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35-1103: The unit was established on 1 January 2014 and consists of the Naval Special Operations Commando (MJK) and the Special Operations Commando (FSK). In addition, 339 Special Operations Aviation Squadron (from the Royal Norwegian Air Force ) is operationally under the command of the NORSOCOM. NORSOCOM were created as an operational unit to replace the special operations department in the Defense Staff. The two units (FSK and MJK) in NORSOCOM have tasks related to national military preparedness, as well as international operations. They can, upon request, assist civil authorities in domestic counterterrorist operations. The unit's management and staff are based at Akershus Fortress in Oslo , while Marinejegerkommandoen

70-703: A United States Navy Admiral who previously served as the commander of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), said in an interview with a Norwegian newspaper in 2007 that he regarded the Special Operations Forces of Norway to be among the top special operations forces in the world. A member of the MJK was in August 2020 awarded the Bronze Star Medal of the United States for extraordinary allied efforts during

105-527: A 7-kilometre (4.3 mi) road run carrying 22 kilograms (49 lb) in 59 minutes. After passing the general selections, an applicant attends the SOF selection. This selection lasts three weeks and comprises hard physical and mental exercises with little food and little sleep. Very few of those who enter the school get through. Following selection, the potential operator starts basic training (one year). This training involves all basic disciplines required to serve as

140-683: A Norwegian Air Force Super Hercules to Sicily in connection with the In Amenas hostage crisis in Algeria . Marinejegerkommandoen's participation in Operation Enduring Freedom earned the unit the Navy Presidential Unit Citation on 8 February 2005. The Presidential Unit Citation is the highest unit award given by the United States to allied units and was awarded to all members of Task Force K-Bar . William H. McRaven ,

175-541: A considerable amount of support from Norway's political and military leaders. The Norwegian Parliament has decided that the Norwegian SOF are to be strengthened. FSK recruits, selects and trains paratroopers and SOF operators. FSK is on both national and international standby for special operations and counter-terrorism operations (alongside Marinejegerkommandoen ). In addition, FSK is the competency and training centre for all parachute and counter-terrorism training in

210-671: A hijacking in Norway in 1985, it was reported that FSK operatives had been put on alert in their base at Trandum , but not requested to assist in any action. A proposal to disband the FSK in 1988, as a financial measure, was met with protests, especially from the oil industry and the military. The plan was shelved after much media attention. Aftenposten reported on the unit as a "special military command composed of highly trained operators from Hærens Jegerkommando at Trandum and Marinejegerkommandoen , in addition to other specialists. The first time FSK

245-682: A mission in Afghanistan. Naval Special Operations Commando ( Norwegian : Marinejegerkommandoen ) ( MJK ), at Jaeger's Bight in Haakonsvern Naval Base, near Bergen . A research paper of the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment puts the force structure of the MJK at a staff and six combat squadrons: Forsvarets Spesialkommando This is an accepted version of this page Forsvarets Spesialkommando ( FSK ) (English: Special Operations Command )

280-726: A pregnant German NGO worker in Kabul, no shots were fired and the hostage takers were believed to be a criminal gang and not insurgents. FSK was responsible in training the Afghan National Police Crisis Response Unit (CRU 222) in Kabul , under the command of the International Security Assistance Force (known as the Kabul Crisis Response unit-an Afghan counterterrorist SWAT team). During

315-490: A role in the Norwegian Armed Forces' independent responsibility to handle an act of terrorism that is considered to be an "armed attack" on Norway, but also has a dedicated mission to support the police in the event counter-terrorism operations at sea. FSK may further assist the police on land." - Norwegian Parliamentary Statement 29 and e-mail address. In wartime, their tasks are mainly: From August 2013 FSK shares

350-562: A secret abandoned naval base somewhere along the Norwegian coast. In the autumn of 1940, two Norwegian military units were set up in the United Kingdom. Their mission was to carry out special operations against Nazi forces in occupied Norway. The two units were Shetlandsgjengen ( Shetland Bus ), who used fishing vessels to transport people and materials to and from Norway, and Kompani Linge (Norwegian Independent Company 1), initially under

385-707: Is a special operations force unit in the Norwegian Armed Forces . The unit was established in 1982 due to the increased risk of terrorist activity against Norwegian interests , including the oil platforms in the North Sea . On 1 January 2014, the Norwegian Special Operations Command (NORSOCOM), was established uniting the FSK and the Naval Special Operation Command ( Norwegian : Marinejegerkommandoen ) (MJK) under

