Il Nuovo Postiglione - Danish reservists practice war games to respond to 'aggression'

The soldiers split into two groups amongst the trees and return fire at the "attackers", who they eventually overcome.

Fears about the deterioration in global security have resulted in droves of Danes flocking to join the reserve military force, which has served as a back-up for the army since 1949.

"Many people join because they can see what the world is like and they want to do their bit," explained Gert Knudsen, the head of the National Guard in the Funen region.

Since early 2026, 1,500 volunteers -- male, female, young and old -- have enrolled, swelling the reservist ranks to 13,400. The force has not attracted such interest since the 1980s.

"People have realised that we're not just a bunch of blokes running about playing games," insisted Jess Nielsen, the head of the company creeping around in the forest.

Their weekend event was part of the nationwide Operation 'Blaatand' (Bluetooth) on Funen and Jutland islands, training volunteer soldiers in new skills for a changing world.

"The armed forces are currently creating new units, such as ground-based air defence. That means there are a whole range of new elements we need to incorporate into our exercise," Knudsen said.

On Funen island, where Nielsen's company is based, the men have been practising combat and protecting critical infrastructure.

Nielsen wants them to improve skills such as manning checkpoints and responding to "acts of aggression".

Denmark has increased defence spending since Russia invaded Ukraine, Copenhagen's ally, in 2022.

"It's training -- but the notion that this could actually happen has become more real," Knudsen said of Operation Bluetooth.

"We're taking it a bit more seriously than before because now we know that before long, we might have to be out there and actually be capable of doing this."

F.Ciambrone--INP