Vervede i Forsvaret: motivasjon, erfaringer og fremtidsplaner

This study explores attitudes and experiences of contracted personnel in the Norwegian Armed Forces. It is based on information from 28 interviews with personnel in the Army, Air Force and Navy. Topics for discussion were motivation for serving, experiences in the job, and plans for life aft er their contract expires. The study found a discrepancy between the perspectives held by Army interviewees on the one hand, and those in the Air Force and Navy on the other. The former group expressed great dissatisfaction about the lack of opportunities to work as a specialist and continue in the job beyond the maximum period of six years. This was not something the Air Force and Navy interviewees were concerned about. For the most part, they had few objections to the contractual limitations. In terms of job satisfaction, most of the participants liked their job and saw the working environment as positive and unique. None of the interviewees regretted signing a contract, even though many believed the experiences and knowledge they acquire are of little value in the civilian job marked. Only a few participants planned to sign a second contract, although many expressed a wish to continue in the Armed Forces, though in a different capacity than a contracted service member.