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420-619: Is available, its missions have included DA (direct action) , Forward Air Control (FAC) and SR (Special Surveillance and Reconnaissance), and cooperating with other coalition forces in the fight against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda . Following Afghanistan, MJK has deployed twice aboard Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen (F310) off the coast of Somalia, conducting anti-piracy operations as part of Operation Atalanta (2009) and Operation Ocean Shield (2013). In January 2013, medical specialists from MJK, amongst other units, were sent on

455-489: Is based at Haakonsvern Naval Base in Bergen and Forsvarets spesialkommando is based at Camp Rena, eastern Norway, though both units have several training facilities across the country. The NORSOCOM's mission is threefold: Commanding officers since establishment in 2014 Marinejegerkommandoen Marinejegerkommandoen (MJK) (English: Naval Special Operations Command ) is the maritime/naval special warfare unit of

490-546: Is on national counter-terrorism standby to assist the Norwegian Police if required (alongside Forsvarets Spesialkommando ), and is also on continuous standby for international operations. The Marinejegerkommandoen have participated in a number of international operations. The unit conducted operations in Afghanistan in 2002 ( Task Force K-Bar ), in 2003 and in 2005–2006, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom . The unit

525-593: The April 2012 Afghanistan attacks , FSK were involved in combating Taliban insurgents in Kabul, having only recently relieved a New Zealand SAS element that had been mentoring the Kabul Crisis Response unit. FSK and the Naval Special Operations Commando alternated on the training of CRU from 2016 until June 2021, when the mission was terminated after the Fall of Kabul . " Forsvarets spesialkommando (FSK) has

560-633: The Norwegian Armed Forces and was established in 1953. The MJK is under the command of the Norwegian Special Operations Command (NORSOCOM) together with the Forsvarets Spesialkommando (FSK), with the MJK being the older of the two units. The unit is headquartered on the Ramsund naval base in northern Norway, with other MJK operators stationed on the Haakonsvern naval base in southwestern Norway. As with any modern special operations forces,

595-557: The Army Parachute Ranger School changed its name to the Army Ranger School ( Norwegian : Hærens Jegerskole ) (HJS) to emphasize the training of Army Rangers. The main focus over the next decade was long-range reconnaissance patrols (LRRP). Based on an increase in international terrorism and Norway's newly developed offshore oil services, the government decided in 1979 to establish a counter-terrorism capacity within

630-476: The Army Ranger School now had an operative arm as well as the traditional training role, it changed its name to the Army Ranger Command ( Norwegian : Hærens Jegerkommando ) in 1997. The same year, HJK moved from Trandum to Rena , where the unit is based today. During the 2000s, HJK changed its name to FSK/HJK, to reflect the two units that make up the command (FSK being the operative wing and HJK being

665-573: The Norwegian Armed Forces. In 2014, FSK established an all female unit Jegertroppen (Jeger Troop). FSK and the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) cooperated in various ways during the Kosovo conflict . FSK, operating alongside the British SAS, was the first special operations force to enter Pristina. FSK's mission was to level the negotiating field between the belligerent parties, and to fine-tune

700-503: The Norwegian Armed Forces. In 1982, a decision was finally made that this task be given to the Army Ranger School with Forsvarets Spesialkommando (FSK) established as part of the Army Ranger School. On 1 June 1984, the 38 man unit was operational following assistance from the British Special Air Service and Special Boat Service . From the mid-1990s there was an increasing focus on international operations. To show that

735-618: The United States. Forsvarets Spesialkommando can trace its roots back to the Second World War , when Norwegians served in the Norwegian Independent Company 1 (NOR.I.C.1) of the British Special Operations Executive including the famous Operation Gunnerside raid of the heavy water plant at Rjukan. On 25 March 1962, the Army Parachute Ranger School ( Norwegian : Hærens Fallskjermjegerskole )

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770-435: The command in the Norwegian Armed Forces . Very little is known publicly about FSK, as the Norwegian government denied their existence and participation in any military operations for a long time. Some details have however emerged after FSK's participation in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The establishment of FSK was briefly mentioned in an article in the Norwegian newspaper, Aftenposten , in 1983. During

805-727: The command of Lieutenant Martin Linge . Both units were under the command of the British Special Operations Executive . In 1953, the Royal Norwegian Navy formed a frogman -unit. This unit was under the command of Ove Lund, and is the origin of the modern Marinejegerkommandoen and Minedykkerkommandoen . The mission of the frogmen was to conduct recon and sabotage against enemy targets above and below water. The frogmen were also tasked with disarming all water-borne explosive devices. The missions gradually become more comprehensive and different frogman specialities emerged. This led to members of

