After four months in the United Kingdom, the eleventh Norwegian contingent in Operation Interflex is now back in Norway. At a ceremony in mid-November, 140 Home Guard soldiers were awarded the Norwegian Armed Forces Medal for International Service. The next Norwegian contingent within Interflex is now being prepared for departure.

The soldiers have contributed to one of Norway's most important military support efforts to Ukraine: training Ukrainian instructors in combat techniques, survival, and leadership. During the four-month period, workdays have often been up to 18 hours, with few days off.

– It is about contributing to something greater than oneself – an existential struggle for Ukraine, said Major General Frode Ommundsen, head of the Heimevernet (Norwegian Home Guard), during the medal ceremony.

The ceremony also included the awarding of the "Home Hero" medal to family members, as well as diplomas to employers. State Secretary Marte Gerhardsen from the Ministry of Defence participated in the awarding.

Interflex is a British-coordinated training programme where several countries, including Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, train Ukrainian personnel on British soil. According to the Heimevernet, one-third of the soldiers in the eleventh contingent have participated in previous rotations, and several plan to return.