Home Guard (Sweden)

Home Guard – National Security Forces
Hemvärnet – Nationella skyddsstyrkorna

Coat of arms of the Home Guard – National Security Forces.
Founded May 29th, 1940 (75 years)
Country Sweden Sweden
Allegiance Swedish Armed Forces
Branch Swedish Army
Type Motorised light infantry
Role Rapid countermeasure
Surveillance
Disaster relief
Search and rescue
Size 22,000 end strength; 300 companies in 70 battalions
Garrison/HQ Stockholm
March "Hemvärnets marsch"
(Home Guard March)
Anniversaries May 29th
Commanders
Current
commander		 Brigade General Roland Ekenberg
Notable
commanders		 Major General Gustaf Petri

The Home Guard – National Security Forces (Swedish: Hemvärnet – Nationella skyddsstyrkorna) is a military reserve force of the Swedish Armed Forces. It was formally established on May 29, 1940, during World War II upon popular demand.[1] While originally composed of former militia groups, today it comprises half of the Swedish Army, thus constituting the basis of the territorial defence of Sweden.

The Swedish National Home Guard consists mainly of local rapid countermeasure units, numbering 17,000 of the 22,000 total Home Guard strength, organised in 300 companies in 70 battalions,[2] with 23 associated auxiliary defence organisations. The majority of the soldiers maintain a civilian job while serving the army part-time. Contemporary rapid countermeasure units were formed in the early 2000s as a consequence of the Swedish government's abolishment of the conscription to the Swedish Armed Forces.

The Commander, Rikshemvärnschefen, is the head of the Home Guard, representing 40 000 present and veteran soldiers, reporting directly to the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces.

History

Home Guard soldiers in Lund, Scania, in 1940.
Further information: Sweden during World War II

The establishment of the Home Guard was passed into law by the Riksdag on May 29, 1940, after the beginning of World War II, however, units had already been formed by the military before this. Home Guard units were groups of usually eight to 15 men that were to serve as defense units in case of war, located in towns and in both private and state-owned factories, throughout all of Sweden. Members of these small units usually consisted of former professional military men who were equipped with rifles, machine guns, ammunition, medicine, uniforms, and had the option of buying additional materials such as skis, sweaters and marching boots. An additional group, called the Lotta corps (Women's Voluntary Defense Service), helped with additional tasks that the Home Unit was unable to perform themselves. The Lotta corps helped provide the home unit with additional items such as socks, scarves and gloves as well as performing all administrative work that the unit could not afford to do themselves. In case of war, and in case the Home Guard was unable to utilize local hospitals, the Swedish Red Cross was prepared to set up first aid stations for its use.

Organisation

Home Guard soldiers (2015).
Swedish Home Guard soldiers in Kungsträdgården, Stockholm.
Drummers of the Home Guard Band of Eslöv at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.

The Home Guard with the national security forces are part of the Swedish Armed Forces' mission-based organization. The Home Guard is a unit and constitutes the basis for the protection of Sweden. It has the task of operating over the entire conflict scale, from societal support during great strains in peacetime to armed combat in times of war.

The units of the Home Guard have a response capability that is measured in hours, as opposed to days or weeks. The personnel is made up of locally recruited volunteers and consists largely of experienced soldiers and officers with a background in mission-based units.

When the Armed Forces are called in to help with forest fires, flooding or missing person searches, it often falls to Home Guard units to support the police and Rescue Services. Territorial surveillance, base security, escort duties, transport protection, target identification and artillery spotting are other typical Home Guard duties.

In addition to personnel who have completed their national service or Basic Military Training, the Home Guard includes a large proportion of specialists, for example, paramedics, motorcycle orderlies and dog handlers, that are recruited and trained by voluntary defense organizations.

Territorial organisation

Sweden is divided into four military regions:

Home Guard supported with resources for training and management of 22 education groups, that are geographically distributed all over Sweden. These training teams are in turn subordinated to the heads of twelve different training units . Uniform guidelines and materials for courses are determined centrally by the Home Guard Combat School.

