Sweden Mulls Calling up 70-Year-Old Officers for Military Service
SWEDEN, JUL 13 – Sweden plans to raise the recall age for former military officers to 70 and increase conscript training to at least 10,000 annually by 2030 to address personnel shortages and security threats.
- On July 14, 2025, Sweden announced it is considering raising the recall age for former military officers from 47 to 70 to strengthen its armed forces.
- This proposal follows a 2024 government inquiry aiming to address personnel shortages amid Sweden's planned large-scale military expansion after joining NATO in 2024.
- The plan would eliminate the rule that removes veterans from the register after ten years of inactivity, making it possible to call back a large number of qualified former military personnel.
- Defence Minister Pal Jonson announced that Sweden is substantially increasing its military funding, committing 300 billion kronor to bolster its defense capabilities.
- The changes aim to tackle a looming wave of retirements and improve personnel capacity to prepare Sweden’s armed forces for serious times ahead.
31 Articles
31 Articles


Sweden considers calling up 70-year-old officers to active military duty
Sweden is considering calling up former officers as old as 70 to active duty as it seeks to ensure its military is prepared in times of crisis, the defence minister told a press conference.
Sweden eyes extending military officers' conscription age to 70
Sweden should raise former officers' upper conscription age limit to 70 from 47, a government-appointed review suggested on Monday, as part of the country's moves to strengthen its defence in the face of a deteriorating security environment.
The Swedish government said today it is considering raising the age limit to 70 for calling up former officers to active duty, as part of new measures to ensure the availability of military personnel in times of crisis.
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