Army Ranger School
| Army Ranger School | |
|---|---|
| Arméns jägarskola (JS) | |
| Active | 1910–1975 |
| Country | Sweden |
| Allegiance | Swedish Armed Forces |
| Branch | Swedish Army |
| Type | Ranger |
| Size | Battalion |
| Garrison/HQ | Kiruna |
| March | "Friska tag" by Modéer |
Army Ranger School (Swedish: Arméns jägarskola, abbreviated JS) was a Swedish Army ranger unit which was active in various forms between 1910 and 1975. The unit was based in Kiruna, Lapland.
The Army Ranger School has its origins in the Ski Battalion which in 1910 was established in Boden as Norrbotten Regiment's 4th battalion. 372 conscripts from Sweden's then 25 enrollment areas enrolled in Boden for training in winter conditions. The Ski Battalion remained until 1942, when they were reorganized into a Ranger Battalion. After the German invasion of Norway on 9 April 1940 the Ski Battalion operated in the fell areas along the Norway–Sweden border as well as the subsequent Ranger Battalion did until the end of the war. One of the soldiers who served in the Ski Battalion during World War II was Sweden's future Supreme Commander Stig Synnergren.
The class of 1945, which formed the 4th Ranger Battalion at the Norrbotten Regiment (I 19) enrolled in Boden. After transportation by rail the battalion moved on 14 June into not completely finished new barracks in Kiruna. Thus the I 19's Ski Battalion was reorganized into the Army Ranger School (JS). The unit was formally established on 1 July. The commander of Defense Area 66 with staff was also based in the Kiruna.
The duties of the Army Ranger School was to train soldiers and officers in winter and ranger (jägar) duty for the army. Approximately 400-500 men were distributed in two companies. The officers were recruited from across the country with a three-year active duty tour. Then they could pass on the knowledge to their home units on how to act in a subarctic environment of an area as big as Switzerland. Although the military training was important and largely based on secure winter conditions, the main reason for the Army Ranger School being placed in Malmfälten was that it would defend the valuable mines.
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