During the first two weeks of January some 1,200 people applied to the force, four times as many as during the same period in 2023. 

“Fifteen years ago many people viewed the Home Guard as a hobby, like hiking or hunting,” Raaum said. “Now they realize that it’s a crucial part of our security.” 

Konrad Lindblad, who joined the Home Guard seven years ago after completing his military service in 2004, said friends and acquaintances had suddenly begun asking him how to join. Lindblad has also seen his own motivation evolve. 

“When I joined, I wanted to do something different than what I do during the workday in the office, and I since I had enjoyed doing military service, I knew the Home Guard suited me,” he said. “But once I was part of it, I realized that that the Home Guard is also a serious undertaking, aligned with the rest of the armed forces. And I started thinking about why I was doing it. I do it because I’m able to contribute to our defense. If people like me don’t do it, who will? We can’t take for granted that Sweden will have freedom and democracy.”

So many people now want to join, in fact, that the Home Guard is having trouble keeping up. 

Applicants must be assessed, and if they haven’t done military service (which many haven’t, although Sweden reinstated the draft on a limited basis in 2018), they have to undergo a military crash course. And then space must be found for them in nearby units.

“Our vacancies are not so numerous that we can accommodate lots of people,” Lindblad said. “We’d need new units in order to accommodate a significant number of new members, but that takes time, especially since you can’t stand up new units consisting only of new people. On the other hand, if you keep people waiting they lose interest.”