Norwegian Oppklaringseskadronen Pics

[EvanL]

http://www.specialoperations.com/Foreign/Norway/35a.jpg

http://www.specialoperations.com/Foreign/Norway/shootersno.jpg

http://www.specialoperations.com/Foreign/Norway/static.jpg

[Kingtabed3]

Nice pics dude

[Marsuitor]

Old but nice! :)
I think this is where OldRecon served back in the days, perhaps he can comment some. Those guys really know the meaning of walking!

Cheers,
Marcus

[OldRecon]

Old but nice! :)
I think this is where OldRecon served back in the days, perhaps he can comment some. Those guys really know the meaning of walking!

Cheers,
Marcus

Oppklesk is history too.
Found these pics on the LRRP squadron who have replaced it though.
As for recruitment and training seems the days of start softly and thight the screw progressively is over too I you wanna be a recon. A selection rate of 25 out of 250 applicants doesn't sound that bad.

http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/fjernoppklaring/IJPC-164.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/fjernoppklaring/Overlevelse-(1).jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/fjernoppklaring/op.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/fjernoppklaring/bil.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/Utsikt_logo.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/istar/ski.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/istar/hest.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/istar/kikkert.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/interesse/4hjuling.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/interesse/30km-ski-(3).jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/interesse/bilde001.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/interesse/Narstrid-patrulje-(11).jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/krav/skogsbilde.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/krav/Narstrid-enkeltmann.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/krav/Patrulje-11-003.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/seleksjon/baat.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/seleksjon/Seleksjon-(6).jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/seleksjon/Seleksjon-(8).jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/seleksjon/utsikten.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/utdanning/Trening-heli-130.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/utdanning/skog.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/utdanning/Isbreaking-036.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/utdanning/Sanitet.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/stotte/afgh.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/stotte/kontor.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/stotte/samband.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/historie/IJPC-012.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/historie/jungel.jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/historie/Narstrid-patrulje-(3).jpg
http://www.fjernoppklaring.no/files/bilder/historie/orken.jpg

Taken from http://www.fjernoppklaring.no
(Someone should have taken care to blot out the faces on those pics though :|)

http://www.mil.no/multimedia/archive/00064/ebtittel_64868a.jpg

The best part of being a recon for me was getting used to carrying 40+ kg on my back. May not sound true but when you get used to it 40+ doesn't feel that much different from 20+ kg. That gives confidence. Unfortunately I don't have many photos from my own recon days (may have one tucked away somewhere of guarding a chiken with an MP-5 during a survival exercise though :lol: ).

[Marsuitor]

Cool, didn't know about that page.
Nice pictures too, lots of stuff from the PRT there! :)

[OldRecon]

Cool, didn't know about that page.
Nice pictures too, lots of stuff from the PRT there! :)
Neither did I.
Was looking for a page with pics of recces doing mountain training some years back that I had seen a few days ago.
Didn't find that though found the pics above instead.
There should also be a movie/moviestream on the recces somewhere, but that link appears to be dead.

[Creeper]

OldRecon: w at did you use for comms? wat was te scope of your reportin ?

[goldman]

wow i love norwegian stuff! awesome pictures, not you evan naturally because those photos are older then my poop! :P

[PeterG]

Great pics! woot But what's the story with the SA-80 in one of the last pics?

[OldRecon]

OldRecon: w at did you use for comms? wat was te scope of your reportin ?

