In August, a new recruitment period starts and thousands of new recruits will enter the first service. New from 1 August will be a revised education program for them. In addition to the five basic skills a soldier must know, the subject “profession” is added. Here they will learn, among other things, about good values and attitudes, and how to treat each other. In mid-August, Thea Mosesen (19) travels to the Garrison in Porsanger for her recruitment period. There she will be one of the first to go through the subject “profession”. Photo: Jonas Løken Estenstad / news Thea Mosesen (19), from Alta, thinks it goes without saying that it is prioritized even more. Especially after the incidents of sexual harassment that came to light earlier this year. She will start her first service in August. – The way I see it, this should really have been introduced earlier. So I don’t think that those in the Armed Forces should get applause for having introduced it. – Because if this is how it is to be in the Armed Forces, it certainly needs some more measures. Espen Tandstad is chief sergeant at the Army’s weapons school. They have been involved in preparing the new education. He says that the subject “profession” is not a direct measure after the winter’s revelations, but a development of the Armed Forces’ recruit training (FRU). – If we are able to create safe and clear frameworks for how we should behave at an early stage, we believe we can help prevent the challenges we face in the field of bullying and sexual harassment. Recruit training is an important part of the soldiers’ service. Here they learn the basics to be able to serve the country in the best possible way. Photo: Frode N. Børfjord What makes a soldier, a soldier? Respect, responsibility and courage are the Norwegian Armed Forces’ core values. It is something that has always been part of the Armed Forces. But if you look at the events that came to light earlier this year, you can ask whether everyone has caught on. The subject “profession” is about more than just how one behaves, explains Tandstad. How a soldier should behave both professionally and humanely become important aspects. Sergeant Major Espen Tandstad believes that recruit training is important. – You have to meet the tens of thousands of recruits who will enter each year in a good way. This means that we will be more successful as a defence. I think we are well on our way to doing that now. Photo: Lillian Tandstad – There will be a balance between the demands we make on the recruits and the support we give them to get through the education. During the 31 hours allocated to the subject, they will go over basic safety and the environment, defense and the first service, attitudes and ethics. – The core values will be a focus throughout the education, says Tandstad. – The armed forces must do their part of the service You would think that 19-20-year-olds knew how to treat each other. So why dedicate parts of the education to actually learning it? In the Norwegian Armed Forces’ survey on sexual harassment and bullying alone, almost half of the women say that they have been subjected to sexual harassment in the past year. The Chief of Defense has said that there is a cultural problem in parts of the Armed Forces. He is clear that there is zero tolerance for bullying and sexual harassment. Tandstad says that this is a societal problem, but the Norwegian Armed Forces must do their part to overcome it. In addition, there are many other factors that come into play when recruits come in. – They are taken out of the known and put into the unknown. It creates uncertainty, because it is a big transition for many to join the Armed Forces, says Tandstad. – The recruits come from all over the country, with different starting points. Getting a common guideline on how to behave is a very good entry point to the recruit school, says Tord Kummeneje Eriksen, national trust representative at TVO. Photo: Krister Sørbø / Forsvarets forum This is something Tord Kummeneje Eriksen recognises. He is a national shop steward for the shop steward scheme (TVO) in the Norwegian Armed Forces. Eriksen works closely with other shop stewards and soldiers. Therefore, he believes that the “profession” subject will become important in the future. – You only benefit from increasing understanding of each other. I think it can benefit the future Defense in a very good way. – Irrespective of the fact that this can be preventive against bullying, harassment and unwanted sexual attention, it is time for this to be introduced in recruit training, says Eriksen. Handling weapons and damage treatment are important things a soldier should know. But values such as respect and humanity are important to be able to work together better, that’s what both Espen Tandstad and Tord K. Eriksen think. Photo: Frode N. Børfjord Clear expectations In mid-August, Thea Mosesen travels to the Garrison in Porsanger for her recruitment period. – I expect that it will be difficult, both physically and especially psychologically. It’s not that I’m afraid of it, but you dread the military a bit. She expects it to be a year with a lot of coping. She looks forward to that, preferably without any unwanted incidents. – I believe and hope for an improvement. I don’t see anything happening to me. If that happens, I will say clearly and clearly. The Alta girl is looking forward to a year in green. She dreads it a little, but is excited about what awaits her in the Armed Forces. Photo: Jonas Løken Estenstad / news
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Now new recruits must be trained in how to treat each other – news Troms and Finnmark
