69.7258°N 29.8913°WRanger Battalion GSV (Norwegian: Jegerbataljonen GSV, formerly known as the Garrison of Sør-Varanger) is a battalion in the Norwegian Army that monitors the 196km (122miles) border between Norway and Russia. It is located at Høybuktmoen in Sør-Varanger Municipality in Finnmark county, Norway.
| Unit Name: | Ranger Battalion GSV |
| Country: | Norway |
| Type: | Border guard |
| Branch: | Army |
| Dates: | 1921–present |
| Specialization: | Reconnaissance patrols. Ranger Company (JGKP) specializes in invasion defence |
| Size: | 900 Light infantry battalion |
| Current Commander: | Lieutenant colonel Jørn Qviller |
| Garrison: | Høybuktmoen |
| Ceremonial Chief: | Harald V |
| Ceremonial Chief Label: | Commander-in-Chief |
| Motto: | Alltid klar (Always ready) |
| Colors: | Umbra green beret |
| Mascot: | Vargen (the wolf) |
The military base sits adjacent to Kirkenes Airport, Høybuktmoen. The battalion consists of the Training Company (UTDKP), the Combat Support Company (KAMPSTØ), the Ranger Company (JGKP), and the border companies: the Jarfjord Ranger Company (JAR) and the Pasvik Ranger Company (PAS).[1] [2]
The Ranger Battalion GSV has a twofold main mission: A military and a non-military one. Both assignments are linked to 24/7 monitoring of the Norwegian-Russian border.
The troops stationed at GSV mainly consists of conscripted soldiers. Most of the soldiers are men, but there is also an increasing number of women represented. GSV receives about 400 new conscripts every six months.
The first seven weeks of recruit training, which is standard for all military personnel in Norway. After basic training, some of the soldiers are transferred to the garrison company to work in and around the garrison to support the education of the UTDKP, the border companies themselves and the mission-solvance of the GSV border companies.
The rest of the soldiers stay in the education company to become border guards. After six months, through basic training, advanced training and specialist/designated training, the soldiers are divided up and sent to one of the two border stations.
The border service requires physical and mental stamina, discipline and the ability to think, decide and initiate. The service requires individuals and units to operate independently. The soldiers deployed for border service are basically trained as reconnaissance rangers. Most of the time in the education company consist of field exercise, fire drills and role specialisation.
At the border, the soldiers are divided into four-person patrol teams. A typical patrol team consist of one patrol commander corporal, one communications technician, one medical specialist and one scout. Not assigned, but perfectly available for the teams are canine corporals, responsible for handling and training the patrol canines, and transportation corporals, responsible for mobility, administrative tasks and maintenance. In addition, a portion of the border guards are assigned with a dual role; reconnaissance and operations headquarters, they also serve as regular border guards.
The soldiers' main task is to function as border guards on the Russian border, guarding not only the border to a neighbouring country, but also the European border according to the Schengen Agreement.The new Ranger Company (JGKP) have anti-mobility (anti-tank) weapons like the Javelin missile system, and also deploy AT mines.
Treaty and sovereignty enforcement of the Norwegian border to Russia is a three-agency operation.
Responsible for prosecution, fines, and processing of illegal immigrants, asylum seekers, and border violations.
The policy-making and diplomatic department. It arranges contact and meetings with its Russian counterpart, makes agreements and rules, and is a substantial part of the diplomatic process.
In addition to the border stations, some soldiers also staff the checkpoint at Storskog, the only legal crossing point between Norway and Russia. The checkpoint is also staffed by the Finnmark Police District, the Norwegian Customs Service, and the Norwegian Border Commission.