Sweden's military conscription revival sparks societal shift

Sweden has embarked on a robust revival of military conscription, doubling its annual intake of conscripts and aiming for further expansion.

Germany, the Netherlands, and other countries are exploring Sweden's model where over 100,000 teenagers are screened annually.

Welcome to Tegeluddsvägen 29A, an unassuming office building on the outskirts of Stockholm that has become a key destination for European defense officials seeking insights into increasing military recruitment. Alongside centers in Gothenburg and Malmö, this conscription testing facility will assess 110,000 teenagers this year, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

Approximately a quarter of them will undergo physical and mental examinations, with the top third selected to serve between nine and 15 months in the military, regardless of their initial preferences.

Sweden's conscription model is tailored to replenish its military, which had been downsized post-Cold War. The resurgence of eastern threats, exemplified by Russia's annexation of Crimea a decade ago, prompted Swedish leaders to reverse course.

This system has captured the interest of major European capitals like Berlin, London, and Amsterdam, where officials are urgently seeking strategies to strengthen their own military capacities. Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson has underscored the significance of conscription in recent speeches, stating, "Conscription is essential for the ongoing growth of our armed forces." He emphasized this during a recent parliamentary session in Stockholm, pointing out that "the needs of our military organization cannot rely solely on contracted personnel."

The number of conscripts entering the Swedish military has doubled to approximately 8,000 this year from 4,000 in 2017, when gender-neutral mandatory military service was reinstated following a seven-year hiatus. The government aims to increase this figure to 10,000 annually in the near future, with the system designed to accommodate further expansion if required.

Building on the existing 14,850 full-time personnel in the Swedish military, this shift has reverberated through a society that has remained largely at peace for over 200 years. Alongside Sweden's recent move toward NATO accession, the revival of military conscription has sparked significant psychological adjustment among teenagers. Many had not previously considered roles such as maintaining fighter jets or serving aboard submarines as potential career paths.