Crown Prince Frederik's Military Training and Career


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Perhaps this is just to the Danish members or anyone who closely followed the DRF in the 1990s but I'm interested in knowing when CP Frederik's special forces training was known to the public. Were the videos of him in training and the selection period broadcast only after he finished with the Frømandskorpset? Sorry I'm really interested in his military training and career and I'm surprised there isn't a thread for this already. Thanks! :flowers:
 
Perhaps this is just to the Danish members or anyone who closely followed the DRF in the 1990s but I'm interested in knowing when CP Frederik's special forces training was known to the public. Were the videos of him in training and the selection period broadcast only after he finished with the Frømandskorpset? Sorry I'm really interested in his military training and career and I'm surprised there isn't a thread for this already. Thanks! :flowers:

It was known at the time he joined the Frogman Corps as an aspirant. At that time the Frogman Corps was hardly known to the public and it's still very secretive. More so than it's army counterpart, Jægerkorpset = the army special forces.

Frederik had encountered members of the special forces during his military career so far and he had also earned his static fall jump wings at Jægerkorpset, (*) and they had impressed him.

The Frogman Corps is directly inspired by the Special Boat Squadron, where a Dane, Anders Lassen, had played a prominent role. The aspirant course, which lasts I believe around four months, to this day still incorporate the same training methods as used by Special Boat Squadron/Service. And it's widely acknowledged to by physically harder than the army special forces training.

When Frederik joined, an officer from the Frogman Corps was interviewed on TV and explained very clearly that no special considerations at all would be made in regards to Frederik or "We will just end up with an injured Crown Prince".
The aspirant course weeds out most. There have been years where no one has made it at all.
Frederik was among four who made it that year.

These four were now on probation, where they were taught about diving in particular, jump training, survival training, demolition and so on and so. Before becoming fully fledged frogmen after a year or so.
By that time Frederik appeared in a segment on TV. The news host asked the viewers to keep an eye on a clock and a small window of Frederik who sank to the bottom of a pool without any beathing apparatus. He sat there during the entire segment about the corps, which lasted close to two minuttes. Then he looked at his watch and swam, only using his legs to the other side of the pool, under water.

Just as Frederik was fully expected to be dropped off a couple of kilometres out at sea at night in a group of four, with a camuflage net over their heads. (**) Pushing a weapons container between them.
Getting ashore unseen. Move fast easily ten fifteen kilomtres inland, carry out their mission, move back to the shore and swim at least a couple of kilometres out to sea (out of range of a heavy machine gun), where they line up at intervals and wait for a speedboat.
From that boat at kind of loop on a stick is put out. The frogmen raise their arm so that the arm goes in through the loop. The inertia from the fast moving boat throws them clear of the water and onto the boat. - It hurts!
Frederik will have gone through that a number of times.

To his annoyance Frederik was once captured by members of the Home Guard in an attempt to get into the Stevns Fort. A well guarded military installation.

(*) Later free fall jump wings. You can find that clip on YouTube)

(**) To make them resemble seals popping up for a look. I've been looking for "seals" a number of times myself.
On two occasions they got through but that's another story.
 
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Thanks for your reply Muhler! Yes, I've seen that clip I bolded before and that was what prompted my question. So from the moment he said he wanted to go through the 4 month selection process it was public knowledge? Did he actually serve in the Corps or only the selection and training period?

I'm just surprised that, if he did serve in a mission, for his safety and the others' safety they made it known when he was still involved. So it wasn't a 'Prince Harry' where there was a media blackout until he was brought home?
 
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Thanks for your reply Muhler! Yes, I've seen that clip I bolded before and that was what prompted my question. So from the moment he said he wanted to go through the 4 month selection process it was public knowledge? Did he actually serve in the Corps or only the selection and training period?

I'm just surprised that, if he did serve in a mission, for his safety and the others' safety they made it known when he was still involved. So it wasn't a 'Prince Harry' where there was a media blackout until he was brought home?

Yes, that was public knowledge and he served for at least a year after becoming fully fledged frogman.

