On Thursday, lieutenant colonel Lena Kvarving went on news and spoke on news Ytring and in news stories about a culture where problems are referred to as individual deviations, and that the necessary work to correct the problems surrounding whistleblowing, bullying and sexual harassment in the Armed Forces is not properly addressed time. Kvarving also talked about how she experienced pressure for reports to be positive. The lieutenant colonel said that managers had asked her to “rewrite reports, so the organization looks more positive than reality suggests”. Now she receives support from one of the largest trade unions in the Armed Forces – the Norwegian Officers’ and Specialists’ Association (NOF). – It is a description of reality that I recognize. In some cases, money laundering takes place at the highest levels, says Torbjørn Bongo to news. He is the leader of the Norwegian Association of Officers and Specialists (NOF). – Perceives that it is not being taken seriously enough Bongo tells news that they too have seen a tendency for the leadership in both the Defense and the Ministry of Defense to engage in a form of whitewashing of the situation – especially if there are problems and challenges. – I recognize myself in a description where you want to focus on the positive aspects, instead of addressing what is actually the problem. It will be a form of money laundering, says Bongo. – What do you think about that? – It is problematic. Because the organization perceives that the management does not take this seriously enough, but instead wants to look at the positive aspects, says the union leader. Torbjørn Bongo heads one of the unions in the Armed Forces with the most members – the Norwegian Officers’ and Specialists’ Association (NOF). Photo: Øyvind Bye Skille / news He believes the defense leadership and the defense minister must dare to be honest. – If we are to solve the challenges we are in the middle of now, we must have a clear recognition: Yes, we have a problem. Yes, we will solve this. Yes, we want a dialogue with the whole organization on how to solve it, says Torbjørn Bongo. The union leader fears that such “whitewashing” of facts and situations could lead to new mistakes being made in the handling of notification cases and other matters in the Armed Forces. – It’s regrettable. Such rewriting makes it difficult to solve the challenges. In some cases, it probably also leads to us making wrong decisions. The focus is on the positive elements rather than acknowledging that there are some challenges that need to be addressed. – What must the leadership of the Armed Forces and the government do? – I want honest and fair answers. They have to describe reality so that you actually recognize yourself in it, says Bongo. The Minister of Defence: – We must have openness and honesty In Dagsnytt 18, Minister of Defense Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp) responds to allegations that reports are made up or laundered to create a positive image. This is how he commented on e-mails from his own ministry to lieutenant colonel Lena Kvarving with the message that they chose a “positive angle, highlighting what is being done rather than pointing out what should be improved”. – I have been Minister of Defense for a few months. I have no relationship with any report that is said to have been made up, but my position on it is crystal clear. If I and the government are to be able to make good decisions, we must have knowledge, facts and descriptions of the situation as it really is. I assume so, says Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp). Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp) took office as Minister of Defense in April 2022. Photo: Kristin Humstad / news Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp) is a guest on Dagsrevyen tonight. Confronted by trade union leader Torbjørn Bongo on how he reacts to information that information is withheld, the minister states that it is not good if it is true. – It is completely unacceptable that it should be like that. There must be openness and honesty. I am completely dependent on being open and honest, says the Minister of Defence. Liberal Party: – The alarm bells have been ringing for far too long Grunde Almeland from the Liberal Party in the Storting has himself worked in the Armed Forces for three years. He does not like what he is hearing from the Norwegian Defense Forces now, and what Lieutenant Colonel Lena Kvarving was able to tell yesterday. – What the lieutenant colonel tells is shocking. It testifies once again to a culture that has been and still is completely unhealthy and unacceptable. I think the alarm bells have been ringing for far too long. Now it really is time to take action and ensure that everyone in the Armed Forces has a safe working day, says Almeland to news. Grunde Almeland is calling for Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp) to come on the field. Photo: William Jobling / news The left-wing politician also reacts to the statements that it is smeared, whitewashed or that reports are wanted to be conveyed in as positive terms as possible. He believes that this indicates that the problems are not only in the Armed Forces, but also in the Ministry of Defence, where the Minister of Defense is the most responsible. – What I find shocking is that the Minister of Defense has not been clearer on the pitch and said what he actually wants to do to address this. I miss a concrete plan from the minister on how to get rid of the bad culture and ensure that everyone who goes to work in the Armed Forces can feel safe, says Almeland. The left-wing politician fears that what comes to light may mean that the people the Armed Forces need will not choose uniforms and the agency as a workplace. – I hope we can collectively say as politicians to everyone who wants to join the Armed Forces that it is a safe place to work. That if you report, you will be taken seriously. But it requires that the Minister of Defense also gets on the scene and makes arrangements for it now, says Grunde Almeland. Leader of the Military Women’s Network calls for action news has also spoken to the leader of the Military Women’s Network. Amanda Bergh Schjelderup talks to many other women in the Armed Forces. For them, it is also not new that there are a number of notification cases that have been poorly handled. – These are matters that we have known about for many years. The defense is so small that we know who is involved, who has been in charge at these times and who has measured the consequences. After all, we are puzzled by the impartiality in some of the cases, the impact assessment and also the rhetoric that has been used. She says that more people now believe that something must be done. – It has long been a theme during breaks in the departments, and we simply call for action, says Amanda Bergh Schjelderup. Amanda Bergh Schjelderup heads the Military Women’s Network in the Armed Forces. Photo: Private The leader of the Military Women’s Network is looking forward to the improvement work that is now taking place. Among other things, she hopes that the external investigation will look at whether different consequences are given depending on how high up in the system the person who does something objectionable is. – There should be exemplified impact assessment that is the same, regardless of degree and position. Because what many people react to is that there is a general opinion that if you have a lower command rank or specialist rank, the consequences will be greater in case of overstepping – than if you are a high-ranking officer with a, call it a more critical position then, says Schjelderup . She herself has recorded that several levels should be heard in the review. – I also want to say that I have confidence in the Chief of Defense and that I have faith in the measures that have been implemented. But it requires action and not just attitude-creating work and report writing, she says to news. Read more of news’s stories about the Armed Forces:
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– Is there money laundering at the highest levels – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
