Setermoen

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Setermoen is the administrative centre of Bardu municipality, Norway. Its population (2005) is 2,317. The local administration declared city status for Setermoen in 1999, but this was rejected as the municipality has less than 5,000 inhabitants.

[edit] Setermoen Camp

Military education was established at Setermoen in 1898 because of its strategic location in midst of the mountains, and is one of the oldest camps in Norway today. In many ways, the Norwegian Armed Forces has shaped Setermoen and the community through its presence. Stationed at Setermoen is:

• Artilleribataljonen (artillery battalion)
• Panserbataljonen (armoured battalion)
• Sanitetsbataljonen (Medical battalion)
• Etteretningsbataljonen (Intelligence battalion)

All together, ca. 1000 soldiers and 500 officers are stationed here, making it the largest garrison in Norway.

Recently, a massive renovation program has taken place at Setermoen. Most of the main buildings and barrackses will be torn and new ones built. Costs of the project will spiral to over 1 billion NOK (ca. 155 million USD). The reason for the project is the end of the Cold War and the reorganization of the Norwegian Army from a mere mobilization force into a modern professional force, as this requires a lot more follow-up to the troops and better standards to attract more volunteers.