Norway’s Armed Forces are facing criticism over welfare services for conscripts after the Armed Forces Personnel and Conscription Centre reported “major problems” in its 2025 annual report. The NRK report says the criticism concerns the welfare offer available to conscripts, adding to a broader pattern of complaints about how Norway treats soldiers performing compulsory service.

“FPVS is not satisfied with the achievement of requirements or the qualitative work that is carried out within comprehensive welfare care in the Armed Forces today,” the report states. (…) The annual report points to “a number of system weaknesses” and that soldiers increasingly do not receive an equal welfare offer regardless of where they serve, reports Sunnmørsposten.

The report describes cases where soldiers have been excluded from canteens and welfare buildings as collective punishment. This is referred to as the most serious find during the controls in the Army. It also points to an extensive shortage of social consultants and welfare personnel. In some places, one person is responsible for the entire welfare service. FPVS believes that the Armed Forces need at least twelve new positions for this work.

Several welfare buildings are described as run-down, too small or completely missing. The economy is also described as squeezed. In several places, the soldiers’ activity funds are used to cover normal operations, and some departments have cut activities and offers to save money. FPVS also warns of weaker preventive work against bullying, harassment and mental strain among soldiers.

Read more about it in Forsvaretsforum.