We used the radio set shown on the front page of This publication (pdf-document) (http://www.mil.no/multimedia/archive/00065/FFIs-historie-nr16_65100a.pdf)
The NO-PRC 111 HF-radio. Though with another type of batteries (Ni-Cad) than the one shown in the front page pic of link above (presume those to be of the Lithium variant that replaced the Ni-Cad ones).
From what I know the set is still in use as it has superior transmission/receiving qualities to more modern HF sets with pre-set channels under difficult athmospheric conditions with northern light etc (such as is common in the northern part of our country).
The set have a range of at least 50 km in voice mode with rod antennae and earth anchor (ground effect mode) and virtualy limitless range with dipole.
The NO-PRC 111 set in dipole mode was amongst other things regularly used for comms between NORBATT/UNIFIL and Norway without much problems.
Set weights slightly more than a AN-PRC 77 (with ni-cad batteries at least), and along with a weeks supply of ni-cad batteries could be quite a hefty load to carry around (I can testify to that :lol:). At least with the WW-2 vintage "Ludvik" rucks we still had to suffice with in my time. So heavy in fact one had to slowly stretch and condition the patent leather carrying straps of the ruck to the weight, otherwise the carrying straps of the ruck could snap right off first time you put it on. Which I found out to my cost on more than one occasion :lol:.
Along with the radio we also had the PACE encryption unit.

As for Oppklesk/Brig N missions, our job in main I think could be resumed as "road watching" in enemy tactical rear areas for Brigade intel/hq, covering actual and potential axes of enemy advances from covert OPs at best or "on the fly" at worst.
Besides close recce of enemy tactical zone rear area positions could also be on the menu now and then (a difficult job).

[Catch22]

Great pics! woot But what's the story with the SA-80 in one of the last pics?

My guess would be its a pic from Cambrian Patrol, all the teams got blanked SA 80's > more at http://www.army.mod.uk/160bde/cambrian_patrol/
You can even spot a Norge in one of the mod photos on this site.

[OldRecon]

Some more pics (the Lofoten mountain course refound + some more).

http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/div/.cache/1024x691-000.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/div/.cache/1024x691-001.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/div/.cache/1024x691-003.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/div/.cache/1024x691-004.jpg
Kit inspection??
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/div/.cache/1024x691-012.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/div/.cache/1024x691-013.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/div/.cache/1024x691-014.jpg


http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/div/.cache/1024x691-015.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/div/.cache/1024x691-019.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/div/.cache/1024x691-020.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/div/.cache/1024x692-022.jpg

Spent many evenings at that billiard table. In my days, before the unit moved to camp Setermoen, that table was located on the top floor of the barracks we were located in (5th or 6th floor or something like that).
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/div/.cache/1024x692-026.jpg

Washing barracks
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/div/.cache/1024x692-027.jpg

http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/div/.cache/1024x692-035.jpg

Avalanche search course
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/div/.cache/1024x692-036.jpg

http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/div/.cache/1024x692-038.jpg

Mountain course
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/1024x671-DSC_0012.JPG

T-bone in bread :)
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/1024x671-DSC_0019.JPG

http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/1024x671-Fjenoppkl_Lofoten02_fjelltur1.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/671x1024-Fjenoppkl_Lofoten02_fjelltur10.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/821x1023-Fjenoppkl_Lofoten02_fjelltur11.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/671x1024-Fjenoppkl_Lofoten02_fjelltur12.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/671x1024-Fjenoppkl_Lofoten02_fjelltur13.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/699x1024-Fjenoppkl_Lofoten02_fjelltur16.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/1024x714-Fjenoppkl_Lofoten02_fjelltur17.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/1024x962-Fjenoppkl_Lofoten02_fjelltur2.jpg

View!
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/724x1024-Fjenoppkl_Lofoten02_fjelltur31.jpg

http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/1024x671-Fjenoppkl_Lofoten02_fjelltur35.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/1024x671-Fjenoppkl_Lofoten02_fjelltur36.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/1024x671-Fjenoppkl_Lofoten02_gruppe1.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/1024x671-Fjenoppkl_Lofoten02_gruppe4.jpg

Posing!
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/1024x671-Fjenoppkl_Lofoten02_gruppe6.jpg

http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/832x1024-Fjenoppkl_Lofoten02_gruppe7.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/671x1024-Fjenoppkl_Lofoten02_gruppe9.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/1024x671-Fjenoppkl_Lofoten02_sosialt1.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/1024x671-VA_Fjeoppkl_Lofoten02_rapell10.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/671x1024-VA_Fjeoppkl_Lofoten02_rapell11.jpg