As far as it is known the Danish special forces did not serve in "hot" operations in the 90's. Except for sniper teams in the former Jugoslavia and during the arms blocade off the coast.
The special forces have been more active than is generally known since the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, but by then Frederik had long since left.
So Frederik never took part in any live operations as a frogman.

He visited the troops in former Jugoslavia but that was as close to action he came, before later visiting the troops in Afghanistan.

Prince Harry was in combat. The last Danish Prince who was in combat, and was wounded, was Prince Aage, who served in the French Foreign Legion in the 1920's and 30's.
 
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Yes, that was public knowledge and he served for at least a year after becoming fully fledged frogman.

As far as it is known the Danish special forces did not serve in "hot" operations in the 90's. Except for sniper teams in the former Jugoslavia and during the arms blocade off the coast.
The special forces have been more active than is generally known since the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, but by then Frederik had long since left.
So Frederik never took part in any live operations as a frogman.

He visited the troops in former Jugoslavia but that was as close to action he came, before later visiting the troops in Afghanistan.

Prince Harry was in combat. The last Danish Prince who was in combat, and was wounded, was Prince Aage, who served in the French Foreign Legion in the 1920's and 30's.

Ah, I understand now. Cheers :flowers:
 
You are welcome. :)

No, Frederik did a "William", in the sense that he served onboard the inspection ship (patrol frigate) Vædderen in the sea around the Faroe Islands and around Greenland.
There he was involved in the fishery inspection, search and rescue, policing, medical evacuation and treatment and the myriads of other things a frigate is involved in, in the polar regions. - Basically coast guard duty.
 
I found this list of Frederik's military career until 2008.
From the book: Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark. (Page 349).

1986 - Recruit in the Royal Lifeguard.
1988 - Lieutenant in the reserves. (He went to NCO school after basic training as a volunteer conscript, then to the officers academy).
1988 - Platoon leader at the Guards Hussars Regiment. (One of the recce-platoons).
1989 - First lieutenant in the reserves.
1995 - The Frogman Corps.
1995 - First lieutenant in the reserves in the navy.
1997 - Lieutenant commander in the navy.
2000 - Captain of the reserves in the airforce.
2001-2002 - Education for staff officers at the Defence Academy.
2002 - Major in the reserves in the army and airforce and commander in the navy. (Major is the lowest rank of staffofficers, not to be confused with officers attached to a staff, who are also called staffofficers).
2002-2003 - Working at High Command.
2003-? - Teacher at the Defence Academy. The Institute for Strategy. (Frederik put a lot of energy in studying the Baltic countries, while at university).
2004 - Senior grade commander in the navy, lieutenant colonel in the army and airforce.

Added by me: Present i.e. 2011 - Colonel in the army and airforce and commodore in the navy.

Next step: Brigadier or more likely major general in the army and airforce, rear admiral in the navy.
Then: lieutenant general in the army and airforce, vice admiral in the navy.
When he become king: full general in the army and airforce, and admiral in the navy.
 
Thanks Muhler :) Does Frederik still lecture at the Defence Academy (As in, have we heard recent news about him there)?
 
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Thanks Muhler :) Does Frederik still lecture at the Defence Academy (As in, have we heard recent news about him there)?

No, I think he stopped about the time he and Mary got settled at Kancellihuset after their marriage.
 
BT has a feature about the Frogman Corps: Vil du være frømand: Så hårde er optagelseskravene - Danmark | www.bt.dk

There are some info of interest of to this board in regards to what Frederik also went through during his service there.

There is a four days admission test, in which the majority are weeded out.

Followed by ten months of basic training, where most of those remaining leave. Those few who make it, in some years none at all, can now call themselves Frogmen.

Now follow eight months of additional training. Often abroad. - That training is focused even more on special forces operations. That includes parachute training with Jægerkorpset, the army special forces. Which include not only free fall jumping but also HALO = High Altitude (*) Low Opening. I.e very advanced parachute jumping.

