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full screen Only half of the 17-year-olds view being drafted positively. Archive image. Photo: Tim Aro/TT
More and more people will have to do military service against their will.
The defense of the country trumps personal interest, according to the Duty and Examination Board.
Today, around 5,000-6,000 conscripts are trained. But that number will have to increase in the coming years. The armed forces have proposed that 10,000 conscripts be trained every year already from 2030.
It also means that more people will have to do military service against their will.
Of the almost 25,000 young people who are currently enlisting, 4,500 have said that they are not interested, but have been called anyway – because they meet all other requirements, according to the Norwegian Duty and Examinations Agency.
The Swedish Duty and Probation Service’s surveys show that almost all 17-year-olds think it is important that Sweden has a defence. However, only about half think it would be positive to be summoned themselves.
For example, elite athletes sometimes try to opt out of military service because their coaches otherwise threaten to stop investing in them, according to the Duty and Trials Agency.
Now in January and February, just under 110,000 young people born in 2006 receive the registration documents. In March, they will be told whether or not they must muster. A total of 28,000 will be called up, of which 8,000 will be conscripted.