"Straighten your legs!"
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/671x1024-VA_Fjeoppkl_Lofoten02_rapell12.jpg

http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/671x1024-VA_Fjeoppkl_Lofoten02_rapell13.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/1024x671-VA_Fjeoppkl_Lofoten02_rapell7.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/671x1024-VA_Fjeoppkl_Lofoten02_rapell9.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/1024x671-VA_Fjeoppkl_Lofoten02_rapell8.jpg

Looks like a body rapell
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/671x1024-VA_Fjoppkl_Lofoten02_rapell1.jpg

http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/1024x671-VA_Fjoppkl_Lofoten02_rapell2.jpg
http://asbjorjo.org/bilder/forsvaret/klatrekurs/.cache/671x1024-VA_Fjoppkl_Lofoten02_rapellbrent.jpg

[Marsuitor]

Great pics! woot But what's the story with the SA-80 in one of the last pics?
Jungle warfare training in Belize last year. ;)

[PeterG]

Great pics! woot But what's the story with the SA-80 in one of the last pics?

My guess would be its a pic from Cambrian Patrol, all the teams got blanked SA 80's > more at http://www.army.mod.uk/160bde/cambrian_patrol/
You can even spot a Norge in one of the mod photos on this site.

Ok - thx! :D

[PeterG]

Great pics! woot But what's the story with the SA-80 in one of the last pics?
Jungle warfare training in Belize last year. ;)

Passed "selection", did we? lol. ;)

[harlekin]

Actually, the SA80 was used during jungle training in Belize.

[goldman]

Wow simply amazing oldrecon

[tenda]

really interesting pic's there...!!!!!!! woot woot woot
tnx to all...norge camo rocks..!!!!!! :D

[Scottie]

Great pictures there. :D

[PeterG]

Actually, the SA80 was used during jungle training in Belize.

Oops - thought he was kidding.. :oops:

[OldRecon]

Some more Norwegian recce pics:

http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn001.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn002.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn003.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn005.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn007.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn009.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn014.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn027.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn028.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn029.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn031.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn032.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn034.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn036.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn038.jpg


Not LRRP but presume this thing belong to the EW-company of the recce battalion.
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn011.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn015.jpg

With regards to recruiting to the reccies, there was allmost a tradition in my days for the officers to tempt recruits into opting for "recce" rather than "tank" service by pointing out that the reccie squadron was a prioritized unit with regards to helo-training and helo-lifts :lol:.
Mind you I did have quite a few heli flights, including some in in NOE mode, but then I also had many (more) rides in the back of an APC (penal duty for bad conduct in the field) or BV :lol:.
(We did not use this "fancy" mode of deploying from choppers in my days btw. :|)
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn012.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn019.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn020.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn022.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn023.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn024.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn040.jpg

...

Managing to somewhat diminish the fact that there was a price to be paid for all the fun stuff. :lol:
(The face of this guy really display what I call attitude. Most surely an instructor jumping in to test if the water temp is ok before ordering the rest of the boys to jump in the hole.)
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn025.jpg

Ah, what a lovely evening this must have been!
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn042.jpg

And this is apparently what Norwegian reccies do in their off time nowdays :).
In my days one of the sergeants wanted us to take up syncro team swimming in our free time :lol:.
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn033.jpg

Pics taken from http://www.utvalgt.no/?go=galleri. The gallery page on a Norwegian Defence information site aimed towards boys and girls who have been selected to undergo conscript service (conscript service not obligatory for every able bodied and minded boy past between 18-32 as in my days any more :|).
Thus in English the url of that site quite literaly translates as "the chosen ones dot no".

That's about what I've been able to sniff out of Norwegian recce pics on the net.

