Forsvarets Spesialkommando: Difference between revisions
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During the 2000s, HJK changed its name to FSK/HJK, to reflect the two units that make up the command (FSK being the operative wing and HJK being the training wing). Since 2013–2014, the FSK/HJK name has been discontinued and the operative SOF-unit is simply known as FSK.<ref name="forsvaret.no">http://forsvaret.no/utdanning-karriere/spesialstyrke/fsk-hjk/Sider/default.aspx Official FSK website</ref> |
During the 2000s, HJK changed its name to FSK/HJK, to reflect the two units that make up the command (FSK being the operative wing and HJK being the training wing). Since 2013–2014, the FSK/HJK name has been discontinued and the operative SOF-unit is simply known as FSK.<ref name="forsvaret.no">http://forsvaret.no/utdanning-karriere/spesialstyrke/fsk-hjk/Sider/default.aspx Official FSK website</ref> |
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===Year 2013 court ruling about year 1983 falsification of documents=== |
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In 2013 [[Dagbladet]] quoted a recent<ref name=Appellatecourt>{{cite news|last=Hustadnes|first=Halldor|title=Lagmannsretten mener Forsvaret forfalsket dokumenter mot elitesoldat. 30 år etter nestendrukning og heftig skyting får eks-soldaten Bjørn Sagvolden (55) erstatning.|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2013/06/28/nyheter/forsvaret/innenriks/27903431/|newspaper=Dagbladet|date=2013-06-28|language=Norwegian}}</ref> court verdict that said "[[Borgarting Court of Appeal|The appellate court]] finds on account of witness testimony of [[Nomen nescio|NN]] and NN that most likely the written statements are false, and most likely they have been fabricated at a later time (''i ettertid'') to ''begrunne'' (or give a reason) for firing Sagvolden". (A soldier at FSK in 1983,<ref name="Appellatecourt"/> [[Bjørn Sagvolden]], was fired from his job on the force.) In seven written statements purportedly from soldiers in FSK, dated December 1983, Sagvolden was labeled as quarrelsome and reckless in his handling of firearms.<ref name="Appellatecourt"/> Two of the soldiers who the written statements named as the persons who sent [and authored] the statements, denied (in the appellate court) that they had done so.<ref name="Appellatecourt"/> Those two also testified that "FSK's leadership [in 1983] disagreed (''faglig uenig'') with Sagvolden on military subjects".<ref name="Appellatecourt"/> On 9 July 2013 media said that the [seven] written statements had not been signed, and that those statements were used by two [[psychiatrist]]s who acted as expert witnesses (''sakkyndig''), diagnosing Sagvolden as having "a post-traumatic stress affliction or brain damage"—without having met Sagvolden.<ref name=Police>{{cite news|title=Ber politiet granske om elitesoldaten Bjørn (55) ble offer for falske rapporter. Krigsadvokaten ber politiet vurdere etterforskning. |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2013/07/09/nyheter/innenriks/forsvar/28095013/|newspaper=Dagbladet|date=2013-07-09}}</ref> |
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A 29 June 2013 [[Dagbladet]] article said that the ministry of defence will "ask [[Norwegian Armed Forces|Forsvaret]] (Norway's military) to investigate the claims that false documents were fabricated, in connection with the job firing case (''oppsigelsessaken'')".<ref name=Generaladvokat>{{cite news|last=Hustadnes|first=Halldor|title=Generaladvokaten skrev støttebrev for yrkesskadet elitesoldat. Nå krever den sparkede tidligere elitesoldaten Bjørn Sagvolden (55) erstatning fra Forsvaret.|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2013/06/28/nyheter/forsvaret/elitestyrker/27933710/|date=2013-06-29|language=}}</ref> On 9 July 2013 media said that "Now the [[Judge Advocate General's Corps|Judge Advocate General]] sends the case to the police".<ref name="Police"/> |
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===Today=== |
===Today=== |
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Revision as of 11:15, 26 July 2014
Forsvarets Spesialkommando (FSK, en. Armed Forces' Special Command) is a special operations forces unit of the Norwegian Ministry of Defence. The unit was established in 1982[1] due to the increased risk of terrorist activity against Norwegian interests, including the oil platforms in the North Sea.[2]
In 2013, the unit was reorganized, alongside Marinejegerkommandoen, into a separate branch of the Norwegian Armed Forces - The Norwegian Armed Forces Special Operations Forces.[3]
Introduction
Very little is known publicly about FSK, since the Norwegian government denied their existence and participation in any military operations for a long time. Some details have however emerged after FSK´s participation in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
