sou · GXB363 · 2009-06-24 00:00:00 — The rela- tively long period between enlistment and the commencement of basic training also gives people time to change their level of commitment to the Swedish Armed Forces. Furthermore, the quality of the training affects the individuals view of the Swedish Armed Forces as an employer and willingness for continued commitment. Changed posts, long lead times and shortcomings in training stemming from an overextended training organisation are key influences in this regard. to shortcomings in training, certain groups of conscripts, particularly conscript guardsmen, have also proven especially difficult to recruit to continued service within the Swedish Armed Forces. has also concluded that the current system has been unable to recruit a sufficient number of women to the Swed- ish Armed Forces. On several occasions, the Riksdag and the government have underscored how important it is that the share of women within the Swedish Armed Forces increases. This applies to conscripts, officers, the share of women in forces abroad and in the Home Guard. Of the approximately 5,250 people enlisted to mili- tary or civilian service in 2007 with basic training exceeding 60 days, about 400 were women. The share of professional officers who are women is approximately 4.5 percent. In the Home Guard, women represent 15 percent of personnel. The proportion of women in the forces abroad and in emergency units remains low. There are probably several reasons why the Swedish Armed Forces have not succeeded in recruiting more women. However, in the committees view, the foremost reason is the distinction between men and women made by the current system. As long as this differentiation persists, it will be difficult to fully attain the set targets when it comes to increasing the number of women in the armed forces. Since conscripts who complete basic training form the principal recruitment base for the professional officer corps, the Home Guard and personnel for forces abroad and emergency units, the small proportion of women completing military service also has an effect on these parts of the organisation. does the current system make use of the interest displayed by women who want to do military service. Of the slightly more than 1,500 women who applied for special admission examination in 2007, only 365 were enlisted for basic training. From the analyses that have been made, the committee concludes that the national total defence service obligation, as it is currently designed and applied, risks proving inadequate as a recruitment base for military personnel for all of the Swedish Armed Forces tasks, the Home Guard and the professional officer corps. The system is also burdened by inherent shortcomings in efficiency, while the two parallel systems of units impedes person- nel planning. also finds reason to question the suit- ability of calling young people up for service under the threat of legal repercussions when the national defences need for military personnel is so limited. Future obligation to complete military or civilian service proposes that the obligation for total defence conscripts to complete military or civilian service be made condi- tional upon this being prescribed by the government for reasons of defence preparedness. In such events, the supply of military personnel for the Swedish Armed Forces is to be secured, to the extent defence preparedness allows, independently of military Act should, however, be retained for full implementation if necessary. The government is also granted extensive scope in its assessment of when this is necessary. No formal circumstances, such as raised levels of preparedness, are required for the obligation to complete military or civilian service to be reinstated. According to the committee, it is not possible to foresee the circumstances under which it would be necessary to bring the national service system into use. is it possible to forecast what the personnel needs would be in such a situation. However, the committee finds it entirely unrealistic that gender should be a deci- sive factor. If it becomes necessary to reinstate the national service system, the authorities responsible must be afforded the greatest freedom of action in calling up the individuals best suited for service. therefore proposes that, when activated, the obligation to complete military or civilian service with extended training should also apply to women. also proposes that, if necessary, it should be possible to call up voluntarily recruited and trained military personnel and that these individuals shall be obliged to comply. This is necessary to be able to secure the Total Defences long- term personnel needs in the event of, for example, a change in security status. However, even in the future, no one shall be obliged to complete national military service without first having been enlisted for that. To complete emergency or military service, total defence conscripts must also have been assigned a wartime posting. Consequently the committee proposes that it should be possible to enlist for military service total defence conscripts who have completed other military training or service than that stipulated by the Act, that for this group, military service need not commence with basic training and that it shall be possible to assign to a certain post or operation those who, through voluntary military training or service, have acquired sufficient knowledge and skills for war assignments. also proposes that enlistment to military service without basic training shall be possible without the individual first undergoing registration and examination, since a sufficient basis for assessment will be available from the individuals service in the Armed Forces. The future obligation to participate in the prescribed survey of personal circumstances proposes that the obligation for total defence conscripts to undergo registration and