[lusk]

Hey, that last pic is from Bardu Bowling Hall :D. Pretty much the only spare time activity at Setermoen except from getting drunk.

[kinghk]

Some more Norwegian recce pics:

Not LRRP but presume this thing belong to the EW-company of the recce battalion.
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn011.jpg
http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn015.jpg


Yup, the first pic is clearly of a "Mjølner" jammer, the other one looks like a lytte/peilevogn "listening/pinpointing wagen" to me.

[kinghk]

Hey, that last pic is from Bardu Bowling Hall :D. Pretty much the only spare time activity at Setermoen except from getting drunk.

And besides getting laid ofcourse rofl

When did the bowling alley turn up?

[twominds]

Man these pics makes me revisit the disappointment of being told I wouldn't be considered for oppklaring due to poor eyesight.. same thing that stopped my application to bsk-kystjeger.. :(

[ardy]

Man these pics makes me revisit the disappointment of being told I wouldn't be considered for oppklaring due to poor eyesight.. same thing that stopped my application to bsk-kystjeger.. :(I'm pretty certain that they accept people that has had laser correction.

[twominds]

and I had that done on one eye, but the other one has been so bad since birth, that apparently laser won't help.. at least according to my optician.. gonna get a second oppinion on that.. anyone know where i could get a hold of one of those rucks by the way? like the one of shown in old recons post? my best friends brother has one that he got through a buddy that has been career..

[RGRBOX]

Great pics... anyone have a contact were I can get new issued Norwegen Forest, and desert camo uniforms, and boonies...? Thanks in advance.

Mike B.

[OldRecon]

Hey, that last pic is from Bardu Bowling Hall :D. Pretty much the only spare time activity at Setermoen except from getting drunk.
Last time I was up there (reservist callup) they served these litre mugs of Mac beer at some pizza place. Don't think the price was that bad either, considered that one pays more for a pint of beer on Lekter'n by Aker brygge than what i paid for that big mug.

[flanker7]

http://www.utvalgt.no/upload/content/Avdelinger/Etterretningsbataljonen/ebn014.jpg

Looks like the guy on the right "drew" a smiley on the stock of his G3 :)

[OldRecon]

Man these pics makes me revisit the disappointment of being told I wouldn't be considered for oppklaring due to poor eyesight.. same thing that stopped my application to bsk-kystjeger.. :(
You shouldn't feel bad about that. The spec boys may get all the glamour, but the infantry run greater risk generaly speaking. What about the engineer battalion boat platoon? Are they as stringent on eyesight requirements?

[ardy]

and I had that done on one eye, but the other one has been so bad since birth, that apparently laser won't help.. at least according to my optician.. gonna get a second oppinion on that.. anyone know where i could get a hold of one of those rucks by the way? like the one of shown in old recons post? my best friends brother has one that he got through a buddy that has been career..Ok, that's bad*. The ruck is just a standard norrøna recon pack, norrøna sells them to civilians.

*when the eyesight is that bad, are you even fit for duty?

[twominds]

hehe, at sessjon i was deemed fit for duty, think my classification for sight is 5.. which is crap for those not familiar with the scoring.. need 7 for jeger duty.. my hope though would be that rules state your best eye should decide the grade.. but I might be getting to old as wel.. starting to come to terms with not being able to serve.. lost four most suitable years to college in the USA..
I know they sell it civillian but that costs 4500 NOK or something. more looking for a cheap way to get one nicely used or something.. great ruck though...

[twominds]

Great pics... anyone have a contact were I can get new issued Norwegen Forest, and desert camo uniforms, and boonies...? Thanks in advance.

Mike B.
dunno for sure that their stuff is issue quality or specs, but miltrad.no sells all of the stuff you're looking for in Norge cammo at least..

It will dent your bank account though..
THe best stuff is allways what you can't get, which is the new gore tex gear. know oyu brits don't like it, but here it's the **** for our weather.. made by cato ringstad and Helly Hansen i believe.. even being issued in home guard as we speak..

