– Should it come here, I think there would have been an understanding from my better half that it is something that must be done. Nils-Jørgen Dal, father of small children, is standing in the kitchen. He has just picked up the children from kindergarten. Now he has to cook dinner for the family. Fish cakes, boiled potatoes and carrots are on the menu. For the family man, it is important to stand up if you can. Both at home and for Norway. In October, the 34-year-old therefore joined the Norwegian Reservist Association. – You have to. It is easy to stand here in peacetime and say that, but I think that you have an obligation to your country. To me it feels very natural. What is the Norwegian Reservist Association (NROF)? NROF is a national organization that supports the Armed Forces and strengthens the will to defend. The general secretary of the Norwegian Reservist Association explains that membership requires a military background. As, for example, in the case of first-time service. – In 99 per cent of cases, people become members when they apply, he says. Other individuals who have reached the age of 21 can be admitted as supporting members. Supporting members do not have voting rights. The association is divided into 57 local branches. The general secretary of the Norwegian Reservist Association tells news that they have 6,500 members in the organisation. Source: nrof.no Increased focus on war This year, the association has approximately 900 new applicants. There are people from all over the country with an age range from 20 to 80 years. Nils-Jørgen is one of many who have contributed to the Norwegian Reservist Association gaining more members. General secretary Erik Gustavsson says that over the years there has been a steady increase in the supply of members. But last year the influx was greater than previously. – Which is gratifying, after we experienced a decline in 2022 in connection with the pandemic. He believes that more people have signed up because of the troubled situation in Europe. MANY APPLICANTS: Erik Gustavsson is general secretary of the Norwegian Reservists’ Association. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news – It has to do with the Ukraine war, there is no doubt about that. And that the focus on defense has become more powerful and that reservists have received more focus. The minimum requirement to become a reservist is to complete initial service. – These are the reservists, and what our entire culture and tradition is based on, explains Gustavson. Ingrid Ciakudia-Moxnes / news Jordan Joakim Furuly (21), student Do you know what a reservist is? I didn’t know about that until I was asked now. I am personally a bit of a pacifist out of principle. I’m not too fond of war or conflict that affects human life. So I don’t want to participate in that either. Ingrid Ciakudia-Moxnes / news Ida Musdalslien (21), student What would you do if war broke out? I don’t know, but I would probably have tried to be part of a community. And helped with work that is typically voluntary. Cooking or food storage. I would probably try to be part of a network. Ingrid Ciakudia-Moxnes / news Marius Stadheim (23), student Do you think people are aware of what they can contribute if there were to be a war in Norway? I doubt that most people are fully aware of what they would do if first should have happened. There is probably a lack of information. In a time like this, one could become more enlightened. I live on a farm, so we are always stocked up with what we need. Not troubled Family father Nils Jørgen describes himself as someone who is not troubled. – I am actually quite optimistic about the political situation and how things will turn out, he says. But the father of young children is aware that the troubled world view has been part of his motivation to become a reservist. A LITTLE TROUBLE: Nils-Jørgen believes in a brighter future. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / news – It’s not like I go around talking so much about the Armed Forces with others, but I notice that there is a theme with the war in Ukraine, the Middle East and the political situation. Nils Jørgen himself has three years’ experience from the Norwegian Armed Forces. That makes him a typical reservist. He has also recently been enrolled in the Home Guard. As part of the Home Guard, he would therefore have to stand up regardless if war broke out. Most of the Home Guard have training once a year. But soldiers are called up for up to six days a year. Specialists, commanders and officers train up to nine days a year. Like many others who join the Norwegian Reservist Association, Nils-Jørgen has wanted more of the military in his everyday life. – I think that it can be an environment where you can get a little out of the purely social and get a general increase in competence. Also that you contribute to preparedness. IN THE MILITARY: The father of small children has a previous career in the military. Photo: Private Increase in reservists What kind of role a reservist like Nils-Jørgen would have during a war depends on what they can contribute. Some will join as soldiers, while others will help with logistics, transport or solving technical challenges. To keep up to date, the reservists are offered seminars, lectures and sanitation courses. They also have their own shooting association. – We have field sports that we call military sports. We deal with culture and tradition where we take care of ceremonies at various memorials around the country, says general secretary Gustavsson. Gustavsson believes they will get more members now as a result of the “long-term plan”. The long-term plan he is referring to is the historic agreement reached by the parties in the Storting earlier this year. One of the government’s main priorities is to strengthen the Armed Forces and 13,700 more reservists. – The increase in the Norwegian Reservists’ Association is both gratifying and important, says reservist colonel Kjetil Wee Pettersen. THE ARMED FORCES: Kjetil Wee has many years of service in the Armed Forces. Photo: The Norwegian Armed Forces He is an adviser to the HR director in the Norwegian Armed Forces on questions relating to reservists and mobilisation. Pettersen has 40 years of service in the Armed Forces, but has now become a reservist. He believes that more people do as he does for several reasons: – We live in an uncertain world with several threats to our democracy and our freedom. That is the reason why a joint Storting has adopted a historic commitment to the Armed Forces, and the reason why more people are getting involved in defence-related issues. Who should and should not defend Norway? The force structure is the Armed Forces’ “war structure” and includes all personnel necessary for the implementation of military operations in crisis and war. The force structure currently consists of approx. 70,000 positions. In 2023, the Norwegian Armed Forces had a total of 18,348 employees throughout the year. In 2023, 9,138 people completed first-time service. Those who will defend Norway: Norway’s own defense Army: 8586 Navy: 4069 Air force: 3566 Home Guard: 40,000 soldiers NATO (allied countries such as the USA, Great Britain and other NATO countries can help if Norway is attacked). Those who will not defend Norway: Neighbors outside NATO (such as Sweden and Russia, with the exception of Finland, which is now part of NATO). Civilians (ordinary people do not have military responsibility), but are part of the total defence. Total defense in Norway is about both the military and the civil emergency working together to deal with crises and war. The aim is to ensure that society is prepared and can function in difficult situations. Countries without agreements with Norway (such as China or other countries that are not part of NATO). Terrorist groups (they are not responsible for defending Norway). Created by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. Other source: snl.no, Statsforvalteren, vorset.no and regjeringen.no Contribute to preparedness Nils-Jørgen peels potatoes and carrots. The fishcakes are put in the oven. As a father of young children, engaged in local politics and working full-time, there is not always enough time. – It’s a solitaire that has to be joined. I am very motivated to become an active member. Despite the serious background, it is also something he wants to do as a kind of hobby. – It’s something I find fun and miss a little in my office-driven everyday life. Nils-Jørgen encourages others to sign up. – I think that it can be an environment where you can get a little out of purely social and general skills development. Also that you contribute to preparedness. Now he is waiting for courses and events to appear that suit him and his everyday schedule. FATHER OF TODDLER: Nils-Jørgen has picked up the children. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / news He adds: – I hope that the Norwegian Reservists’ Association and the Norwegian Home Guard can become such a side thing that I am doing. Which gives some meaning to life. Do you think being a reservist is an important part of society? – Having preparedness in the population is very important. I think it is important that you do it if you can, and that you find both motivation and pride in it. Hello! So nice that you have read the article! I am a journalist at news Stor-Oslo. Did you get any thoughts when you read it? Here are some of the things I have written: Do you have any tips on other things I can write about? Please send me an email. Tips and information are treated confidentially. Published 09.12.2024, at 06.10
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