Thread by @HthHans

The Danish Army has a critical deficit of contract soldiers and cannot sustain combat capability at brigade or battalion-level according to the Deputy Commander of the Danish Army, Brigadier Lyhne. As I see it, besides the critical lack 1/6

nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2023-0…

of soldiers, the structure of the army after decades of reductions is the main reason. Today, even if there are 2 brigades on paper, only the 1st is supposedly to become a combat ready formation. With only 3 combat battalions, the brigade cannot sustain prolonged periods of 2/6

deployment of a battalion on a 6 month rotation basis. The 2nd Brigade consists of one armoured (providing tanks for the 1st Brigade), one recon and one light infantry battalion, and can only partly support deployments. This is in contrast to the earlier structure of 3/6

2 x 3 battalions, which only just could sustain deployment of a reduced combat battalion to Afghanistan. The only viable solution, besides providing the necessary improved terms for contract soldiers of all ranks, is to return to a structure that supports 4/6

development, production and maintenance of a deployed battalion capability - and deployment of a brigade in wartime. This would mean at least 6 combat battalions in two brigades. Due to lack of contract soldiers and financial constraints this could probably only happen if a 5/6

some companies mainly in the 2nd Brigade were based on short-term contract soldiers and a number of reserve companies based on national service soldiers and former contract soldiers. Obviously, in addition, investments in equipment, training etc would also be needed. 6/6