Lapland Ranger Group

In preparation for the Defence Act of 2000, the government proposed in its bill to the Riksdag that the tactical level should be reduced by disbanding the distribution and defence area staffs, as well as the naval commands and air commands. This was to create an army tactical, naval tactical and air tactical command, respectively, which would be co-located with the operational command. The proposal meant that all defence area staffs would be disbanded.^[1]

As part of the Defence Act of 2000, the defence and military areas were abolished on 30 June 2000 and, from 1 July 2000, military districts were organised in their place. This meant that, among other things, the Norrbotten Defence Area (Fo 63) was abolished. The new military districts corresponded geographically to the old military areas. The major difference was that the military districts were the lowest level where the commander was territorially responsible. Within the military districts, military district groups were organised, usually one for each county. In Norrbotten County, three military district groups were organised on 1 July 2000, the Norrbotten Border Ranger Group, the Norrbotten Group and the Lapland Ranger Group, which were subordinate to the Northern Military District (MD N).^[1]

The Lapland Ranger Group is responsible for the training of two Home Guard Battalions.^[2]

The unit's heritage derives from the Lapland Ranger Regiment,^[3] including the group march "Friska tag" by Hjalmar Modéer, officially adopted on 27 November 2002.^[4]

Soldiers of the unit wear khaki berets, in common with the wider Home Guard, with the exception of those serving in the Swedish Armed Forces Music Corps, who wear red berets.^[5]