examination, as well as the obligation to complete military or civilian service, be made condi- tional upon this being prescribed by the government for reasons of defence preparedness. When applied, the obligation to undergo registration and examination shall apply to both men and women. According to the committee, the regulations regarding the obli- gation to participate in other examinations should apply on all occasions. When other parts of the national service system are not in use, the application of the regulations regarding other examina- tions should be based on the web-based survey currently preceding registration and examination that is administrated by the . If other parts of the national service system are to be brought into use, it may be necessary to do this rapidly. By imposing a continuous duty to report on total defence conscripts, there will always be a sufficient base of information regarding which total defence conscripts are most suitable to call up for examination when needed. This guarantees that the national service system can be brought into use at short notice. At the same time, since the collection of this information does not require personal attendance, this also entails the least possible disruption for the individual. Authority responsible for voluntary recruitment, examination and call-up proposes that the Swedish Armed Forces be prin- cipally responsible for recruitment of military and naval personnel. This principal responsibility also includes responsibility for marketing, selection and recruitment. The Swedish Armed Forces shall also determine what tests should precede voluntary military training. The proposal entails the responsibility for the supply of personnel for military defence being focused on one authority rather than being divided between the Armed Forces and the as it is today. a transitional period of five to ten years, the Swedish Armed Forces should be obliged to purchase from the National the tests that must precede the selection of individuals for acceptance to basic military training. This arrange- ment should subsequently be evaluated. The committees proposal entails the regulations regarding the obligation to complete military or civilian service not being applied more than the government prescribes. The recruitment and train- ing of personnel currently serving in accordance with the Act shall instead take place on a voluntary basis. According to its directive, the committee shall consider how such training should be designed with regard to remuneration and other benefits, disciplinary liability and opportunities to discon- tinue service. If the obligation to complete military or civilian service is not applied, it will be necessary for the current obligatory training of military and naval personnel to be replaced by voluntary military training. According to the committees assessment there is no need to introduce equivalent voluntary training in the area of civilian defence. proposes that new, quality-assured basic train- ing, common to all of the Armed Forces, be introduced under the auspices of the Swedish Armed Forces. The training programme would be about three months long and would, to all intents and purposes, form the point of departure for all forms of voluntary military commitment in the Swedish Armed Forces. This would ensure that all military personnel within the Armed Forces have the same basic military skills. Shorter basic military training common to all of the Armed Forces would also facilitate recruit- ment to the Home Guard and would provides individuals inter- ested in the Armed Forces an opportunity to try military training without committing to a more extended period. Individuals under- going training would be termed recruits. According to the committee, training would be associated with a benefit and not conducted as a form of employment. An extended continued commitment within the Swedish Armed Forces in the form of employment or contracting would not commence until after basic military training. To be accepted to basic military training, an individual must be 18 years or older and a Swedish citizen. The Swedish Armed Forces may prescribe additional enlistment requirements. The Armed Forces have announced that all posts held by recruits will be assigned security classifications. Consequently, those whom the Defence Forces intend to enlist for training will also need to undergo security testing. To ensure that those admitted to training are suited to this and to avoid injuries among trainees, training is to be preceded by physical, and psychological tests. It is proposed that enlistment decisions be made at a central level within the Armed Forces, regardless or where within the Armed Forces the individual is to be trained. Since basic military training is to be common to all of the Armed Forces, the training objectives should be uniform for all branches of the Armed Forces. During training, recruits shall only be required to carry out tasks directly linked to the training objec- tives. On completion of training, an assessment shall be made as to whether or not the recruit has fulfilled the training objectives. To guarantee the quality assessment of the training, there should be a training inspector responsible for this. Military training programmes impose specific requirements on individuals. For this reason, the Swedish Armed Forces should have the possibility to dismiss anyone who proves unsuitable for continued training or who is absent to such an extent that it can be assumed that he or she will not be able to profit by the training. At the same time, recruits should also be able to discontinue training at any time. During training, recruits should be subject to the regulations included in the legislation pertaining to disciplinary responsibility in total defence, etc. (1994:1811). Following an individuals completion of basic military training, it shall be determined