Crossing Continents ‘A new foe’: Conscripting women in Denmark
Sep 23, 2025
Guest
Conscript interviewees (eg. Sarah, Molly, Catherine, Nadia)
Guest
Peter (military recruiter) / Senior Navy Commander / Peter Viggo-Jarbson
Peter Viggo-Jarbson, an associate professor at the Royal Danish Defence College, and Senior Navy Commander Sun Lund discuss Denmark's new conscription policy that includes 18-year-old women. They explain the necessity of boosting military ranks due to increased threats from Russia. On the ground, young conscripts like Sarah and Molly share their diverse feelings about the call-up process and the pressures they face. The episode also features insights into legal requirements for recruitment and the experiences of conscripts during training exercises.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Mandatory Recruitment Day For All 18-Year-Olds
- Denmark will require all 18-year-olds to attend a recruitment day under the law regardless of gender.
- The compulsory appearance is enforced with fines and police intervention if needed.
Young Women Volunteer For Recruitment Day
- Nine young women who volunteered attended a recruitment day and took cognitive and medical tests.
- Some, like Sarah and Molly, described nervous excitement and interest in discipline, skills, and self-discovery.
Longer Service To Boost Mobilisation Capacity
- The new law more than doubles conscription from four to 11 months and aims to triple conscript numbers.
- Officials say the expansion builds mobilisable capacity to deter threats and meet NATO obligations.