
Photo: Per Forsberg/Swedish Armed Forces
In January, the number of applicants to the Home Guard more than doubled (156 per cent), as compared to the same time last year. In total, 993 applications were received. At the same time, a significant increase in the number of requests to the Swedish Armed Forces was noted. The requests were made by phone, e-mail and social media.
“The recent large interest is linked to the media reports on the reinforcement of troops in Gotland as well as the security policy situation”, says Pontus Kandelin, communicator at the HR Department of the Swedish Armed Forces.
“Many of the requests that we have received have not been about the Home Guard per se, but more about what you can do in this uncertain situation. We have seen a growing willingness to the defend the country in response to media reports on the uncertain situation in our region.”
Pontus Kandelin says that many of the requests have been along the lines of “How can I volunteer to serve in case of war?” and “Is there any way I can help out in these uncertain times?”.
Most contacts have been made by men in the ages of 25 to 60. Many appear to have conducted military basic training (military service), or to have some other form of critical training, e.g. as a nurse or a first responder.
“Some seem to have recently moved to Sweden and to be looking to get involved in the Swedish Armed Forces – most often they describe having carried out some type of military service in their former home country”, says Pontus Kandelin.
The soaring interest in the Home Guard was also noticeable through a doubling of the number of received questions about the Home Guard in particular. Also the number of newly registered people in the Swedish Armed Forces’ recruitment tool, Mitt Försvarsmakten (My Armed Forces), saw a considerable increase by 66 per cent more applicants, as compared to any other month of January.