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People who follow Swedish #defence issues might during the last week have noticed that there's a lot of buzz about someone called Kjell and the hashtag #ärkjellomhändertagen. In case you missed what this is all about (and I don't blame you), here's what happened:
It all started when one of the Swedish armoured regiments, P7 Södra skånska, published a short clip following one of their rifle squads during a recent exercise. Nothing strange, armies all over the world does it all the time.
However, the footage was rather raw, and included quite a bit of swearing, things not going to plan, black humour, and lots and lots of fantastic one-liners.
While people who have experienced military life largely found it refreshing and could sympathise with the camaraderie and air of #SNAFU, the media team feared it would not sit well with the general public and there was also a worry for the reputation of the recruits.
The video was *very* quickly taken down, which of course gave it even more of a cult status as it started to be shared in other channels. It also provided ample meme-material.
Now, P7 isn't stupid, the regimental CO changed his Twitter-handle to "Kjell's boss", and soon the video was back up again.
"It's not pretty
It's not a new first aid kit
It's not a really good firing position
But,
It is in the heat of combat
It is for each other
It is to Never give up
The film about rifle squad Gustav Bertil is back" https://twitter.com/P7Revinge/status/1258341304045580288?s=20
It's not a new first aid kit
It's not a really good firing position
But,
It is in the heat of combat
It is for each other
It is to Never give up
The film about rifle squad Gustav Bertil is back" https://twitter.com/P7Revinge/status/1258341304045580288?s=20
But it didn't end there - yesterday a behind-the-scenes video with the squad members was posted, where they discuss the exercise, including the use of jokes to get through the difficulties, the exercise scenario, and the decision making process. https://twitter.com/P7Revinge/status/1259093987291467778?s=20
It's a fantastic story. Fighting a delaying action, the squad gets hit by indirect fire and get two wounded: the squad leader, and Kjell. Having evacuated them, the squad gets back into position only to realise that the radio is left with the squad lead, and that they are cut off
Here the stress apparently really kicked in, as the unit for the first time is really on their own, operating under the command of the deputy. They decide to fight their way back to the platoon regroup point (ÅSA in Swedish), but to get there they need to cross an open space.
The deputy grabs his NLAW, and decides that the only way to provide cover for his men transiting the open field is to take up a very exposed firing position, which he does, exclaiming "I have a really good firing position!"
Just as he is to follow his squad to safety, an armoured vehicle appear. He quickly fires and knocks out the vehicle, before following the unit to the regroup point. There, they find the squad leader and Kjell dead, but grabbing his radio they can get in touch with the platoon.
In my personal opinion, both videos are just pure gold! Especially with the explainer, it is easy to follow how the decisions that in the first film looked somewhat... dubious have been made.
And while you can argue that you really should know how to use a first aid kit, this is why soldiers train. What stuck with me was how the young soldiers without their leader, without comms, and cut off behind enemy lines, take control of the situation, and fight their way out!
Oh, and the memes!