The establishment of FSK was briefly mentioned in an article in the Norwegian newspaper, Aftenposten, in 1983. During a hijacking in Norway in 1985, it was reported that FSK operatives had been put on alert in their base at Trandum, but not requested to assist in any action. A proposal to disband the FSK in 1988, as a financial measure, was met with protests, especially from the oil industry and the military. The plan was shelved after much media attention. Aftenposten reported on the unit as a "special military command composed of highly trained operators from Hærens Jegerkommando at Trandum and Marinejegerkommandoen, in addition to other specialists. The operators are very experienced and have served in the military for several years before joining."[citation needed]
The first time FSK was publicly mentioned by a representative of the Armed Forces, was in connection with the hijacking of SAS Flight 347 at Gardemoen Airport in September 1993. The following year, the magazine Vi Menn published an article about the FSK. In 1990 the FSK was also mentioned in a research paper: "The Armed Forces' Special Command (FSK) is specially trained to be used in the event of terrorist attacks against oil installations - especially hijacking situations." FSK's existence was only publicly acknowledged by the Norwegian Armed Forces for the first time in 1999, when a piece about the unit appeared in the Armed Forces Magazine "Forsvarets Forum" (The Defence Forum).[4]
FSK cooperate with special operations forces from several other countries, including the Special Air Services (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS) of the United Kingdom, Delta Force and Navy SEALs / DEVGRU of the United States, and KSK and GSG-9 of Germany.
History
Forsvarets Spesialkommando can trace its roots back to the Second World War, when Norwegians served in the British Special Operations Executive (Norwegian Independent Company 1), Independent Parachute Company 1 and No. 5 Troop 10 Interallied Commando.
In 1953, the Norwegian Armed Forces started training frogmen and on 25 March 1962 the Army Parachute Ranger School (Hærens Fallskjermjegerskole) was created. The focus of this school initially was to provide parachute training for certain groups of personnel within the Norwegian Armed Forces, and eventually the Parachute Ranger Platoon (Fallskjermjegertroppen) was established in 1965. Specially selected personnel from this platoon were assigned to Ranger Command 1 in the old mobilization army of the Cold War and were on standby in case of war.
In 1971, the Army Parachute Ranger School changed its name to the Army Ranger School (Hærens Jegerskole), to emphasize the training of Army Rangers. Based on an increase in international terrorism and Norway's newly developed offshore oil services, the government decided in 1979 to establish a counter-terrorism capacity within the Norwegian Armed Forces. This task was given to the Army Ranger School, and Forsvarets Spesialkommando was born in 1982 – as part of the Army Ranger School.
From the mid-1990s there was an increasing focus on international operations. To show that the Army Ranger School now had an operative arm as well as the traditional training role, it changed its name to the Army Ranger Command (Hærens Jegerkommando) in 1997. The same year, HJK moved from Trandum to Rena, where the unit is based today.
During the 2000s, HJK changed its name to FSK/HJK, to reflect the two units that make up the command (FSK being the operative wing and HJK being the training wing). Since 2013–2014, the FSK/HJK name has been discontinued and the operative SOF-unit is simply known as FSK.[5]
Year 2013 court ruling about year 1983 falsification of documents
In 2013 Dagbladet quoted a recent[6] court verdict that said "The appellate court finds on account of witness testimony of NN and NN that most likely the written statements are false, and most likely they have been fabricated at a later time (i ettertid) to begrunne (or give a reason) for firing Sagvolden". (A soldier at FSK in 1983,[6] Bjørn Sagvolden, was fired from his job on the force.) In seven written statements purportedly from soldiers in FSK, dated December 1983, Sagvolden was labeled as quarrelsome and reckless in his handling of firearms.[6] Two of the soldiers who the written statements named as the persons who sent [and authored] the statements, denied (in the appellate court) that they had done so.[6] Those two also testified that "FSK's leadership [in 1983] disagreed (faglig uenig) with Sagvolden on military subjects".[6] On 9 July 2013 media said that the [seven] written statements had not been signed, and that those statements were used by two psychiatrists who acted as expert witnesses (sakkyndig), diagnosing Sagvolden as having "a post-traumatic stress affliction or brain damage"—without having met Sagvolden.[7]
A 29 June 2013 Dagbladet article said that the ministry of defence will "ask Forsvaret (Norway's military) to investigate the claims that false documents were fabricated, in connection with the job firing case (oppsigelsessaken)".[8] On 9 July 2013 media said that "Now the Judge Advocate General sends the case to the police".[7]
Today
FSK has gone from being a cadre and training-unit for paratroopers and the mobilization army, to being a professional unit with substantial experience, robustness, competency and capacity. The unit has been deployed internationally on several occasions and has received international recognition for its efforts.
