Emblem
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

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

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 are to support the police, fire departments, health care or other public agencies in case of larger incidents which those departments don't have the manpower to handle.

Organization

Norwegian Civil Defence headquarters in Oslo
Norwegian Civil Defence van in Tromsø
Norwegian Civil Defence Scania lorry outside Tromsø fire station

The Norwegian Civil Defence is split into.

  • Peacetime Contingency Teams (FIG)
  • Peacetime Contingency Teams - Personnel (FIG-P)
  • Mobile Decontamination Units (MRE)
  • Air Alert Service (LVG)
  • Radiation measurement patrols (RAD)

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 of 8000 personnel 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 insignia Regular National service National service reserve
 Sjef for sivilforsvaret
Director of Civil Defence
Distriktssjef
District Director
Sivilforsvarsinspektør I
Assistant Civil Defence Director I		 Stabssjef
Chief of Staff
 Sivilforsvarsinspektør II
Assistant Civil Defence Director II
Sivilforsvarsadjutant I
Chief Civil Defence Officer I		 SF-sjefskontrollør
Chief Controller Civil Defence
Rådgiver stab
Staff Adviser
 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
 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
 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
 Lagfører
Squad Leader
 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

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.
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