Having completed these courses, each Frogman then on top of that specialise themselves within a particular field. I.e advanced medic, sniper, communications specialist and so on.

So far only a little more than 200 have ever completed basic training since 1957. One woman made it to basic training but failed.

There is also a gallery: Se de unikke billeder: Verdens måske bedste - her er de danske frømænd | www.bt.dk
Weapons and equipment have changed since Frederik was there, but the basic appearance is the same. Especially the netting over their heads, which make them resemble seals popping up for a look, when swimming out at sea.

(*) Sometimes jumping from the height passenger jets fly (about 10 KM), simply to better camuflage insertion. They then glide for often many kilometres, and sometimes across borders, until the parachute is finally deployed at as low altitude as safely possible.
 
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So, to summarize your excellent summary even more:
CP Frederik is NOT a sissy ;)
Indeed. I forget where I read or heard the comment made by the Crown Princess' brother about his future brother in law after the two had gone swimming so that they could 'test one another out'. Although I cannot remember the exact words, I can recall that the brother was left semi-articulate by the Crown Prince's skill so that words like 'pretty good' emerged that in no way did justice to the prince's aquatic capabilities.:flowers:
 
A little detail in regards to Frederik's army career: B.S. Christiansen om Ridderkorset: Det kom bag på mig | Billed Bladet

B.S. Christiansen, a former special forces NCO (equivalent to sergeant major actually) for decorated with the Knights Cross recently and as such went to an audience with QMII to thank her.
Here they spoke about Frederik and Joachim. B.S (as he is known in DK) was their jump instructor.
He made 24 free fall jumps with Frederik. (And presumably a number of static line jumps as well).
 
Good information. Will Vincent have a military career (which is probable), because he's only 4th in line and will be 3rd in the future, but I guess how high in the line of sucession doesn't matter, right?
 
:previous: There is a long standing tradition for all the male members of the DRF to serve one way or another with military.
Some making it a career, one even ended up joining the Foreign Legion.
Nowadays that also means the women.

Since we can expect Vincent and Josephine to be at least part-time working royals (unless they settle abroad, Australia springs to mind) I think it's safe to say that certainly all M&F's children will join the Total Defense.
And there are plenty of options:
Career officer in the military.
Specialist in the military - pilot, fire-controller, the Sirius Patrol etc.
A volunteer conscript. (*)
Joining the Home Guard as an active member, also abroad.
Joining the Civil Defense, also as an active member.
Becoming a volunteer firefighter/paramedic.
Joining the crew on an environmental ship. I.e. the more specialized ships monitoring the water around DK.
Perhaps joining the police.
And as the current border-control is practically back to stay, becoming a customs-officer.

Joachim's children have much more freedom in pursuing a career, not least in the private sector.
While M&F's children have to be more careful about avoiding careers that can be controversial.
So for them the safest options are:
The military, including the Civil Defense.
The civil service. I.e. doing a Princess Elisabeth.
The clergy.
Or settling abroad - out of sight.

(*) Since de facto 100 % of all conscripts are volunteers, I think it's safe to say it will remain. There is a political will but also a wish in the population to keep the close bonds between the civilian population and the military, rather than having a (perhaps increasingly detached) purely professional military. - Apart from also providing a recruiting base for the military and Home Guard.
While conscription is not terribly strenuous and the lightest duties only last a few months, it is in many families regarded as a kind of rite of passage and having completed conscription does give a certain status and looks good on the CV.
 
Thanks! Since you mentioned that all of F&M children certainly will join the military, do their consorts have to do the same, or it's more optional for them?
 
Thanks! Since you mentioned that all of F&M children certainly will join the military, do their consorts have to do the same, or it's more optional for them?

I'd imagine it's more an option for them, except for Christian's wife. She is likely to become patron of some sort in the Total Defense just like Mary and our Marie.

