| Arctic Ranger units
are specialized in unconventional warfare and guerilla
tactics and long range reconnaissance. This takes place
deep behind enemy lines, with no support from other
units, in all weather and in all terrain, for periods of
up to 30 days. Training takes place at the 22nd Infantry Regiment in Kiruna. Kiruna is located 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle in Lappland, Sweden. This is one of the worlds most northern military training locations, in Europes last wilderness. Here, the year-average temperature is -1° C (= 30° F), and winter temperatures average -20° C (= -5° F) with temperature extremes of as low as -45° C (= -50° F). |
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| The climate is one of the toughest
in the world, and the training one of the toughest in the
Swedish Army. This requires a high level of physical
strength and endurance as well as the ability to think
and act under high levels of stress and fatigue, and
under extreme weather conditions. The rigorous and
extensive training each soldier recieves includes
survival, patroling techniques, explosives and
demolitions, land navigation, the setting up of concealed
ranger bases, mountain training and lots of ski and sled
training. Specialist training is given to each Arctic Ranger in one or more of the following areas: signals and cryptation, medic, snowmobile, tracked all-terrain vehicle, and heavy weapons such as machineguns, sniper rifles, mortars, grenade launchers and guided anti-tank missiles. Additional training courses that are given mainly to NCOs include Russian vehicle recognition, Russian organization, Russian tactics, foreign weapons training, indirect fire control and resisting interrogation. |
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| This site is always under construction. Last updated: October 3, 1999 (latest news here).
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