Denmark, which aims to increase its military capacity in the Arctic, has sent the first group of conscripts to the region for duties in Greenland.
Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has become the first overseas duty station where conscripts can receive training under the new arrangement. The system introduced this year extended the length of mandatory military service from four to 11 months.
First troops arrive in Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq
Part of the first group to arrive in Greenland will train in the capital Nuuk, while the rest will train in Kangerlussuaq.
The soldiers will take part in exercises to develop survival skills in the Arctic’s harsh natural conditions. During their service, they will also work with their Greenlandic colleagues.
New system includes six months of operational duties
Under Denmark’s new arrangement, conscripts will first undergo five months of basic training, followed by six months in the army’s operational duties. At this stage, they will carry out real combat missions.
Krab, a 19-year-old from Copenhagen, said they were very pleased to be serving in Greenland.