Marinejegerkommandoen
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MJK specialises in maritime and coastal operations. |
Marinejegerkommandoen (MJK) is a Norwegian maritime and coastal-oriented special forces unit formally established in 1951. It is divided into two operative units, one of which is located in
Ramsund in the northern part of
Norway and the other at the
Haakonsvern Navy base in
Bergen.
As is expected from any special forces, the training to become a MJK operative is long and arduous, taking two years and then further augmented by courses taken during the following four-year contract period, such as field medical training, sniper training and
forward air control (FAC) training. As of recently, all MJK personnel are assigned as officers and are put through the required courses to qualify. This is to maintain a level of authority and operational independency in relations to other, non-special forces units. Despite being less "famous" than ex. the British SAS or American Navy SEALs, they are by many military experts considered to one of the worlds foremost special forces unit.
"Operatives are tasked to accomplish missions where conventional forces are unusable. MJK operatives are highly mobile, with stamina and forceful firepower in terms of their operative size. MJK operatives are specialists in maritime operations. They are trained and equipped to solve missions while under extreme climatic and environmental stresses."
[1]MJK forms an integral part of the special operations command mesh that serves to protect Norway's interests, both domestic and internationally. As to be used with maximum efficiency in the latter, the unit is modelled after the
NATO Special Forces definition.
MJK includes a
frogman unit (in
Norwegian Froskemanskorpset).
Domestic security
MJK's role in a domestic defence situation is multifaceted, augmenting those of the Forsvarets Spesialkommando (
FSK), Hærens Jegerkommando (
HJK), HV-016 and Kystjegerkommandoen (
KJK), while also supported by the Marine EOD command: Minnedykkerkommandoen (
MDK).
International operations
MJK has participated in a number of international operations, most notably and most recently twice in
Operation Enduring Freedom in
Afghanistan, in 2002 and in 2003, MJK's contribution has largely been kept secret, but from what is available, its missions have included DA (Direct Action), Forward Air Control (FAC) and SR (Special Surveillance and Reconnaissance), assisting US troops in the fight against the
Taliban.
With the majority of the Norwegian public moderately to strongly disinclined towards the NATO operations in Afghanistan and the US-led
Iraq War, many were shocked to realise that Norwegian troops were in a shooting war. Several political parties made it their cause to see the withdrawal of all Norwegian troops in the 2005 national elections, but their progress is still confined to inter-party debate as of October 2005.
Despite these domestic disagreements, the MJK has been set in readiness for a third deployment to Afghanistan, and it seems likely that they will have a third tour of duty, making them the most experienced combat troops Norway has to offer.
Their participation in Afghanistan has been rewarded by the
Navy Presidential Unit Citation on 8th February 2005 on grounds of their efforts, and it is the first time since the
Vietnam war this citation is given to a special forces. This is the second highest award one can receive in the US.
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Forsvarsnett: Marinejegerkommandoen Official site (Norwegian)
*
Marinejeger â€" Maintained by MJK, but not officially recognised (Norwegian)
