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TAKE ACTION: Eirik Kristoffersen has been Chief of the Armed Forces for three months. During their brief time, several have had a better impression of the Armed Forces. Photo: Hanna Kristin Hjardar
HARSTAD (VG) Eirik Kristoffersen is approaching 100 days as Chief of Defense. Now it is recovering its status: it has implemented measures to prevent a computer explosion in the Armed Forces. Another risk is the purchase of materials that do not meet the objectives.
It is covid 19 hour also for the Armed Forces. The license was revoked and the conferences were canceled. However, General Eirik Kristoffersen has taken the mask and traveled north to visit the Navy.
Corona is a risk. But for the new Chief of Defense, there is also the possibility:
– We travel a lot, he tells VG.
– So far this year we have saved NOK 300 million in the travel budget due to Covid restrictions. I imagine 200 million of this will be lasting savings. We will travel, but only when necessary, he says.
And add:
– I will not be the chief of defense who travels only to “pee on the posts.”
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War is highly unlikely
On Friday, he met with the management and operators of the Coastal Hunter Command, KJK, in Trondenes, outside Harstad. During the packed lunches, you have told them what you expect from your organization:
– You will solve the assignments, but I will not interfere in how you do it. Although war is highly unlikely. must be on high alert. And you must take care of your people.
SPRAY MEDAL: Sten Richard Larsen, Commander of the Coast Guard Command, has served 30 years in the Armed Forces and receives the Defense Medal with a Star from the Chief of Defense, Eirik Kristoffersen. Photo: Hanna Kristin Hjardar
New to work
General Eirik Johan Kristoffersen is 51 years old. He has experience as a special forces soldier and has written the book “Jegerånden” on his leadership philosophy. This is the short version:
– I demand loyalty to the commission, but there is a big difference between loyalty and obedience. I want people to tell me when something is not in order. People are the most important thing we have. We have to take care of each other. he says.
He is one of Norway’s most decorated soldiers for his heroic efforts in Afghanistan. Soldiers refer to their new superior commander with enormous respect, but at the same time he is an easy one to talk to, a “downcast” commander. It appears totally without pomp. It is presented with only the first name.
After a short stay as commander of the National Guard and commander of the Army, Eirik Kristoffersen became appointed chief of defense by the King in Council in May.
He assumed command on August 17 this year, replacing Haakon Bruun-Hanssen.
Fearless warrior to the top of the Armed Forces
DOWN IN FOUR: Eirik Kristoffersen, in a white blouse, dons his training clothes when he can, like here with the soldiers at Trondenes camp outside Harstad.
But there are big tasks to face. Kristoffersen says he has addressed three areas where he believes the risk to the Armed Forces is high.
1: Danger of bad investment.
– We are now reviewing all investments in new equipment. I see that there is a high risk of investing incorrectly, and higher when we try to develop new systems ourselves. We must be sure that there is a connection between what we buy and the subsequent operation. 30 percent of defense budgets over many years will go to investment. It is best to buy things that other countries already have in use.
You have a good and a bad example:
The P8 surveillance plane, which we are buying now, is used by many allies and is a good example. The downside is the NH90 helicopter that we had to develop ourselves and that no one had tried before us.
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2: Risk of ICT errors
– Significant sums have been earmarked for contracting cloud services by the Armed Forces in order to have better administrative systems. We also invest heavily in Mime, which is close to fighting ICTs where planes, ships, and soldiers on the ground can share information, even with allied forces. These are such great programs that if we are not careful a lot can go wrong. I really don’t want a NAV dimension data scandal in the Armed Forces, he says.
3. Risk of not simplifying
– According to the long-term plan of the Armed Forces, I will expedite by 1,900 million crowns in the four-year period, I think we can get more. It is a claim with a great decrease, but I keep saying it: I think we can work much more efficiently in the Armed Forces. We are perhaps the state agency that has experienced the most changes in recent years. But I’m impatient: we have to change faster because the image of threats is changing so fast.
The Armed Forces will save 1.9 billion, but Eirik Kristoffersen believes it is possible to cut even more to finance new investments.
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Ask the Storting for more freedom
At the Storting, the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense has until Tuesday to present a recommendation on the long-term plan of the Armed Forces. It is not yet clear whether the government will win a majority for the plan and which parties will eventually join.
The government wants to give the defense chief more freedom to move money between the defense branches, but several parties are skeptical. Today, only the Storting can be reassigned between chapters.
– I want freedom to make quicker changes, says Kristoffersen.
– If we want to make the most of resources, we must see all the Armed Forces as one. The Armed Forces have a system called horizontal interaction, this means that we order and bill internally between agencies, which means that no one really has to take responsibility, but it also generates a lot of bureaucracy, he says.
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Core values
Respect, responsibility and courage. Kristoffersen is committed to the core values of the Armed Forces. They form a framework around what you plan to deliver as a boss.
The priority is the following: The values. Greater preparation. Better cooperation with civil society, with NATO allies and not least among the departments of the Armed Forces. And then there is the renewal of the Armed Forces, working smarter.
He has included the results of the recent Harstad population survey: 70 percent have a good or very good impression of the Armed Forces. This is 15% higher than in winter 2019. 68% are sure other NATO countries are training in Norway. 71 percent trust that the Armed Forces can defend the country with the help of the Allies.
– I think it has something to do with our openness. We speak to the media, locally and nationally. Communication is orderly and people are interested in the Armed Forces. Thanks to compulsory military service, all young people are in contact with the Armed Forces in session.
Zero tolerance
But then there is one more thing. There is still a high number of sexual harassment and intimidation within the Armed Forces.
– I have no illusions that it doesn’t happen. The last time we heard about the extension, there were several who said they were shocked and cursed. I’m not going to be surprised or cursed. But I just want to make it clear that I have zero tolerance for that. Both bullying and harassment. That said, says Eirik Kristoffersen.