840-600: The details that the local deal required to implement the peace deal between the Serbians and the Kosovo Albanians. FSK supported Coalition Special Operations Forces in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan as part of Task Force K-Bar . They have carried out missions in the Helmand and Uruzgan provinces of South Afghanistan . In August 2007, FSK members carried out the successful hostage rescue of Christina Meier ,

875-492: The national counter-terrorism standby mission together with the Norwegian Naval Special Operations Command , Norway's other military special force. Currently, anyone who has completed their military service with the Norwegian Armed Forces can apply. The road to becoming an elite soldier of the FSK is long and hard. First, one must go through a general selection to separate out those who do not have

910-614: The physical and mental strength to start the special forces recruitment school. This selection lasts three days. A candidate must do 45 push-ups and 50 sit-ups in two minutes, 8 pull-ups, swim 400 meters in under 11 minutes and march 30 kilometers carrying 25 kilograms in less than 4 hours and 50 minutes. It is emphasized that this is the bare minimum, and that candidates should ideally be able to do more than that. The female troop has lower standards, with one pull-up, 20 push-ups, 35 sit-ups in two minutes or less, 20 back extensions, swim 200 metres (660 ft), with no underwater phobia; and perform

945-481: The training to become an MJK operator is long and arduous, both physically and mentally taxing. To become a fully qualified MJK operator takes a minimum of two years and is further augmented by specialized courses during the following contract period, such as combat medic training, sniper training and forward air control (FAC) training. In 2008 a news-team from NRK filmed their selection process, showing recruits being strip searched and doing water exercises in

980-664: The training wing). In 2004, the unit commenced reporting directly to the Chief of the Army. In 2013, the FSK/HJK name was discontinued and the operative SOF-unit is simply known as FSK. FSK has gone from being a cadre and training-unit for paratroopers and the mobilization army, to being a professional unit with substantial experience, robustness, competency and capacity. The unit has been deployed internationally on several occasions and has received international recognition for its efforts. The unit has

1015-458: The unit being divided into a clearance diver team and two combat swimmer teams, in 1968. Of the combat swimmer groups, one was based at Ramsund Naval Station in northern Norway, and one was based at Karljohansvern Naval Station in southern Norway. The two combat swimmer teams were eventually fused into one and based in Ramsund. They later changed names to the current Marinejegerkommandoen . Today

1050-487: The unit has its main base in Bergen, with training facilities in Ramsund. Marinejegerkommandoen plays an integral part in modern warfare operations. The unit carries out missions that require thorough planning, quick reaction, high precision, covert implementation, daring, courage and the ability to work independently. As with all SOF missions, they target objectives of high or critical strategic value. Marinejegerkommandoen

1085-484: Was also involved in the training of the Afghan National Police Crisis Response Unit around Kabul in 2008–2009, relieving Forsvarets Spesialkommando for a short period. The unit provided operators for Military Observer Teams (MOT's), as part of the Norwegian Armed Forces contribution in Faryab Province in northern Afghanistan. It was during a MOT patrol on 27 June 2010 that Lieutenant Commander Trond Andrè Bolle

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1120-546: Was established. The focus of this school initially was to provide parachute training for certain groups of personnel within the Norwegian Armed Forces, and eventually the Paratrooper Platoon ( Norwegian : Fallskjermjegertroppen ) was established in 1965. Specially selected personnel from this platoon were assigned to Ranger Command 1 in the old mobilization army of the Cold War and were on standby in case of war. In 1972,

1155-786: Was killed, along with three members of the Norwegian Coastal Ranger Command , when the Iveco LMV they were travelling in was struck by an IED. Lt Cmdr Bolle was later awarded the Norwegian War Cross with Sword for his actions commanding the Norwegian Special Operations Force Task Group II in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan's Helmand province from October 2005 to February 2006. MJK's contribution in Afghanistan has largely been kept secret, but from what little information

1190-555: Was only publicly acknowledged by the Norwegian Armed Forces for the first time in 1999, when a piece about the unit appeared in the Armed Forces Magazine Forsvarets Forum (The Defence Forum). FSK cooperate with special operations forces from several other countries, including the Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS) of the United Kingdom, Delta Force , Navy SEALs / DEVGRU of

1225-537: Was publicly mentioned by a representative of the armed forces, was in connection with the hijacking of SAS Flight 347 at Gardermoen Airport in September 1993. The following year, the magazine Vi Menn published an article about the FSK. In 1990 the FSK was also mentioned in a research paper: "The Armed Forces' Special Command (FSK) is specially trained to be used in the event of terrorist attacks against oil installations - especially hijacking situations." FSK's existence

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