Norwegian Civil Defence

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Emblem Emblem of the Norwegian Civil Defence.svg
Emblem
The international distinctive sign of civil defence, defined by the rules of International Humanitarian Law and to be used as a protective sign CivilDefense square.svg
The international distinctive sign of civil defence, defined by the rules of International Humanitarian Law and to be used as a protective sign
Traditional coat of arms Coat of arms of the Norwegian Civil Defence.svg
Traditional coat of arms

Norwegian Civil Defence (Norwegian : Sivilforsvaret) is the civil defence organization of Norway.

Contents

The Norwegian Civil Defence sorts under the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning which again reports to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. The organization is based on conscription where both men and women between the age of 18 and 55 can be called to serve. The Civil Defence reinforce emergency response in peacetime and protects the civilian polpulation in accordance with the Geneva conventions in war.

Organization

Norwegian Civil Defence headquarters in Oslo 2012-09 Sivilforsvaret.jpg
Norwegian Civil Defence headquarters in Oslo
Norwegian Civil Defence van in Tromso Norwegian Civil Defence van in Tromso (2015).jpg
Norwegian Civil Defence van in Tromsø
Norwegian Civil Defence Scania lorry outside Tromso fire station Norwegian Civil Defence lorry (truck) in Tromso (2015).jpg
Norwegian Civil Defence Scania lorry outside Tromsø fire station

The Norwegian Civil Defence is split into.

As of 2016 the Norwegian Civil Defence has an operative force of 8,000 men and women with duty to serve. In addition, a wartime reserve force will be trained and equipped should the need arise. [1]

Peacetime Contingency Teams (FIG)

The most active part of the Norwegian Civil defence. Each FIG contains 22 persons, one FIG leader and a second in command. The rest of the personnel are divided in two teams led by a team leader, and a second team leader. The FIG personnel are to respond to a call-out within one hour and there are 119 active teams in the country

Peacetime Contingency Teams – Personnel (FIG-P)

This is a release-reinforcement unit for the FIG. The personnel have exactly the same training as FIG. FIG-P have a call-out time of 30–60 minutes. Normally there is one Fig-P troop per FIG unit, divided in two teams.

Mobile Decontamination Units (MRE)

There are 17 mobile clean-up units in the organization. Each group consists of 24 persons that are specially trained in decontamination of people that has been exposed to chemical, biological, or radioactive agents (CBRN).

The teams are equipped with a rapid deployable mobile decontamination unit that can be deployed at any site where chemical, biological or radioactive contamination had been detected.

Radiation Measurement patrols (RAD)

This is the smallest unit in the organization and consists of four personnel trained in measuring radioactivity. The unit measures background radiation at set locations and times for comparison. They are also trained in location radioactive materials.

There are 123 teams currently operating.

Ranks and rank insignia

Rank insignia of the Norwegian Civil Defence [2]
Rank insigniaRegularNational serviceNational service reserve
Sivilforsvaret-Distinksjon-Sjef i DSB.png
Sjef for sivilforsvaret
Director of Civil Defence
Sivilforsvaret-Distinksjon-Distriktssjef.png
Distriktssjef
District Director
Sivilforsvaret-Distinksjon-Sivilforsvarsinspektor.png
Sivilforsvarsinspektør I
Assistant Civil Defence Director I
Stabssjef
Chief of Staff
Sivilforsvaret-Distinksjon-Sivilforsvarsinspektor2.png
Sivilforsvarsinspektør II
Assistant Civil Defence Director II
Sivilforsvaret-Distinksjon-Sivilforsvarsadjutant1.png
Sivilforsvarsadjutant I
Chief Civil Defence Officer I
SF-sjefskontrollør
Chief Controller Civil Defence
Rådgiver stab
Staff Adviser
Sivilforsvaret-Distinksjon-FIG-leder.png
Sivilforsvarsadjutant II
Chief Civil Defence Officer II
FIG-leder
Peacetime Contingency Team Leader
FIGP-leder
Peacetime Contingency Team Leader - Personnel
MRE-leder
Mobile Decontamination Unit Leader
IG-leder
Contingency Team Leader
STG-leder
Support Team Leader
Seksjonsleder stab
Section Leader Staff
SF-kontrollør
Civil Defence Controller
LVG-skiftleder
Air Alert Service Shift Leader
Sivilforsvaret-Distinksjon-Nestleder.png
Sivilforsvarsbetjent
Civil Defence Officer
IG-nestleder
Assistant Contingency Team Leader
STG-nestleder
Assistant Support Team Leader
Materiellforvalter
Supply Officer
Lege
Medical Officer
LVG-operatør
Air Alert Service Operator
Stabsmedlem
Staff Member
Sivilforsvaret-Distinksjon-Materiellansvarlig.png
FIG-nestleder
Assistant Peacetime Contingency Team Leader
FIGP-nestleder
Assistant Peacetime Contingency Team Leader - Personnel
MRE-nestleder
Assistant Mobile Decontamination Unit Leader
Kvartermester
Quartermaster
Sykepleier
Nurse
Sambandsleder
Communications leader
Sivilforsvaret-Distinksjon-Lagforer.png
Lagfører
Squad Leader
Sivilforsvaret-Distinksjon-Nestlagforer.png
Nestlagfører
Assistant Squad Leader
Patruljeleder
Patrol Leader
Kvartermesterassistent
Assistant Quartermaster

History

The Norwegian Civil Defence was first founded as the voluntary air protection (Norwegian : Det Frivillige Luftvern) in 1936. It was later renamed to the civil air protection (Norwegian : Det Sivile Luftvern). The primary task for the organization was to protect civilians in case of war. This is also evident in the law from 1953 (Norwegian : Lov om sivilforsvar) that still governs the organization. Even so the organization has adapted to the change in threats against civilians.

See also

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References

  1. "The Norwegian Civil Defence - Sivilforsvaret.no". www.sivilforsvaret.no. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
  2. "Uniforms- og honnørreglement for Sivilforsvaret 2010" [Uniform and Honor Regulations for the Civil Defense 2010](PDF) (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2016-11-27.