Norway’s Armed Forces’ representative system, TVO, is launching a pilot project that will extend initial service to up to 18 months for some level B soldier representatives. National representative Johanne Røisli says many representatives demobilise just when they have become most useful, and that longer service could improve continuity, competence transfer, and support for soldiers.

The pilot will include the Air Force, Navy, Joint Services, the Personnel and Conscription Centre, and Cyber Defence as full operating units, while the King’s Guard and Special Operations Command will participate as individual units. Røisli says TVO is aware of possible problems, including lower application numbers and the risk of losing qualified personnel, but remains positive about the project.

It seems the only way to fix the Norwegian military model is to make it look less like conscription and more like a professional force. Hell, we can even keep calling it conscription, as long as the soldiers are volunteers and not coerced teenagers.

Read the entire piece in Forsvarets forum.