Sweden abandons compulsory draft

[Skybird]

Silently and without the international public noticing it - eve n many Swedes seem to not know or not care - , Sweden has, after 109 years, abandoned it's compulsory draft system. Public debate does not seem to have taken place. They plan for a combat force size of 12-16 thousand only.

Comparing to Germany, where the debate is slow moving like dry grease and painful since 20 years, it somewhat stuns me a bit to see how smooth and silent it went in Sweden.

Opinions? And Swedes around?

Not a Swede but Finland is heading that way too. Due to geopolitical reasons it might take a little longer though. The Swedes have openly made statements like "We don't need a conscripted military since Finland will protect us against the only possible aggressor (Russia)".

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by OneToughHerring

"We don't need a conscripted military since Finland will protect us against the only possible aggressor (Russia)".

Really? Must've missed that one then.

But yeh, you are right, Sweden is between two shields so to speak with Norway on one side and Finland on other.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Dowly

But yeh, you are right, Sweden is between two shields so to speak with Norway on one side and Finland on other.

Or maybe it is that a Russian invasion simply is no realistic scenario to take into account.

Sweden always was no big army in size, theoretically, so I read, they wanted to call up up to 750,000 soldiers in case of ware, but that would have been possible only after several months of organisation, retraining and refreshing courses. However, technologically, during the cold war and afterwards, the Swedish forces always have been amongst the very best. Many of their systems and platforms are top notch and some things they have that even the Americans cry for not having them themselves.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Or maybe it is that a Russian invasion simply is no realistic scenario to take into account.

Good point.

In some areas of naval technology Sweden is far ahead of both USA and Russia.

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Or maybe it is that a Russian invasion simply is no realistic scenario to take into account.

Sweden always was no big army in size, theoretically, so I read, they wanted to call up up to 750,000 soldiers in case of ware, but that would have been possible only after several months of organisation, retraining and refreshing courses. However, technologically, during the cold war and afterwards, the Swedish forces always have been amongst the very best. Many of their systems and platforms are top notch and some things they have that even the Americans cry for not having them themselves.

About to be correct,so was this theoretically over 1.000.000 and not for several months,more like 3-4 weeks.Today we have other organisation and technologig for a force,for about approx 50.000.-70.000 and high tech in navy stuff and planes,,,but things can be change.....

Originally Posted by Dowly

Really? Must've missed that one then.

But yeh, you are right, Sweden is between two shields so to speak with Norway on one side and Finland on other.

Well it's obvious and I remember reading a Swedish member of parliament making a statement to that effect.

Originally Posted by Skybird

Or maybe it is that a Russian invasion simply is no realistic scenario to take into account.

Blasphemy! Don't say that to any officer in Finland, they have been conditioned that the enemy will attack from the east, unless it's making a diversion by attacking from the flank. Really, the Russians will attack, it's only a matter of time. They have to, I was told that they will so it must be true. Finland has also invested so much to defend against such an attack that if no attack comes Finland will be ruined by the unnecessary expenses.

The whole military service system is a very politicized and tender subject in Finland right now. The various brigades etc. where the military conscripts are trained are situated in these small locales that need the brigades for economic reasons. Therefore and for reasons such as holding on to old ways there is plenty of lobbying against any changes in the system.

[Safe-Keeper]

Norway's doing hand-picking, currently. 30-40 000 reach military age (18-19) each year and are called in for evaluation -- of these, 10 000 go on to recruit school. Signed up recently because I wanted a one-year break from studies, but didn't make the cut.

Military service is compulsory for men only, women are called in for evaluation, but told that it's up to them if, and how long, they want to serve. Here's hoping that changes soon.

Does that mean the subs have airbags and side-impact protection?

They're also shipped piecemeal, and are notorious for being nearly impossible to assemble.

Seriously, though, for such a neutral country, Sweden is notoriously good at military technology and games alike. The Battlefield series was made by Swedes, as was World in Conflict.

[goldorak]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Silently and without the international public noticing it - eve n many Swedes seem to not know or not care - , Sweden has, after 109 years, abandoned it's compulsory draft system. Public debate does not seem to have taken place. They plan for a combat force size of 12-16 thousand only.

Comparing to Germany, where the debate is slow moving like dry grease and painful since 20 years, it somewhat stuns me a bit to see how smooth and silent it went in Sweden.

Opinions? And Swedes around?

Just one question, have the Swedes abolished compulsory draft or just suspended it indefinitely ?. I know that France during the early 90 discussed "abolishing" the draft because of the changing geopoltical landscape in europe, and in the end they decided only to suspend indefinitely the draft.
So technically you can still be recalled or drafted if a state of war is declared, but for all pratical purposes it has been "abolished".

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by goldorak

Just one question, have the Swedes abolished compulsory draft or just suspended it indefinitely ?. I know that France during the early 90 discussed "abolishing" the draft because of the changing geopoltical landscape in europe, and in the end they decided only to suspend indefinitely the draft.
So technically you can still be recalled or drafted if a state of war is declared, but for all pratical purposes it has been "abolished".

But the devlop,take place in different option,however the implant are great for new gear!

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by goldorak

Just one question, have the Swedes abolished compulsory draft or just suspended it indefinitely ?.

Can't say for sure.the German news I read yesterday and the TV news as well said that they have abolished it. If they are aware of the difference you make, I do not know.

The impression so far is they indeed abolished it. the last group of some ceremonial guard regiment were conscripts were serving, was officially farewelled one or two days ago.