The unit has a considerable amount of support from Norway's political and military leaders. The Norwegian Parliament has decided that the Norwegian SOF are to be strengthened. FSK recruits, selects and trains paratroopers and SOF operators, and produces officers for the rest of the Norwegian Armed Forces. FSK is on both national and international standby for special operations and counter-terrorism operations (alongside Marinejegerkommandoen). In addition, FSK is the competency and training centre for all parachute and counter-terrorism training in the Norwegian Armed Forces.[5]
International Operations
Kosovo
FSK and the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) cooperated in various ways during the Kosovo conflict.[9] FSK, operating alongside the British SAS, was the first special operations force to enter Pristina. FSK's mission was to level the negotiating field between the belligerent parties, and to fine-tune the detailed, local deals needed to implement the peace deal between the Serbians and the Kosovo Albanians.[10][11][12]
Afghanistan
FSK supported Coalition Special Operations Forces in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan as part of Task Force K-Bar. They have carried out missions in the Helmand and Uruzgan provinces of South Afghanistan.[13]
More recently, FSK has had the main responisibility in training the Afghan National Police Crisis Response Unit in Kabul, under the command of the International Security Assistance Force.[14]
Forsvarets Spesialkommando's Role
"Forsvarets spesialkommando (FSK) has a role in the Norwegian Armed Forces' independent responsibility to handle an act of terrorism that is considered an "armed attack" on Norway, but also has a dedicated mission to support the police in the event counter-terrorism operations at sea. FSK may further assist the police on land." - Norwegian Parliamentary Statement 29 and e-mail address.[5]
In wartime, their tasks are mainly:
- to gather intelligence
- to localize and identify enemy supplies and activity
- to carry out offensive operations against strategically important targets
- to provide support for rescue missions of important personnel
- to provide protection for personnel and departments
Selection
Currently anyone who has completed their military service with Norwegian Armed Forces can apply.
The road to becoming an elite soldier of the FSK is long and hard. First, one must go through a general selection to separate out those who do not have physical and mental strength to start the special forces recruitment school. This selection lasts 3 days. After passing the general selections, an applicant attends SOF selection. This selection lasts three weeks and comprises hard physical and mental exercises with little food and little sleep. Very few of those who enter the school get through.
Following selection, the potential operator start basic training (1 year). This training involves all basic disciplines required to serve as a SOF operator. Not all who begin basic training get through. After training, one is eligible for operational service in FSK, including training in specialist roles, such as sniper, combat medic, forward air controller, etc. Further training is conducted in Norway or abroad at allied training facilities.[15]
Criticism of the training
Parachute landings on oil platforms in the North Sea
Testimony in court and in the media indicates that training previously included parachute landings on helicopter landing-pads related to oil platforms.[16][17] The SAS (special forces from Britain) considered such as suicide missions.[17]
"Sitting duck" exercises
In the past, the training has included "sitting duck" exercises, where a soldier had to sit still while live rounds were fired, missing the soldier's head by only a few centimeters.[16][18] The stated purpose of the exercise, if any, is lacking from records.
