Crown Princess Victoria's Education

Thanks for the info, it is great that at 46 she takes this on. So if I understand correctly she will continue and complete basic training by August and then off to Officer training in all 3 branches?
"When the Crown Princess is deemed to have completed the naval officer part of her training, she will move on to army and air force officer training.
- In the future, she will have a very special assignment, and in that there is an interest on the part of the Armed Forces, and I assume there is on the part of the court, that she should receive a broadened education so that she gains insight into the entire Armed Forces, says Commander Peedu."

Go Victoria!

Somewhat unexpected but apparently the timing is now right for her to do so. More recently, it seems that Sweden has put more emphasis on their military due to Russian aggression - which is also why they joined NATO. I wonder whether Victoria's renewed interest in the military is part of that larger changed way of looking at the importance of the military.

What basic military training did she do in the past? It seems the required basic military training is 9-11 months as an entry requirements for this course.

Information about joining the Swedish military: Career in the Swedish Armed Forces

TRAINING FOR OFFICERS AND SPECIALIST OFFICERS
To become an officer or specialist officer, military basic training is followed by a preparatory officer course conducted over a period of nine to eleven months. Those who have previously completed a nine- to eleven-month course of basic military training, and meet other requirements for officer training, may also apply.

Training activities for officers and specialist officers include a coherent system of training, courses and unit service, with professional development as a common theme. The most important aspect for officer and specialist officer candidates is training within core competencies, such as personal combat effectiveness, ability to command in armed combat, the ability to instruct and to lead.

The clearest differences between an officer and a specialist officer is that specialist officers tend to specialize within certain areas or functions, with greater focus on becoming an instructor. In contrast, an officer is a more general discipline, with an emphasis on being a leader. As officer and specialist officer, service can be performed either continuously or periodically.

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polyesco said:

Thanks for the info, it is great that at 46 she takes this on. So if I understand correctly she will continue and complete basic training by August and then off to Officer training in all 3 branches?
"When the Crown Princess is deemed to have completed the naval officer part of her training, she will move on to army and air force officer training.
- In the future, she will have a very special assignment, and in that there is an interest on the part of the Armed Forces, and I assume there is on the part of the court, that she should receive a broadened education so that she gains insight into the entire Armed Forces, says Commander Peedu."

Go Victoria!

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Kudos to her for taking this step to get actual military training in all 3 branches. Go Victoria!! She does not need to so this really but the fact she is committed to it says alot about her.

Somebody said:

What basic military training did she do in the past? It seems the required basic military training is 9-11 months as an entry requirements for this course.

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In 2003, Victoria carried out basic military training at the Swedish Armed Forces International Centre (SWEDINT). In autumn 2004, Victorias studied at the Swedish Defence University, focusing on Political Science, International Relations and Conflict Resolution. In 2022 and 2023 she had training days with the Armed Forces, which gave her a deeper understanding of both the Armed Forces' strategic and operational activities, as well as Sweden's security policy and total defence. The program covered around 50 hours of lectures and discussions. Most of the time was spent at Headquarters, but program also involved training at the three defence branch staffs.

Margareta Thorgren says to Svensk Damtidning that at her preparations as future head of state, Victoria has for many years completed various forms of military training to provide basic knowledge of the tasks and organization of the Armed Forces. Victoria looks forward to continuing to deepen her knowledge in defence matters. Her official assignments have been planned to continue to be carried out. And it doesn't appear Victoria's new future plans mean that her work events will be put into calendars of other royals. Within the framework of Victoria's current assignment given by the King, it will continue to be accommodated. Victoria must be able to combine her official commitments with this education, but of course that means priorities.
Thorgren also said that Victoria's training to be an officer and Madeleine's move to Sweden have nothing to do with each other.

Margareta Thorgren has given an interview to Svensk Damtidning about Victoria's very different autumn when she attends what is called special appointments training (särskild officersutbildning):

She will have full focus on her full-time studies at the Defence University and has significantly fewer official assignments in the autumn but she looks forward to cheer the Swedes at the Paralympics. There are a few missions in the near future booked for her, before the planning within the Armed Forces was determined. Otherwise she will focus on her studies on site at the Defence University. Teaching in classrooms, and regular exams. She begins her studies in August, and the first part is planned to be completed in February.
(..)