whether he/she has passed the training or not. proposes that the Swedish Armed Forces develop targets and methods for how this should be achieved. In addition to basic military training, the committee proposes that supplementary military training be established. This is intended to permit the continued training of military personnel, with benefits, for a short period following completed basic military training. This may be necessary to provide, among other things, certain functional training for individuals subsequently applying to officer training. Conditions and benefits for recruits during supplementary military training should largely correspond to those applicable during basic military training. Specifics regarding recruits conditions and benefits during training Applying and being accepted to basic military training provides no guarantee that the individual can subsequently be offered a contin- ued position within the Armed Forces. has taken this into account, striving to offer conditions that will increase the attractiveness of training without being excessively expensive. For example, it is proposed that recruits civilian jobs be subject to the same protection currently applicable to national service conscripts. should recruits be legally disadvantaged in terms of unem- ployment insurance. In the same spirit of enhancing attractiveness, the Swedish Armed Forces should be assigned the task of regulat- ing the length of training weeks and how and when leave can be approved. In addition, the committee proposes that the income level on which sickness benefit is based shall be safeguarded during the period that the recruit is undergoing training, in accordance with the ordinance proposed by the committee. Furthermore, recruits should be given the opportunity to have the income level on which sickness benefit is based determined on the basis of any additional work performed alongside their training. Given the nature of the training as associated with certain risks, the committee finds it self-evident that recruits be covered by the same occupational life insurance, regulations regarding national risk guarantee, national personal injury protection, etc. as for total defence conscripts completing military or civilian service. With regard to financial remuneration to recruits, the commit- tee has made comparisons with current total defence conscripts and officer candidates and has found there to be scope for changes that would likely have a favourable effect on the attractiveness of basic military training. The proposals entail a monthly compensa- tion being paid to those who undergo basic military training. This monthly compensation should combine the daily remuneration, compensation for meals and training premium currently paid to total defence conscripts. It is proposed that the Swedish Defence Forces be permitted to determine the scope of monthly compen- sation to recruits. Recruits in training shall also be entitled to free meals and lodging, as well as the clothes and equipment associated with the training. Compensation and any fringe benefits received by recruits during training shall be exempt from taxation. By real- locating resources from significant cost items under the current system – such as costs for home leave and provisions for future pensions – greater scope can be achieved for raised compen- sation levels. Beyond these general remunerations, recruits should be afforded the same opportunities as todays total defence conscripts to apply for needs-tested family allowances. Specifics regarding co-determination for recruits Similarly to the current system, opportunities for recruits to influ- ence their situation at the local level should exist through opportu- nities to elect representatives who can express the opinions of the group. In connection with this, each unit shall have personnel responsible for recruits co-determination. Such personnel shall coordinate co-determination efforts and form a link between recruits and unit leadership. They shall also train elected represen- tatives and recruits in co-determination. Training in how co- determination works and the rights of recruits shall be included in training objectives and implemented by specially assigned person- nel during the initial stages of training. Continued network efforts for and by women shall exist at all levels. Applying the current model of co-determination at the central level is more complicated. It would be difficult to establish an equivalent to the current . Nonetheless, continuous monitoring of recruits co-determination opportunities must be safeguarded. Consequently, the committee proposes that a board be established to review the treatment of recruits and their opportunities for co-determination. The board should be able to act on its own initiative in conducting investigations and should have the capacity to conduct ongoing visits to units. The board should have its own secretariat. The board should also include a special appeals function for recruits who have not passed their basic military training. Since no total defence conscripts will be undergoing military service, the magazine should be phased out. This should be replaced by a journalistic publication with the task of monitoring and reporting on operations throughout the defence area. The publication should be independent from the authorities it is charged with monitoring. The magazines purview should include the Swedish Armed Forces and other players in military and civil- ian defence. The task of financing the magazine should be given to the Swedish Armed Forces and the Swedish Civil Contingencies presents no detailed proposals as to how the Swed- ish Armed Forces should conduct their recruitment operations. Marketing efforts and recruitment methods must be continuously evaluated and developed to achieve the desired effect. However, the committee does emphasise a number of general principles with regard