Soldiers from Finnmark Home Guard District (HV-17) have trained combat skills with the Norwegian Army's Porsanger Battalion during Exercise Arctic Wolf. The training took place around Nyborgmoen camp in Nesseby, according to the Norwegian Armed Forces.
In one drill, HV-17 soldiers defended an area against the battalion's sniper platoon. Both sides wore Saab sensors that register hits. In the first round, the attackers got far into the area.
– Important sectors weren't covered with enough fire, said Second Lieutenant Petter Bye Brattbakk, the platoon commander and the day's instructor.
Brattbakk, 23, was instructing Home Guard soldiers for the first time. In the second round, the attackers could not break through, he said.
– The Home Guard soldiers bring skills from civilian life and come up with creative solutions. At the same time, they are a motivated and humble bunch, he said.
By comparison, he said conscripts are "naturally a bit greener".
Julie Storstein Sundstrøm has served in HV-17 since 2021.
– This exercise has been different, with more people and very good combat training, said Julie Storstein Sundstrøm, who has served in HV-17 since 2021.
