This is Henrik. A young man in uniform. He is currently doing his national service at the Life Guard Regiment in Kungsängen. Serving at the Dragoons battalion that trains the military police. He is on the last stretch, with only one a couple of weeks left to serve. He told me that his regiment had been travelling all over the country from north to south, and that he had really had a great time in the armed forces. When I met him he was heading home as he was on a few days leave. We had time to talk cameras and I told him about my encounter with the Military Police:
It was a few eons ago now when I did my national service in the Swedish Air Force. We had a two week summer break, and a group of 10 soldiers from all over the country gathered at a famous camp site on the island of Gotland. It was a 24/7 party. Next to the camp site there's a military base, and one day when we were out of booze we drove to Visby in a car that really shouldn't have been on the road. One guy was actually sitting under the hood, he was in charge of the throttle! Anyway we were pulled over by the MP who soon realised that everyone in the rusty old car were soldiers, and we were expecting a serious reprimand, but somehow we managed to talk ourselves out of the situation in time to get to the Systembolaget (the liquor store).
12 comments:
You had some really convincing talker with you: jail looked much probable than liquor store, which you reached anyway...
Is National Service required of all men? I often thought it would be a good idea here.
the friendliest soldier ever!
Salute To The Great People !! Amazing Posture !!
What a funny story! And I'd say you were rather fortunate! This is a great photo of a soldier!
Is it possible for him to make soldiering a career?
When I did my service back in the 1980ths it was obligatory for all men. These days it's only about 15 percent of the men that will have to do it. Any woman interested can also apply.
We usually visited the liquor store twice every day!
Good to see drinking and soldiers is a europe wide thing. I served for 8 years and I remember one party where a guy was thrown out the window, we were on the first floor up!
We in the US don't associate Sweden with the military but of course there has to be one. We also do not have national service. I'm glad, though, that when you served you found the necessary services.
I was an aircraft mechanic. Working on the J 35 SAAB Dragon. I was in the service for 11 months. I was placed at Tullinge outside Stockholm where the hangars were underground. And yes, he can choose to stay in the armed forces. Some facts about that via Wikipedia.
Thanks, Steffe. I did go to Wikipedia and read all about Sweden's armed forces. Very interesting.
Sweden may be sorry if they abolish conscription, though.
Cute boy ;-)
I like your military story - I can't believe you had someone under the hood and managed to not get arrested!!!
We did a lot of strange things that fortnight. Most of my friends were spread out all over the country doing their service. So getting together on the island was a lot of fun. One odd thing we did, which called for the police to interfere was to set up a tent in a very public park just behind the stage where the top Swedish politicians meet every summer.That didn't go down well at all. Apparently having a group of young guys drinking and shouting a bit wasnt what the politicians wanted, go figure!
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