Photos of Victoria's first day:

First day for Victoria as a SOFU cadet at the special appointments training which lasts several years. During the autumn she takes a basic course in theoretical naval tactics, and an introduction to war science, both for 7.5 university credits.
Victoria also has to study air defense and ground combat before the training is over.
- You have to choose, because you can only read a basic tactical course to begin with because they run parallel, says Major General Peder Ohlsson, Chief of the King's Military Staff.
In the autumn, she will also take a basic course in military strategy worth 7.5 university credits.
Victoria's normal week at Campus Karlberg begins at 9:00 in the morning with a lecture in the auditorium, then lunch, and further lectures. Monday to Thursday is mainly lectures and own studies before Friday's seminar groups, where Victoria must discuss the week's lectures with other cadets and hand in written assignments.
- During the autumn, a leadership exercise will be carried out, among other things, at the headquarters of the Armed Forces as well as at the tactical staffs. The plan is for the Crown Princess to participate in this exercise. The goal is to be able to apply what you have studied theoretically, simply to be able to put theory into practice during the exercise this autumn, says Peder Ohlsson.

Pic
Profimedia gallery

Margareta Thorgren says Victoria has attended several training courses within the Armed Forces in the past and the aim now is to deepen her knowledge. She is very much looking forward to this. Due to the unrest and war that exists both in our immediate area and in the world, these are very important questions.

Court website:
On the occasion of the start of the course, the Crown Princess makes the following statement:
"With great anticipation, I continue my military education at the Defence University today. Together with the other cadets, I will, among other things, immerse myself in tactics, military science and military strategy.
My ambition is now to put all my energy into officer training in order to be able to represent Sweden and the Armed Forces in the best possible way in the future.
I look forward to an interesting and rewarding study time together with my new coursemates!"

HQ photo

SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS TRAINING, SOFU
SOFU is a concept training programme for individuals employed, and then admitted to the officer training programme. Applicants for this programme must have successfully concluded an academic degree of at least 180 credits and meet the employment requirements of the Armed Forces. The first task will be to complete the SOFU training programme.



The Armed Forces at its website about Victoria's training
Victoria arrived in the morning with her aide-de-camp In August, major Patrik Lindblad, who also sat beside her at the lecture.
Pic

Margareta Thorgen was interviewed about Victoria's training in TV4's News morning:


SPA's video

polyesco said:

Thanks for the info, it is great that at 46 she takes this on. So if I understand correctly she will continue and complete basic training by August and then off to Officer training in all 3 branches?
"When the Crown Princess is deemed to have completed the naval officer part of her training, she will move on to army and air force officer training.
- In the future, she will have a very special assignment, and in that there is an interest on the part of the Armed Forces, and I assume there is on the part of the court, that she should receive a broadened education so that she gains insight into the entire Armed Forces, says Commander Peedu."

Go Victoria!

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In many other countries, it would not be possible to do officer training at 46, except perhaps as a medical doctor or chaplain for example.

Is that possible in Sweden or has Victoria been exempted from the normal age limit because she is the Crown Princess?

Mbruno said:

In many other countries, it would not be possible to do officer training at 46, except perhaps as a medical doctor or chaplain for example.

Is that possible in Sweden or has Victoria been exempted from the normal age limit because she is the Crown Princess?

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It’s a specially designed education for her in capacity of being the heir to the throne. In part to fully complete her basic military training and in part to give her a proper education in all 3 branches of the armed forces.

Mbruno said:

In many other countries, it would not be possible to do officer training at 46, except perhaps as a medical doctor or chaplain for example.

Is that possible in Sweden or has Victoria been exempted from the normal age limit because she is the Crown Princess?

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According to their website the requirements for Special Officer training are:
- You have an academic degree from a university or university college of at least 180 credits, including a written degree project of at least 15 credits.
- You meet the requirements of Section 9 of the Officers' Ordinance (2007:1268), which basically means that you must be a Swedish citizen and that you must pass a security clearance.
- You must have completed an upper secondary school diploma or have validated and translated foreign grades that meet the corresponding requirements.

So, there is no age limit included in the general requirements, although they mention that some units may have more or different requirements.

