According to the defense, the step towards becoming an officer is part of the preparations that the crown princess is undergoing for her upcoming mission as head of state.
The current officer program goes by the name SOFU (Special Officer Training) and is based on both the Defense Academy and the Armed Forces. The program is aimed at people who already have an academic degree and usually takes between 20 and 25 months to complete, according to the Swedish Armed Forces.
The training consists of both theoretical and practical components and should provide “a deeper understanding of tactics, military science and military strategy”, writes the Armed Forces.
Basic education at Swedint
The Crown Princess’s contacts with the military began in 2003 when she underwent basic military training at Swedint, the Armed Forces’ international centre. The training was three weeks long and included handling of weapons, writes Aftonbladet.
Since then, the Crown Princess has continuously immersed herself in the field, including studies in conflict resolution at the Norwegian Defense Academy. As recently as last year, she completed a shorter training program at the Armed Forces headquarters.
In addition to her military studies, the crown princess has completed a bachelor’s degree in peace and conflict studies at Uppsala University, the Royal Palace writes on its website.
