USANG visits Danish Homeguard.
Take-away:
"The whole idea of ‘catching more flies with honey than vinegar’ kept coming to mind."
.....
“It was about influential leadership, really, above all else. How do you motivate somebody when you don’t have the power to
command them to do something? They keep reiterating how leadership and command were NOT the same thing. They wanted to teach us how to lead, not how to command.”
“The Danish Home Guard, due to its lack of formal military structure, its fluctuating ranks (going from enlisted to officer and back, depending on your current role), and the unpaid/volunteer nature of it, focuses largely on personal over positional power,”
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“There was also a good deal of talk about wolves and giraffes, and the importance of understanding a Danish term known as
wolvsprog, which means to speak like a wolf. This type of communication was described as ineffective and harmful, as it is demanding, mercurial, unforgiving, and shortsighted.
“Contrasted from wolves are giraffes, whose means of discourse are aptly called
girafsprog. The giraffe epitomizes calmness, equanimity, and balance. These two animals were contrasted during their lesson on conflict management, where we were taught to think like a giraffe.
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I know I keep yammering on about the Danes but I do think they are onto something.
One common complaint I hear on this site about the Militia/Reserves is that the don't follow orders. They don't show up when commanded. They only work when they want to and where they want to.
That sounds an awful lot like the culture the Danes have to accommodate with their Home Guard.
....
Running the numbers again.
5,977,000 Danes
51,000 volunteers on the rolls
13,000 active (completed 250 hours of training and showing up at least 24 hours a year - typical commitment is more like 200 hours per year)
3,000 reaction force volunteers (infantry trained on their own time - considered competent in platoon tactics - take their rifles home with them)
The active force is considered well enough trained to supplement police and regulars on security duties - cordons, perimeters and check-points.
The reaction force is considered well enough trained to manage tactical operations up to company level independently when operating in their own backyards, literally.
Canadian numbers
350,000 volunteers signed up
90,000 active available
21,000 locals in QRF platoons
In addition the Danes hire up to 9000 full time soldiers (all ranks)
That would equate to 63,000 Canadians in the regular army. There would be an additional 21,000 in the air force, 21,000 in the navy and 14,000 in logistics and admin.
Ports and airports are all secured with the assistance of the Homeguard.
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Many of the Homeguard also sign up for more advanced units like the Patrol units, the Vehicle Patrol units and the SSR or long range Special Reconnaissance unit which trains alongside the Special Forces. They also sign up for foreign service, often bringing their civvy skills to CIMiC operations. If nothing else the regs don't have to baby-sit them as much.