Units

As of 2012, the Home Guard consists of 22,000 soldiers (down from 42,000 in 2001) organized into 40 light infantry battalions (down from 69 in 2001) of 300-700 personnel.[3]

In 2001, the Rapid Response units numbered around 5,000 soldiers of the total of 42,000. Rapid Response units have more combat tasks compared to the rest of the Home Guard, including escort duties. Some battalions located near the coast also have marine companies equipped with Combat Boat 90.

As of 2014, the majority of the force, 17,000 out of 22,000 soldiers will be in Rapid Response units. The decrease in number of troops comes with an equal increase in quality and modern equipment.[4]

Unit (Swedish) Unit (English) Training Group Comments
10. Lapplandsjägarbataljonen 10. Lapland Rifle Battalion Lapplandsjägargruppen Arctic inc. and air section and a logistics section
11. Gränsjägarbataljonen 11. Border Rifle Battalion Lapplandsjägargruppen Arctic inc. and an air, a logistics sections and an amphibious platoon
12. Norrbottensbataljonen 12. North Bothnia Battalion Norrbottensgruppen Arctic inc. an air, two reconnaissance companies and a logistics sections and an amphibious platoon
13. Västerbottensbataljonen 13. West Bothnia Battalion Västerbottensgruppen Arctic inc. an air, a logistics sections and an amphibious and CBRN platoons
14. Fältjägarbataljonen 14. Light Infantry Battalion Fältjägargruppen Arctic inc. an air and a logistics sections, an amphibious and a CBRN platoon and a reconnaissance company
15. Ångermanlandsbataljonen 15. Ångermanland Battalion Västernorrlandsgruppen Arctic inc. a logistics section and an amphibious platoon
16. Medelpadsbataljonen 16. Medelpad Home Guard Battalion Västernorrlandsgruppen Arctic inc. an air and logistics sections and an amphibious platoon
17. Dalabataljonen 17. Dalarna Home Guard Battalion Dalregementsgruppen Arctic inc. an air section
18. Gävleborgsbataljonen 18. Gävleborg Battalion Gävleborgsgruppen inc. an air section and an amphibious platoon
19. Värmlandsbataljonen 19. Värmland Home Guard Battalion Örebro och Värmlandsgruppen inc. an air section
20. Sannahedsbataljonen 20. Sannahed Home Guard Battalion Örebro och Värmlandsgruppen inc. an air section
21. Upplandsbataljonen 21. Uppland Home Guard Battalion Uppland/Västmanlandsgruppen inc. a reconnaissance company
22. Västmanlandsbataljonen 22. Västmanland Home Guard Battalion Uppland/Västmanlandsgruppen
23. Attundalandsbataljonen 23. Attundaland Home Guard Battalion Livgardesgruppen inc. a reconnaissance company
24. Stockholmsbataljonen 24. Stockholm Home Guard Battalion Livgardesgruppen inc. a traffic platoon
25. Taeliehusbataljonen 25. Tæljehus Home Guard Battalion Livgardesgruppen inc. an air section
26. Järvabataljonen 26. Järva Home Guard Battalion Livgardesgruppen
27. Södermanlandsbataljonen 27. Södermanland Home Guard Battalion Södermanlandsgruppen inc. an air section and an amphibious platoon
28. Roslagsbataljonen 28. Roslagen Home Guard Battalion Södertörnsgruppen inc. an air section
29. Södertörnsbataljonen 29. Södertörn Home Guard Battalion Södertörnsgruppen inc. an air section, a CBRN platoon and an amphibious company
30. (1st) Livgrenadjärbataljonen 30. (1st) Life Grenadier Battalion Livgrenadjärgruppen inc. a reconnaissance company
31. (2nd) Livgrenadjärbataljonen 31. (2nd) Life Grenadier Battalion Livgrenadjärgruppen inc. 2 amphibious platoons
32. Gotlandsbataljonen 32. Gotland Battalion Gotlandsgruppen inc. an air section and an amphibious platoon
33. Norra Smålandsbataljonen 33. North Småland Battalion Norra Smålandsgruppen inc. an air section and an engineer platoon
34. Kalmarbataljonen 34. Kalmar Battalion Kalmar och Kronobergsgruppen
35. Kronobergsbataljonen 35. Kronoberg Battalion Kalmar och Kronobergsgruppen inc. a reconnaissance company
36. Blekinge västra bataljon 36. West Blekinge Battalion Blekingegruppen inc. an air section
37. Blekinge östra bataljon 37. East Blekinge Battalion Blekingegruppen inc. an amphibious
38. Kinnebataljonen 38. Kinne Home Guard Battalion Skaraborgsgruppen inc. a traffic platoon
39. Kåkindbataljonen 39. Kåkind Home Guard Battalion Skaraborgsgruppen inc. an air section
40. Bohusbataljonen 40. Bohusläns Home Guard Battalion BohusDalgruppen inc. an air section and an amphibious company
41. Göteborgs södra bataljon 41. South Gothenburg Home Guard Battalion Elfsborgsgruppen inc. a reconnaissance company with an air section.
42. Göteborgs norra bataljon 42. North Gothenburg Home Guard Battalion Elfsborgsgruppen inc. a CBRN platoon
43. Göteborgs skärgårds bataljon 43. Gothenburg Archipelago Battalion Elfsborgsgruppen inc. an amphibious company
44. Älvsborgsbataljonen 44. Älvsborg Home Guard Battalion Elfsborgsgruppen
45. Hallandsbataljonen 45. Halland Battalion Hallandsgruppen inc. an air section
46. Södra skånska bataljonen 46. South Scania Battalion Skånska gruppen inc. a CBRN platoon
47. Malmöhusbataljonen 47. Malmöhus Battalion Skånska gruppen inc. a CBRN platoon
48. Skånska dragonbataljonen 48. Scania Dragoon Battalion Skånska gruppen inc. a reconnaissance company
49. Norra skånska bataljonen 49. North Scania Battalion Skånska gruppen

