Just as in the political and economic spheres of human civilization, warfare has always operated on the basis of supply and demand. As Western forces have ventured into the Middle East and come into contact with gender-constrictive cultures, they have had to adapt to make sure. In countries like Afghanistan, cultural taboos preventing women from talking with men have made it difficult for western male forces to foster good community relations with local inhabitants and nigh on impossible to obtain intelligence from only half the population. And so out of this demand came the supply: the Jegertroppen or “Hunter Troops”.
Formed in 2014, this elite Special Unit is formed only of women. As mentioned, it was born out of the need to integrate the military more into conservative societies. But the unit’s operational role is by no way limited to interacting with women and children and gathering intelligence. Its recruits are trained for an active role as combatants on the frontline. So as you’d expect, their training is just as rigid and demanding as anything a male Special Forces unit would be put through.
Recruits for the Jegertroppen are made to go on grueling marches, carrying their own body weight in supplies and equipment. As part of their survival training, they’re forced to kill (and survive on) animals. And, of course, they receive the essential training in close-quarters combat, parachuting behind enemy lines and offensive driving—the latter, by the sound of it, sounding like something most of us in Europe are already pretty good at.
Out of this rigorous process, soldiers of the Jegertroppen form particularly strong and close bonds—more so than their male counterparts, according to the officer in charge of the training program, Captain Ole Vidar. That Norway has recognized this gender-specific strength and capitalized on it should come as no surprise for such a forward-thinking country. Norway has gone further than any other in tearing down gender barriers for its military. The 1980s saw Norwegian women become eligible for all military roles (something the US only allowed in 2013 and the UK in 2016) while in 2016 the country extended conscription to its female population, becoming the first NATO country to do so.
Sources For Further Reading:
History Extra – The Truth About Viking Berserkers
Russia Beyond – How GIANT Russian Soldiers Served in Prussia
Medium – The King of Prussia Hired, Kidnapped and Bred Giant Soldiers
History – Meet the Night Witches, the Daring Female Pilots Who Bombed Nazis by Night
War History Online – 10 Important Facts About Operation Varsity – Crossing of the Rhine
History Collection – A Countdown Through History’s Most Elite and Deadly Warriors