I don't think it's unrealistic to say that Christian will marry in 20-25 years from now. And by then Mary and Marie will be in their 60's and past the active age of ordinary members of the Civil Defense and Home Guard, so there should be a vacancy.
 
an Interview to Soldier magazine from Frederik on his time as a recruit in the Royal Lifeguard.
https://soldaten.dk/kronprins-frederik/
""Being a recruit is a wonderful time. One comes in and lies in the living room with people from all over Denmark...Whether you come with Gucci or Hummel, you end up in the same uniform. And we are all equal. "- Crown Prince Frederik"
 
Not sure if this goes here, but Frederik will be participating in a Chief of Defense's Security Policy Course (SIKU)

"HRH The Crown Prince participates in a security policy course

In weeks 35 and 38, the Chief of Defense's Security Policy Course (SIKU) is completed, and among the students is HRH the Crown Prince.
Since 1987, the Chief of Defense has invited a selected crowd to SIKU, where the course participants are introduced to highly topical topics of importance to Denmark's foreign, security and defense policy. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has accepted the Chief of Defense's invitation to participate in SIKU, and among the other 27 students are leaders and decision-makers from the private sector, organizations, the central administration, the education sector, the media and the Nordic countries. The police and the area of ​​the Ministry of Defense are also represented.

During the two weeks that the course lasts, the Crown Prince and the other course participants are accommodated in a course property on Zealand. There will be regular visits to the Danish Emergency Management Agency, the Home Guard and the Armed Forces, just as SIKU will visit the Arctic Command in Nuuk and Mestersvig on the east coast of Greenland.

One of the aims of the course is to establish and create contact and understanding between the Armed Forces and leaders from all parts of Danish society. The Defense Academy organizes and implements SIKU. As SIKU is a security policy course, there will be no press access or further information about the course.

The Crown Prince is a Rear Admiral in the Navy and a Major General in the Army and Air Force and began his military training in 1986 as a recruit at the Royal Life Guard. Later, among other things, he followed the frogman education at the navy's frogman corps in 1995, and in the period 2001 and 2002, His Royal Highness underwent further education level II for leaders at the Defense Academy. In the period 2002-2003, the Crown Prince was a case officer at the Defense Command and from 2003 a teacher at the Defense Academy, Department of Strategy."

https://www.kongehuset.dk/nyheder/hkh-kronprinsen-deltager-i-sikkerhedspolitisk-kursus
 
The topics I bet are on the agenda are very much relevant to Frederik personally.

The security situation in the Arctic. With USA, Russia, Canada and Denmark significantly increasing the military presence there. Greenland being a key area. Not least because Greenland stands a more than good chance of winning the dispute about the ownership of the North Pole.

The Baltic countries. Frederik's specialty at the Military Academy. It's no secret that Russia is trying to exercise it's power in that region, not least because the Baltic countries have a sizable ethnic Russian population. NATO, including DK, maintains a presence on the ground there - basically as human shields, because Russia could potentially roll over the Baltic countries in a surprise attack, before NATO would have time to deploy a rapid deployment force.
There is also the question of Belarus (that are aided by Russian, even though President Putin are often annoyed at the dictator of Belarus, Lukashenko) which use refugees as a weapon against the EU, simply by slipping them across the border to Lithuania.
Then there are the question of what will happen in Sahara, with the fight against Islamists there, something DK is very much involved in.
And finally, being the fifth largest maritime merchant nation in the world, the problems with pirates, now also at west coast of Africa, is no doubt also on the agenda. DK is dispatching a frigate to that area in a few days.

Of less immediate concern to DK, but nevertheless high on the security agenda, is the issue with China in the South China Sea.

And finally, but by no means least, the ongoing cyber - shall we say - mutual pin-prick attacks world wide.
There is an ongoing test of cyber-attacks and counter-cyber attacks going on these years carried out by quite a few countries. DK established a cyber-warfare unit, not that many years ago - and it's not only defensive...

Frederik will have plenty to absorb during this course!
 
The Palace reports that Crown Prince Frederik "has been a student at the Chief of Defence's Security Policy Course (SIKU)" during this past week and shares a group photo:


** instagram post **
 
Always nice to get a photo, sounds like an interesting course.
 
Nice photo...thanks for posting!!
 
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