Method of operation

A Swedish Home Guard soldier with an Ak 4 battle rifle (Swedish-made variant of with the H&K G3) with Aimpoint sight mounted.

The Home Guard units are trained to be local combat units (primarily infantry but also signal troops). Although current doctrine states that Home Guard units can act anywhere within the country, local knowledge is one of the strengths of the organization. Training focuses on guard duties and weapons proficiency.

In peacetime the Home Guards main task is to help with search and rescue operations, and to provide assistance to civil society in cases of severe emergencies such as natural disasters and the like.

Requirements

The Home Guard soldier must fulfill the following requirements in order to be object to admittance:

Troops are trained regularly and conditions of suitability abilities tested continually.

Training

Yearmark of the Swedish Home Guard (2009).

Contractually a member of the Home Guard must train 8 days (before 2010 20 hours) per year (4 days for the 5,000 soldiers in the support, non-Rapid Response units) but although the time requirement varies according to role. A prerequisite for joining the Home Guard is to have received at least 85 days of basic military training. The level of training varies widely, from basic military training to Ranger school.

The training is centered around two 4-day-long battalion exercises per year for the Rapid Response units and one 4-day exercise for the support units. These exercises are mandatory for all personnel. Apart from the mandatory training, the companies organize their own exercises, often up to 10 weekend-long exercises a year. Most soldiers do considerably more time per year than the mandatory 8 or 4 days.

Equipment

The standard armaments are Ak 4B battle rifles, (Swedish version of the German G3), with red dot sights and sometimes with x4 optical sights for squad sharpshooters - or more rarely with a M203 grenade launcher - FN MAG (Ksp 58) machine guns, Carl Gustav recoilless rifles (Grg m/48) and AT4 (Pskott m/86) light anti-tank weapons. The AK4 was the standard weapon of the Swedish Armed Forces until the formers replacement by the AK5 (FN FNC derivative). Psg 90 sniper rifles are also issued to designated snipers and some personnel (usually, but not always, officers and senior non-commissioned officers) are issued with Glock 17 (Pistol 88) pistols. Other equipment include anti-tank mines and manually detonated anti-personnel landmines, explosives and signals equipment. Some first and second generation night vision equipment of Russian manufacture have been issued, but illumination flares are otherwise used. Signals equipment at platoon level include AN/PRC-25 (Ra145), AN/PRC-77 (Ra146) and Ra180 backpack radios. In 2015 some companys were equipt with 120mm mortars.

