The government’s recent proposal to extend compulsory military service from four to 11 months is “unrealistic,” mainly due to a lack of capacity, a leading union representing Danish armed forces personnel told Danish media on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the Danish government unveiled a plan to extend the period of military service from four to 11 months for those drafted and selected to serve. They also announced plans to make conscription compulsory for women as part of efforts to strengthen Denmark’s defence.

The government’s goal is to call up 5,000 conscripts for an 11-month service from 2026 onward. Last year, around 4,700 Danes did military service, most of them for four months.

All Danish men are obliged to attend a ‘Defence Day’ after turning 18, a compulsory exercise in which they undergo a series of tests to determine whether they are fit for military service.

If declared fit, potential conscripts must draw a lottery number. This determines whether they will be assigned a place of service, as the needs of the Danish Defence Forces or the Danish Emergency Management Agency are lower than the actual number of fit potential conscripts.

The Central Association of Armed Forces Personnel (CS), the union representing the interests of Danish armed forces members, says the government’s plan is “not realistic at all.”

“We are not ready at all,” CS Chairman Jesper K. Hansen told Danish media.

“When there are already too few of us to do what we have to do now, it doesn’t make the problem any smaller by adding more work on top of it,” he added.

The main problem in the Danish Defence Forces is the lack of manpower. According to figures published by the Danish newspaper DR, 25% of sergeant positions in the army were unfilled in autumn 2023.

As sergeants train Danish conscripts, increasing the number of conscripts and their service time will only increase the pressure on Denmark’s already strained military system.

Equipment and proper facilities are also in short supply, according to the CS.

“Sometimes I don’t quite understand what politicians are saying,” Hansen said. “Maybe this is to show some kind of vigour and leadership, but it is not at all realistic in the short term.”

Hansen added that the government’s proposal requires an entirely different setup than Denmark’s.

(Charles Szumski | Euractiv.com)

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