Today, 154 conscripts at Göta engineer regiment Ing 2 in Eksjö died. A ceremony was held inside the barracks yard with Carolines and Hussars and where, among others, Per Åkerblom, the head of Ing 2, spoke.
During singing, cheering and applause, the soldiers then marched out onto the muck where family and friends were waiting. There, a big hug broke out and some tears could be seen.
However, for many it was not the last time they were seen. Nine of the soldiers will continue their studies in the officer program to become either specialist officers, tactical officers or reserve officers. 45 will continue to work in some form of military position.
Record in applicants
This year, there are 1,045 applicants for the officer program, which is the highest number since the program was established in 2008 as a university education. In addition, more than 30 percent of the applicants are women, which is also a record.
Corporal Amanda Ottosson has applied to the officer program at Karlberg in Stockholm. She believes that the state of the world is one of the reasons why more women are applying for the armed forces.
– You can see that a strong defense is needed and the more women who work, the more role models there are, she says.
The company commander thinks it is positive to have more women in the defense.
– Diversity creates conditions, says Sebastian Winther, who is a major and company commander at Ing 2.
Watch as the conscripts munch in the clip above.