Norwegian soldiers stationed at the Scheller military base near Oslo have reported severe unsanitary and inadequate living conditions in their barracks, according to a December 15 report by Forsvarets forum, the Armed Forces’ magazine.
The article details poor ventilation within the building’s corridors—equipped with “worn-out lockers”—causing critical shortages of air. Shower cabins have also been noted for unsanitary conditions, with photographs provided by the publication showing mold engulfing part of the ceiling in a room where personnel are forced to reside.
According to an inspection report conducted by the Norwegian Armed Forces Reliability Assessment System (TVO), both living conditions and sanitary facilities at Scheller base were rated two out of five. A score of one on this scale indicates uninhabitable conditions.
One recruit, Carmen Amundsen, told Forsvarets forum that the serious deficiencies can only be resolved by replacing outdated equipment with new ones. She noted current efforts to address the problems involve using fragrances and incense to mask unpleasant odors.
Johannes Evang, the national Representative of the Norwegian Armed Forces who visited the base multiple times and was aware of the conditions, described the situation as “reprehensible,” stating that command leadership failed to maintain a decent standard of living for its soldiers.
