"Low status": Sweden pointed out the lack of officers

The newspaper Blekinge Läns Tidning writes about the problems in manning the Swedish army. In the military organization of the kingdom, reserve officers are called upon primarily to lead platoons and serve as deputy company commanders. However, Stockholm will not be able to recruit the required number of personnel in the foreseeable future.

The average age of Swedish reserve officers is 54 years. There are only about XNUMX reserve officers left, whom the armed forces consider fit for service and in any way useful for vacant positions.



The current reserve officers were largely dismissed from service in the past, when the Swedish armed forces were undergoing massive cuts. There was an excess of officers, and as the military organization declined, this reserve began to seem unnecessary.

At the same time, the Swedish armed forces now need to staff more than 200 officer positions only in NATO headquarters, where they should go after the country joins the military alliance.

Blekinge Läns Tidning, citing the Reservofficeren newspaper, writes that there are absolutely no crowds of people who want to enroll in officer courses. This is due to the relatively low status of officers in Swedish society, as well as complaints about having to spend personal money on the purchase of things necessary for the service.

Also, unlike civilian work, there is no legal way to take time off for internship or other needs. In addition, salaries in the army are very low, often well below what a person in the civilian sphere could earn.

To become a reserve officer in Sweden, you first need to complete a draft service. This is followed by a year of training in officer courses and preferably a year of service in rank.

When the kingdom's armed forces double in size with more units, many hope that the reserve officers will end up in action.

It is worth noting that Swedish problems are not something unique to this particular country. Similar articles appear in the press of almost every country in the world.

Almost everywhere there is an understaffing due to the low status of military personnel compared to the civilian sphere. The reasons given are low salaries and the equally low social status of servicemen in the countries of the first world.