Summary:

Immigration to Norway has increased over the last forty years, and today ethnic minority groups comprise 10,6 per cent of the population.

The Norwegian Defence is working to increase the number of soldiers, airmen and sailors coming from ethnic minorities, and in 1998 a goal connected to ethnic minority recruitment was set. The arguments adduced for increasing the numbers of officers with an ethnic minority background appeal to equal opportunities, fairness, legitimacy and operationally effectiveness. This study starts with the thesis stating that young people from ethnic minority backgrounds do not choose to pursuit a military career and become officers despite political and military recruitment goals and ambitions.

The intention with this study has been to establish a platform of knowledge about the relations and mechanisms that leads ethnic minorities away from the military profession. By doing so, I hope to unveil some of the reasons why the Norwegian Defence does not reach its ambitions concerning the recruitment of ethnic minorities.

In this study I have paid particular attention to the young persons own experience, meanings and their understanding of the reality. I argue that even though equal opportunities is an overarching political goal, young people with ethnic minority backgrounds have a far more difficult road to travel on their way to pursue military ambitions than their ethnically Norwegian brothers and sisters. If the Norwegian Defence wants progress towards the target of representativeness of officers with an ethnic minority background, it will take far more effort and active recruitment. I also argue that young people coming from ethnic minorities will be affected by factors both within the Norwegian Armed Forces and within the ethnical minority cultures when they consider to pursue a military career or not.

One obstacle for choosing a career in the armed forces seems to be that minority families often have other educational attainments and preferences for their children. Another important bottleneck is lack of information about all the possible ways to pursue a military career, and insufficient information on the Norwegian Defence in general. Other obstacles appear to be lack of role models with ethnic minority backgrounds and, to some degree, lack of intercultural experience and awareness within the organization. The respondents in this study have mainly a positive experience and attitude towards the Norwegian armed forces after having served themselves.