King Carl XVI Gustaf has visited the military camp of Arvidsjaur for a ceremony to re-establish Sweden’s Norrland’s Dragon Regiment, K4.
Flags were hoisted over the camp at Arvidsjaur on September 24th 2021 to welcome the Swedish King. In connection with the Swedish defence decision in 2004, the regiment was disbanded and reorganized into the Army’s fighter battalion as part of Norrbotten’s regiment. Now, as part of a programme of expansion, Norrland’s Dragon Regiment is again its own unit.
During the ceremony his Majesty the King gave a speech in which he said: “Almost exactly 41 years ago, more precisely on September 20, 1980, I stood here and inaugurated Norrland’s Dragon Regiment, K4. In connection with the defence decision in 2004, the regiment was disbanded and reorganized into the Army’s fighter battalion as part of Norrbotten’s regiment, in Boden. Today I stand here again to inaugurate Norrland’s dragon regiment K4. It will now again be its own unit, with its own flag and with responsibility for training two Norrland hunter battalions in the future”.
The King also said: “The battalions have the ability to operate in a subarctic environment and thus form an important part of the Swedish Armed Forces. By continuing the education, albeit to a lesser extent, after the closure in 2004, you have retained important skills. This is crucial for now being able to increase operations. You are now faced with solving larger and partly different tasks than before. It is a challenge, a positive one. Even for Arvidsjaur, the increased operations will certainly come with some challenges. But it is also a positive contribution to the continued development of the municipality”.
The king then ended his speech by declaring Norrland’s Dragon Regiment re-established. When the ceremonies were over, the King met soldiers and officers at the re-established regiment. The Norrland Dragons also had the opportunity to present parts of the unit’s equipment to the King before the visit was over.
