163 new participants started the Joint Advanced Command and Staff Programme (HOP)

On Monday 5 August, the Swedish Defence University welcomed 163 new students to the Joint Advanced Command and Staff Programme (HOP).

It is the seventh group of HOP:ers, as they are popularly called, who took their place at the beginning of August and filled the Sweden Hall at the Swedish Defence University. They have been specially selected by unit commanders around the country and by the Armed Forces headquarters to attend this training, which is the only one of its kind.

The next step in their career

The programme is offered both as a one-year master's degree in war studies, military history, command or defence systems for those who are to be promoted to major or naval captain, and as a two-year master's degree in war studies, military history, command or defence systems for those who are to be promoted to lieutenant colonel/commander. Of those who are now starting their studies, 118 will attend the one-year programme (HOP1 24-25) and 40 the two-year programme (HOP12 24-26).

Officers from other countries

In each grade, officers from other countries participate at the invitation of the Armed Forces. In this year's HOP master, five participants are foreign officers from Finland, Lithuania, Norway, South Korea and Germany, and they complete the training in Swedish.

The induction week consisted of various introductory activities with a focus on the participants getting to know each other, the department and the group. The first course in the subject of leadership and management is also starting now.

The Swedish Defence University warmly welcomes all new HOP members!.