The contract can be severed at any time, but if the action is based on anything less than dire straits, the member endangers his chances of being selected for future assignments. The current group assumed their watch in early-June, replacing a contingent of fellow countrymen that had been on station since January. The Swedish MPs are fully integrated into the company, working alongside soldiers from Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Poland. Many of the procedures they practice during the day are quite different from their civilian roles at home. The daily routine involves everything from patrols and investigations to speed checks and vehicle checkpoints for military traffic.
Patrols often prove to be a unique opportunity to interact with the local population.
It's a Swedish way of living. Occasionally, the Swedish MPs have a chance to apply their civilian knowledge to military problems and share some of their civilian experiences with MPs who have been limited to the military side of the fence. Many of the Swedes have had dramatic episodes under fire and can offer valuable first-hand advice on reacting properly. On the flip side, they can draw wisdom from both their MP brethren and the conditions surrounding them in Bosnia, adding another dimension to their own expertise. We work in different ways than the other countries do.