Comments made about the exercise include "There probably is a reason why one does not conduct this exercise today."[n 1][19]
Controversies
Psychological follow-up
Claims have been made, that professional psychological help for traumatized FSK-soldiers, has not been adequate (and sometimes not reasonably available).[20]
Knut Braa has said that in 2002, FSK soldiers who saw combat were not being debriefed adequately.[21] (Pål Herlofsen was (then) in charge of the "psychological follow-up" of the soldiers.[22])
Dagens Næringsliv asked in 2003, if it is a problem that soldiers are prohibited from talking about their experiences during their service for FSK, due to confidentiality (taushetsplikt). Minister of Defence Kristin Krohn Devold replied that "they are not prohibited from discussing their experiences and feelings (opplevelser) during therapy with civilian therapists."[citation needed]
Safety violations
During an FSK training mission a former commando of USA (Kevin Thilgman), died in 2010 when their boat capsized at a speed above 50 knots.[23] A number of safety procedures had been violated, when the "newly"[23] acquired boat was being demonstrated without testing being completed in advance.
Former commanding officers
Former commanding officers of FSK include:
- General Harald Sunde (1992–1996)
- Lieutenant colonel Karl Egil Hanevik (2003)[24]
Weapons
The soldiers are trained in the use of these weapons:
- Assault rifles
- Submachine guns
- Sniper rifles
- Pistols
- Grenade launchers
- AG-C/EGLM (Fitted to C8SFW)
- M320 Grenade Launcher Module (on HK416).
- Milkor MGL
- HK GMG (automatic grenade launcher on Mercedes SF vehicles).
- Machine guns
- FN Minimi (5.56 mm)
- Rheinmetall MG3 (7.62 mm)
- Browning M2 (12.7 mm)
- Shotguns
- Anti-tank weapons
Vehicles
- Geländewagen/MB270 CDI FAV vehicle armoured and EOD protected with 3 weaponstations (2 MG3 and 1 M2 or GMG). Developed in 2002 and later modernized. Used in operation Anaconda. Lot of space and mounts for equipment and communication.
See also
- Special Air Service
- Delta Force
- SEAL Team Six
- Army Ranger Wing
- Jægerkorpset
- Särskilda operationsgruppen
Notes
- ^ According to former "FSK-Sergeant"/ FSK-veteran of the Kosovo conflict, Knut Harald Hansen
References
- ^ Monica Rikoll: Forsvarets spesialkommando feiret 50-års-jubileum NRK, 1 September 2012, Template:No icon
- ^ "- VIKTIG Å BESKYTTE: Forsvarets spesialkommando (FSK) har jevnlig realistiske øvelser i terror mot norske oljeplattformer i Nordsjøen"
- ^ http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/rebuilding-defense-around-sof/ Rebuilding defense around SOF
- ^ http://www.fofo.no/Daler+ned+i+skjul.b7C_wBnKZH.ips Forsvarets Forum: "Daler ned i skjul"
- ^ a b c http://forsvaret.no/utdanning-karriere/spesialstyrke/fsk-hjk/Sider/default.aspx Official FSK website
- ^ a b c d e Hustadnes, Halldor (2013-06-28). "Lagmannsretten mener Forsvaret forfalsket dokumenter mot elitesoldat. 30 år etter nestendrukning og heftig skyting får eks-soldaten Bjørn Sagvolden (55) erstatning". Dagbladet (in Norwegian).
- ^ a b "Ber politiet granske om elitesoldaten Bjørn (55) ble offer for falske rapporter. Krigsadvokaten ber politiet vurdere etterforskning". Dagbladet. 2013-07-09.
- ^ Hustadnes, Halldor (2013-06-29). "Generaladvokaten skrev støttebrev for yrkesskadet elitesoldat. Nå krever den sparkede tidligere elitesoldaten Bjørn Sagvolden (55) erstatning fra Forsvaret".
- ^ Hjalp vi forbryterne til makten? - Kultur - Dagbladet.no Template:WebCite
- ^ Tom Bakkeli - Norges Hemmelige Krigere (ISBN 978-82-489-0722-0)
- ^ http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/serbia-og-montenegro/britisk-og-norske-soldater-i-pristina/a/3978724/
- ^ http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/norske-elitesoldater-skamroses/a/6450899/
- ^ http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=10029382
- ^ http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/artikkel.php?artid=10069650 VG: "Norwegian SOF return to Afghanistan"
- ^ http://forsvaret.no/utdanning-karriere/spesialstyrke/fsk-hjk/spesialjeger/Sider/spesialjeger.aspx Official FSK website
- ^ a b Dagens Næringsliv, DN Magasinet,16./21. april 2003,p.27 (Facsimile: http://www.dykkersaken.no/files/dated/2008-11-13/artikkel_sagvolden_dn_210403.pdf ) Template:WebCite
- ^ a b Verdens Gang, 14.11.2008 (Facsimile: http://www.dykkersaken.no/files/dated/2008-11-14/faksimile_vg_fsk_141108.pdf )
- ^ http://www.lokalavisen.no/nyheter/til-kamp-mot-staten-1.4794004 : (translation: "A short time after the accident he was placed in a dark room with an infrared beam pointed at his forehead, and shots were fired around his head.") "Kort tid etter ulykken ble han plassert i et mørkt rom med infrarød stråle i panna, og skutt rundt hodet på."
