Sweden · Monday, 2 November 2026
Sweden's reserve of trained soldiers is shrinking, risking defence capability
A government report found that Sweden's reserve of trained conscripts is shrinking even as it needs to grow quickly, because conscripts leave the reserve after ten years without refresher training while the armed forces lack the staff and equipment to retrain them fast enough. Defence Minister Pål Jonson said the government wants to scrap the ten-year limit and keep soldiers in reserve until age 47, though a researcher warned that only postpones the shortage of trainers.