[OldRecon]

...

*when the eyesight is that bad, are you even fit for duty?

Adolf Galland had only one working eye after a crash landing with a plane some time before 1933 and had to bluff his way into Luftwaffe.
Yet he shot down pretty many aircraft in WW-2. The British WW-1 fighter ace Mick Mannock likewise had bad eyesight.
The Aussie VC Vietnam war VC recipient Peter Bradcoe cannot have had super eyesight either (the only pics I've seen of him are with spectacles).
A lot of IDF soldiers don't score well in the eyesight department either, yet they cope.
I guess with bad eyesight the signals or medical corpse could stil work out ok.
If you focus on education there are otherwise plenty of opportunities to do some good for your country at research establishments like FFI or SIMRAD or for intel work with FES.
It's just to come to terms with what's possible and what's not and work from that.

[twominds]

I have looked into possibly getting a post at FFI... Since my background currently is int politics and economics with a masters in catastrophy management on the way.. :) but would be great with some "green service" as well as I am sure you understand.. :)

[OldRecon]

I have looked into possibly getting a post at FFI... Since my background currently is int politics and economics with a masters in catastrophy management on the way.. :) but would be great with some "green service" as well as I am sure you understand.. :)

With the present selection process I in LRRP I rather doubt I would would have made it to the reccies myself today.
Also have a minor eye "defect" that precluded my chances for para jaeger selection back then (even though that defect reputedly gives me better nightvision than average and I still can read the timetables on the bus-stops from 3 meters avay and close up as well without optics).
But at Trandum I had a grand stand view of parts of the selection process with the para jaegers, and what came out of it, and it made me more than happy to stay with the reccies.
As I've said elsewhere here: That I ended up with the reccies (hadn't even heard about them before call up) was just pure good fortune on my part.

Hope you find a way around the obstacles in your path.
Good luck!

[bloddyaxe]

At what age do they consider you not fit for duty or enlisting or something like that in Norge?

[twominds]

you are evaluated at what we call sessjon the year you turn 18.. this includes a full medical as wella s intelligence tests.. in terms of how late you can be called in/apply to join, as we on paper at least have mandatory service for all able bodied men, before you are out of the picture..

[OldRecon]

At what age do they consider you not fit for duty or enlisting or something like that in Norge?

All "able bodied" (a varying parameter depending on the demand for manpower / international political climate obviously) men between 18-35 (or 32 years of age?) are eligible for callup for service with one or another branch of our armed services.
Once you have been through the mill of the basic year one may be eligible for reservist callup / mobilization until the age of 50 or thereabouts). Though that was in the old days.
Nowdays there's some confusion in the corridors of power on what to do with the concept of the mob army.
Our armed forces could do well with some stronger central political direction and a strong willed minister, with some factual knowledge and a sound vision for what he/she is set to govern, who is able to hold his/her ground vs. the military branch hierarchy (even though I suspect a lot of the highter echelon active officer corps wouldn't exactly be happy with a minister asking too many questions).

[ardy]

All "able bodied" (a varying parameter depending on the demand for manpower / international political climate obviously) men between 18-35 (or 32 years of age?) are eligible for callup for service with one or another branch of our armed services.
Once you have been through the mill of the basic year one may be eligible for reservist callup / mobilization until the age of 50 or thereabouts). Though that was in the old days.
Nowdays there's some confusion in the corridors of power on what to do with the concept of the mob army.
Our armed forces could do well with some stronger central political direction and a strong willed minister, with some factual knowledge and a sound vision for what he/she is set to govern, who is able to hold his/her ground vs. the military branch hierarchy (even though I suspect a lot of the highter echelon active officer corps wouldn't exactly be happy with a minister asking too many questions).Basic privates can be called back to HV until they are 43(or 42, I forget), officers and some specialists can be called back until they are around 50 years.

As for "conscription"... It doesn't take much effort to avoid it.