- ^ Dagens Næringsliv, DN Magasinet,16./21. april 2003,p.28 (Facsimile: http://www.dykkersaken.no/files/dated/2008-11-13/artikkel_sagvolden_dn_210403.pdf ) Template:WebCite
- ^ "Regjeringens drapsmaskiner", Dagens Næringsliv,16./21.April 2003,p.29 ( Facsimile: http://www.dykkersaken.no/files/dated/2008-11-13/artikkel_sagvolden_dn_210403.pdf ) Template:WebCite
- ^ Gjernes, Knut; Hustadnes, Halldor (2003-04-16). "Regjeringens drapsmaskiner". Dagens Næringsliv (in Norwegian). p. 29-M. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-02-02.
November 2002 ... Knut Arnljot Braa holder foredrag om senvirkningene. Etter foredraget kommer to menn i 20-årsalderen bort til ham. To spesialtrente soldater. - Bare noen dager tidligere kom de hjem fra slagmarken i Afghanistan. De har skutt for å drepe, og selv blitt beskutt. De har sett døde ligge igjen. Nå forteller de om mangel på oppfølging etter at de kom hjem fra slagmarken i Afghanistan. De har skutt for å drepe, og selv blitt beskutt. De har sett døde ligge igjen. Nå forteller de om mangel på oppfølging av kritiske episoder, som ikke bare er militærfaglig. De forteller også hvor ekstra vanskelig det er å komme hjem til kjæreste og familie med forbud mot å fortelle hva de har opplevd. De er fra Forsvarets Spesialkommando.
- ^ Gjernes, Knut; Hustadnes, Halldor (2003-04-16). "Regjeringens drapsmaskiner". Dagens Næringsliv (in Norwegian). p. 29-M. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-02-02.
Hemmelige psykologer. Dagens Næringsliv vet at oberstløytnant, psykiater og sjef for Oslo Militære Legekontor, Pål Herlovsen og psykolog Jon Reichelt ved Kontor for Psykiatri ved Forsvarets overkommando har ansvaret for den psykologiske oppfølgingen av Forsvarets Spesialkommando. - Det eneste jeg kan si er at vi har tenkt på det meste. Noe mer om hvordan vi har organisert oss ønsker vi ikke å gå ut med, sier psykiater Pål Herlovsen.
- ^ a b Tom Bakkeli (2011-10-06). "- SIKKERHETEN HAR SVIKTET". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). p. 14.
"Forsvarets nye hurtiggående RHIB"; RHIB-en ikke var ferdig testet"; "toppfart langt over 50 knots [[{{subst:DATE}}|{{subst:DATE}}]] [disambiguation needed]"; "Båtfører fra FLO Forsvarets Logistikkorganisajon"; Vealøs ... Langøya
- ^ "Regjeringens drapsmaskiner", Dagens Næringsliv,16./21.April 2003,p.29
External links
- «Åsta-helt døde under anti-terrortrening», from Verdens Gang, October 6, 2005 Template:No icon
- «Norske styrker øver anti-terror» from Forsvarsnett, December 30, 2002 Template:No icon
- «Taushet om spesialstyrker», from Ny Tid, November 16, 2001 Template:No icon
- «Spesialkommandoen skulle befri Ostrø» from Verdens Gang, September 23, 2001 Template:No icon
- «Video of NORSOF» from TVNORGE, January 21, 2007 Template:No icon
- TV Commercial Video Template:No icon
- Forsvarets Spesialkommando promo video Template:No icon
- «The FSK official website»
- http://www.janes.com/defence/news/kosovo/jdw990420_01_n.shtml