See: Särskild officersutbildning

LadyFinn said:

The Armed Forces at its website about Victoria's training
Victoria arrived in the morning with her aide-de-camp In August, major Patrik Lindblad, who also sat beside her at the lecture.
Pic

Kronprinsessan Victoria påbörjar officersutbildningen

I dag påbörjade H.K.H. Kronprinsessan särskild officersutbildning SOFU för att ytterligare fördjupa sitt engagemang inom Försvarsmakten samt för att ges en djupare förståelse i taktik, krigsvetenskap och militärstrategi.

www.forsvarsmakten.se

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It seems that they aren't focused on giving Victoria exactly the same treatment as other cadets. Her name tag is white, while all others are black and I don't think other cadets have a personal aide to carry their bag, sit next to them and make notes...

Somebody said:

According to their website the requirements for Special Officer training are:
- You have an academic degree from a university or university college of at least 180 credits, including a written degree project of at least 15 credits.
- You meet the requirements of Section 9 of the Officers' Ordinance (2007:1268), which basically means that you must be a Swedish citizen and that you must pass a security clearance.
- You must have completed an upper secondary school diploma or have validated and translated foreign grades that meet the corresponding requirements.

So, there is no age limit included in the general requirements, although they mention that some units may have more or different requirements.

See: Särskild officersutbildning


It seems that they aren't focused on giving Victoria exactly the same treatment as other cadets. Her name tag is white, while all others are black and I don't think other cadets have a personal aide to carry their bag, sit next to them and make notes...

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Thank you.

I did a quick/superficial internet search and it appears that, in the UK, you have to be at most 29 when you start officer training in the regular army (I don't know if it is the same in other branches). In the US, it appears that you have to be at most 31 by the time you take up your commission as an officer, so, if you are entering into the officers' rank via a 4-year military academy for example,, you must be at most 27 (?) in your first year. There may be higher age limits for special branches like the medical corps and I don't know how age limits to join the reserve force compare to those to join the regular army. For example, in the UK, I think that you can join the reserves until age 50, including as an officer.

Is Crown Princess Victoria being incorporated into the reserve force as an officer after she completes her training? Since she is not going to be in the regular force, 46 may not be an absurd age to start training.

It still surprises me that she chose to do it though. The King of Sweden ceased to be the commander in chief of the Swedish armed forces in 1975. A former version of the Royal Court website (which has since been changed) stated that the King remains, however, "the foremost representative of the Swedish defense establishment" and "holds the highest ranks in all branches". I suppose the latter refers to Carl XVI Gustaf specifically (and the ranks are honorary anyway). The former, on the other hand, is not backed now by any other provision in Swedish public law, so I interpret the King's being "the foremost representative of the Swedish defense establishment" as another unwritten constitutional convention that arises by implication as the King is the head of state (in this case, enshrined in the written constitution).

At first sight, I don't see why Victoria, as the future head of state, would have to hold any previous substantive rank in the armed forces, or have any military training beyond what is required of ordinary Swedish citizens by conscription. If, on the other hand, officer training was considered important as part as her preparation to be the next head of state, why didn't she do it when she was younger rather than delaying it until her mid-40s?

To me it seems a response to the Russian aggression and Sweden's decision to join NATO that the military is receiving a lot more attention by the Swedish Royal Family more recently. Apparently, they concluded that Victoria as future head of state needed to be more familiar with the inner workings of the military given the changed circumstances in the world and Sweden in particular.

Prime minister Ulf Kristersson at his social media:
Crown Princess Victoria begins Special Appointsment Training today in order to deepen her knowledge of the Swedish defence as a future head of state. A fine commitment to our country's freedom, security and democracy.
There are many of us who feel gratitude for all the Swedish women and men who contribute in various ways to making Sweden safer - as well as officers, soldiers and conscripts.

The Swedish Defence University at its website:
A record number start officer training in 2024
The new cadets on the Officer Program (OP) were welcomed by the program management on 16 August. It's also especially fun that Crown Princess Victoria is starting the Special Appointsment Training (SOFU), which is partly carried out together with OP.