Dogs are also used as sensor systems, usually two for every platoon. The animals are issued and trained by one of the national auxiliary defence organizations.

The rapid response units have thus far been equipped with Volvo C303 cross country vehicles and Bandvagn 206 tracked carriers. Currently the introduction of a modified Mercedes Sprint 316 (Personbil 8) is underway to replace the earlier wheeled vehicles.

Home Guard Bands

Swedish Home Guard Band of Uppsala on parade by the Royal Palace in Stockholm.

Military traditions are strongly connected with military bands and marches, etc. The bands, with diverse military musicians, fulfil the task to replace professional military bands. Throughout Sweden, there are about 32 Home Guard bands which total more than 1 500 members, such as Södertörn Home Guard Band. 17 bands are qualified for performance at state ceremonies, royal visits and festivities.

Home Guard Cadets

The Home Guard Cadets (hemvärnsungdomar) is a youth section consisting of young girls and boys aged 15–20, typically recruited at age 15-16. The Cadets receive military training that includes base building, L-ABCDE first aid, CPR, communications, physical training, orienteering, defense studies, basic firearms training (with .22 long rifle up to age 16 and AK4 B with red dot sight from age 17) and from age 17 and up also patrolling and leadership training (group and platoon). At 18, a Cadet is allowed to undergo battle training. Despite this they are not officially called soldiers.

Although there is no rank system for Cadets, the training consists of 4 1-year-long blocks named Basic Course, Continuation Course, Leadership Course Level 1 and Leadership Course Level 2 (Grundkurs, GK; Fortsättningskurs, FK; Ledarskapskurs 1, LK1; and Ledarskapskurs 2, LK2. LK1 and LK2 are sometimes called Practical Course, PK, and Instruktörskurs, IK which means Practical Course and Instructor Course). After 4 years as a Cadet, the 19- to 20-year-old has received military training equivalent to 85 days of basic military training, plus basic commander training.

Typically, the Cadets train one day or evening every or every other week, with 10-12 weekends per year spent in the field. The Home Guard Cadets is the "unit" who spend the most time out on the field in the whole Home Guard. During training they wear the same type of uniform and equipment as the regular forces, although it may vary between the sections depending on local budget and resources. From 2008, a Cadet at least 18 years of age who has completed at least the 3 first blocks of training is welcome to take a course to repeat and improve learned skills in order to serve in the regular Home Guard at age 20. This is very valuable to many of them, since many of them won't be needed in the Army, Navy or Air Force but still are eager to do military service.

Associated organisations

Coat of arms of the Voluntary Air Corps.

The Home Guard also includes staff from eight voluntary organisations, so-called contractual organisations:

Commanders

Commanders of the Home Guard:[5]

Hemvärnschefer

Rikshemvärnschefer

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Åkerstedt 2010, p. 16
  2. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20120612000324/http://tidningenhemvarnet.se/sites/default/files/issues/hv2011-5_hela.pdf
  3. ↑ "Rikshemvärnschefens brev till hemvärnspersonalen" [Letter from the Royal Home Guard chief to the Home Guard personnel] (PDF) (Press release) (in Swedish). Hemvärnet. December 2009. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  4. ↑ "Hemvärnsförbanden 2012" [The Home Guards Battalions 2012] (PDF). Tidningen Hemvärnet (in Swedish) (Stockholm: Home Guard (Sweden)) 71 (5): 14–15. November 2011. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
  5. ↑ Åkerstedt 2010, p. 61

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