to recruitment to basic military training. One of the most central is the fact that the Armed Forces attractiveness primarily lies in factors other than marketing campaigns. The authority must appear to be – and in fact be – an attractive employer, requiring favourable conditions for those serving within the authority, paths for individual development both within and outside the authority, and confidence in the operations of the Swedish Armed Forces. It is important that the Armed Forces have information about the groups targeted by marketing. It is not possible to state precisely who these groups are on each occasion. However, three groups can be discerned. The first consists of individuals with an interest in the Armed Forces but who have not decided whether they really want to commit to operations in the longer term. The second consists of those who already in advance have a greater conviction in their interest in certain specific posts or continued training tracks within the Armed Forces. A third specific group probably consists of those who are interested in a commitment within the Home Guard or national defence forces. The Swedish Armed Forces should adapt its marketing to the interests of vari- ous target groups. To meet its personnel requirements, the Swedish Armed Forces must each year reach about 18,000 individuals who are willing to apply for basic military training and undergo subsequent testing. The Armed Forces should develop methods by which the number of people who must undergo testing is reduced in comparison with the number who can be enlisted for training. However, increasing the efficiency of testing and selection operations should not entail reducing the scope of the testing procedures. Potential efficiency improvements must be achieved in other ways. The Armed Forces should also carefully consider cooperating with other players, such as authorities, volunteer organisations and other special interest organisations, to attract competent individuals to basic military training. Principles for information, public support and the Swedish Armed Forces future public communications Studies show a declining trend regarding public awareness on secu- rity and total defence issues, despite information efforts being conducted by several players. According to the committee, it is crucial that the public has a good knowledge of the Armed Forces and societys crisis preparedness and, as far as possible, has confi- dence in work carried out in the area. To raise the level of awareness, the should coordinate the efforts of relevant authorities to develop and distribute information on defence and societys crisis preparedness. Reaching out to young people with information on defence and societys crisis preparedness is particularly important and the for Education plays an important role in this regard. would also like to stress the importance of the Swedish Armed Forces being a visible part of society. In the future, the contribution of volunteer organisations will be impor- tant in engaging people in the Armed Forces and societys crisis preparedness and in disseminating information on related issues. proposes that information about defence and societys crisis preparedness shall be distributed specifically to all women and men required to participate in the examination of their personal circumstances during the year in which they turn 18. shall bear the responsibility for developing this information. Future personnel reporting in total defence A prerequisite for military and civilian service being implemented as needed is that a functioning personnel reporting system be in place regarding those liable for national total defence. Centralised reporting of wartime postings must also be maintained within the Armed Forces. therefore proposes that centralised personnel reporting for total defence personnel be maintained even when the obligation to complete military or civilian service and to undergo registration and examination is not being applied. In the committees view the is the only authority that can, in practice, assume responsibility for centralised personnel reporting of this kind. From a total defence perspective, basic military training is one of the most important competencies an individual can have. Details of the competencies acquired by an individual through other mili- tary training or service than that supported by the total defence legislation should therefore by made available at the . For this reason, the committee takes the view that the Swedish Armed Forces should be required to submit requisite information on total defence conscripts who have under- gone voluntary military training or service within the Armed Forces, to the . Implementation of transition to voluntary personnel supply In its proposal on how to conduct a reform of the military person- nel supply, the committee has taken into account, among other aspects, the consequences of applied compulsory military service to voluntary training and opportunities to train smaller numbers of national service conscripts over a transitional period. However, the committee considers it unsuitable, even in a transitional phase, to maintain a hybrid system in which certain individuals are obliged to undergo training while others do so voluntarily. With regard to a transition with lower training volumes, the committee believes that the Armed Forces difficulties in meeting the personnel require- ments of the units would merely be postponed. Given the inherent efficiency shortcomings of the compulsory national service system, the committee believes that implementation with a single cut-off point would be more efficient than a system where conscripts are mixed with volunteers. also ques- tions the reasonableness of retaining a system in which people are required, under threat of legal repercussions, to complete service once a transition has begun to a voluntary military personnel supply system.