– I hope and believe that these positions can be attractive to today's young people, that you can contribute and do something for your nation without carrying a weapon in your hand, says Mikael Frisell, Director General of the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), at a press conference about the expanded civilian duty.
In addition to the municipal fire service, young people should also be able to be trained to serve in large shelters.
The new, long basic education will start in 2027, MSB hopes, and initially it will be on a small scale.
The Public Service Commission decides
Within the municipal rescue service, approximately 200 young people will be called in each year. But from 2029, the number will grow to between 1,500-2,000 individuals annually, according to MSB. When it comes to shelters, not as many are needed, but there are around a hundred individuals who will be trained, Frisell says.
The 18- and 19-year-olds who will be drafted next year will therefore be the first to be called up for the revived civilian service.
The Swedish Service Obligation and Examination Board decides who is called up for military service and civilian service, respectively. Mikael Frisell believes that it will be possible to submit requests for civilian service, but ultimately it is the Swedish Service Obligation and Examination Board that decides – based on the requirements placed on a person who is to carry weapons or join the rescue services.
It is an important tool for ensuring the supply of skills in certain sectors, says the Minister of Civil Defense, Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M), about the civilian obligation.
The civilian training will be slightly shorter than conscription, for example between 14 and 20 weeks in municipal emergency services, which can be compared to up to 40 weeks for a soldier.
A number of fast tracks
The government has previously activated civilian duty through a number of fast-track programs for adults who already have some knowledge in the field. This has so far led to 1,300 people, including former firefighters, receiving refresher training.
MSB's goal is for the municipal rescue service to be strengthened by just over 16,000 civilian employees, to a total of 32,000, by 2035.
In the long term, there may also be talk of completely new compulsory civilian training courses, including in cybersecurity.
In 2026, young people will also begin to enlist for civilian service.
In a first step, it involves training within municipal rescue services, as well as operations managers for large shelters.
The training will start in 2027.
The government has also announced several "fast tracks" for civil service for adults in emergency services, electricity systems, healthcare, the transport sector and civil protection.
So far, only the emergency services and electrical systems have been started. The rest is still being investigated.
