Sweden will expand its fast-track military training program for Home Guard volunteers next year. The program received strong interest during its first session this summer.
Voluntary Military Training (FMU) will be available at six locations across Sweden in 2026. Confirmed sites include Härnösand, Lomben, Kosta, Skövde and Skredsvik. Authorities will announce the sixth location later.
FMU offers compressed basic military training over five weeks. Volunteers learn military fundamentals before being placed as soldiers in Home Guard units.
The first training session in Härnösand attracted heavy interest this summer. 158 people secured spots - 20 women and 138 men aged 18 to 48.
Brigadier General Mattias Ardin said in a statement that the program shows promise for filling military units and supporting defense willingness in society.
Sweden's military expansion comes amid changing security dynamics in Northern Europe. The country recently joined NATO after decades of neutrality.
This rapid training approach addresses both recruitment needs and public interest in national defense. The compressed format makes military service more accessible to working adults and students.