Swedish prince accepts foreign duty ultimatum
Prince Carl Philip, second in line to the Swedish throne, has accepted the offer of a new employment contract from the Armed Forces, including an obligation serve overseas, reported the Expressen daily.
The prince, who is a reserve officer with the rank of major and is attached to the Amf1 amphibious regiment outside Stockholm, could thus be sent to Afghanistan and other global trouble spots at short notice.
The decision by commander-in-chief Sverker Göransson to issue the new contract in June, has drawn criticism from some quarters, including the Swedish Military Officers' Association (Officersförbundet).
Association chairperson Lars Fresker has been highly critical of how the issue has been managed by the military authorities.
"The details over how often the postings would occur, and possible exceptions regarding having small children, or sickness, are not clear. There is a significant level of concern among members," he said last week.
All employees, including civil employees, were given until September 20th to decide, and The Local reported last week that 600 of the 16,000 people employed by the Swedish Armed Forces had rejected the new terms and conditions.
But the Swedish prince, who completed his national service at the Amf1 regiment as a skipper, was not among the rebels.
"The prince has responded to the letter and declared himself willing to complete foreign duty," said Major Kristina Swaan at the regiment to Expressen.
However as the prince is enlisted as a reserve officer he is subject to special regulations and can only be order to served overseas if he was simultaneously actively serving in the regiment.
Swedish forces are currently operating in Afghanistan, Kosovo and the Gulf of Aden.
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The prince, who is a reserve officer with the rank of major and is attached to the Amf1 amphibious regiment outside Stockholm, could thus be sent to Afghanistan and other global trouble spots at short notice.
The decision by commander-in-chief Sverker Göransson to issue the new contract in June, has drawn criticism from some quarters, including the Swedish Military Officers' Association (Officersförbundet).
Association chairperson Lars Fresker has been highly critical of how the issue has been managed by the military authorities.
"The details over how often the postings would occur, and possible exceptions regarding having small children, or sickness, are not clear. There is a significant level of concern among members," he said last week.
All employees, including civil employees, were given until September 20th to decide, and The Local reported last week that 600 of the 16,000 people employed by the Swedish Armed Forces had rejected the new terms and conditions.
But the Swedish prince, who completed his national service at the Amf1 regiment as a skipper, was not among the rebels.
"The prince has responded to the letter and declared himself willing to complete foreign duty," said Major Kristina Swaan at the regiment to Expressen.
However as the prince is enlisted as a reserve officer he is subject to special regulations and can only be order to served overseas if he was simultaneously actively serving in the regiment.
Swedish forces are currently operating in Afghanistan, Kosovo and the Gulf of Aden.
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