Somebody said:

To me it seems a response to the Russian aggression and Sweden's decision to join NATO that the military is receiving a lot more attention by the Swedish Royal Family more recently. Apparently, they concluded that Victoria as future head of state needed to be more familiar with the inner workings of the military given the changed circumstances in the world and Sweden in particular.

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Margareta Thorgren said at an interview, that this SOFU course has been planned for Victoria for a long time, but it has been very difficult to get it to suit with her work. Now they have found a time and place for it.
Of course also now when Estelle and Oscar are older, it is easier for Victoria to attend the course.

Already in April, when Victoria's SOFU-training was announced, Deputy Director of Human Resources of the Armed Forces, commander Fredrik Peetu said:
- This is a full-time course, which means 40 hours a week. The Crown Princess has her other program, so in some cases she will have to study weekends and evenings.

So, if Victoria has work events during the day, she compensates it with studying the material on weekends and evenings. Her work events are planned to happen in the afternoon or in the evening if possible.

New photos of Victoria at the Swedish Defence University
Pic

Victoria at the Swedish Defence University today. A war game-based lesson was held for her and other cadets as part of her training in the Swedish Armed Forces.
Pic
Profimedia gallery


Good photos

Anders Pihlblad, the host of "Kungahuset", TV4's annual program of the Royal Family, visited the Swedish Defence University yesterday. He interviewed also king Carl Gustaf last week about Victoria at the special appointments training. The video was shown at TV4's News morning today.

The King on the Crown Princess's military training: "Wants to be part of the world's development"
Crown Princess Victoria has begun her officer training. Anders Pihlblad has met with Anders Enström, program manager for the Officer Program at the Swedish Defence University to find out more. In addition, King Carl XVI Gustaf gives his views: "The more you know, the safer you are," says the king.
Anders Enström says that Victoria herself has not decided what she will study.
- The Crown Princess follows what is called special appointments training. Her employer has decided which courses in the Officer program she will study.
The King says Victoria is busy with the training right now. The fun thing is that she is sitting with a group of students and it is one of the larger groups that are training to be officers. And the fact that she gets to be part of this group, the King thinks she feels is very exciting. Everyone has joint discussions, you find out quite a lot, and you meet many new future officers.
Kungen om kronprinsessans militära utbildning_ ”Vill vara med i världsutvecklingen”

A video of the training Victoria had last spring:

In the spring, the Crown Princess completed a basic military course in the Stockholm Amphibious Regiment. The course prepared the Crown Princess for the officer training she is now undergoing.In the basic course, the Crown Princess had to deepen her personal soldier skills and practical combat situations. The Crown Princess also received repetition and further development of previous knowledge.

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And the Royal House about it:

iceflower said:

A video of the training Victoria had last spring:

Försvarsmakten on Instagram: "Under våren genomförde Kronprinsessan militär grundkurs vid Stockholms amfibieregemente. Kursen förberedde Kronprinsessan inför den officersutbildning hon nu genomför. Under grundkursen fick Kronprinsessan fördjupa sig

542 likes, 4 comments - forsvarsmakten on October 29, 2024: "Under våren genomförde Kronprinsessan militär grundkurs vid Stockholms amfibieregemente. Kursen förberedde Kronprinsessan inför den officersutbildning hon nu genomför. Under grundkursen fick Kronprinsessan fördjupa sig i personliga...

www.instagram.com

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Yes, already in April commander Fredrik Peedu, deputy director of Human Resources of the Swedish Armed Forces, said:
- But before the crown princess can begin the Special Appointsment Training, she needs to complete her basic military training. The Crown Princess has completed parts of basic military training in the past. She will complete her previous basic military training to achieve the minimum requirements to be able to begin the Special Appointsment Training. The Crown Princess will be exposed to some hardships during this basic training.

HQ photos at Royal House's press room:
Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 ** Pic 5 ** Pic 6 ** Pic 7 ** Pic 8 ** Pic 9 ** Pic 10 ** Pic 11 ** Pic 12 ** Pic 13 ** Pic 14 ** Pic 15 ** Pic 16

From the photos the Royal House published (taken by Maja Hansson/The Armed Forces) we find out that they have been taken on 26.4., 13.5., 27.5. and 4.6. And that Victoria's aide-de-camp Lieutenant Commander Jonas Forsmark has been with her at the training in May.