'Ridiculous': Norwegian Recruits Asked to Bring Own Sneakers Because Of A Shortage Of Gear

Norway's military has a peacetime force of around 23,250 and ranks among the leaders in expenditure per capita of Europe's NATO members.

The Norwegian Armed Forces are experiencing a shortage of goggles, sneakers and towels, which is why conscripts who attend military service for the first time this autumn have been asked to bring their own.

The reason is that the depots are nearly empty of some sneaker sizes, and the Norwegian Armed Forces Logistics Organization (FLO) is unable to deliver more, Norway's broadcaster NRK reported, citing internal military documents.

The FLO even encouraged some branches of the defense corps to consider whether they need to change their routine activities as a result of the lack of equipment.

“In general, delivery problems are an undesirable situation that can affect the start of the service and its continuation,” staff sergeant Aleksander Engborg Hage at the Armed Forces' communications unit, told NRK.

He said that low inventories for individual items, combined with the fact that necessary framework agreements are not in place, were responsible for the lack of equipment. Furthermore, logistics challenges in the international market have led to delayed deliveries. He stressed that the military is working to find a solution.

This autumn, there will be a delivery of 25,000 pairs of goggles. In the meantime, the Armed Forces will reuse the goggles they already have.

It appears as if clothing supply problems have become entrenched in the Norwegian army. Last year, it was announced that new recruits would be given recycled underwear, socks and bras. Furthermore, soldiers at the in Sør-Varanger Garrison had to wear woolen clothes full of holes because of a shortage of stocks.

The shortages have been met with fierce criticism. Army Chief shop steward Viktor Fladmoe said that equipment shortages have been a challenge for a while and that the Armed Forces should have worked better to avoid ending up in such a situation.

“When you call in Norwegian youth for service, it should not be their responsibility to ensure that they have proper equipment. Not everyone has sneakers that are of good enough quality to endure for a whole year of strenuous physical activity. It is absolutely reprehensible of the Armed Forces to fails to deliver”, he complained to NRK.

According to Fladmoe, the army has been handing out used equipment for some time already.

“I think it's pretty ridiculous not to fix that problem. If you order someone to do service for a year, then it is the Armed Forces' responsibility to have the equipment you need,” Fladmoe concluded.

Norway's military, based on mild conscription, consists of five branches and has a peacetime force of around 23,250 personnel including military and civilian staff. Among European NATO members, its military expenditure ranks among the highest per capita.