Icelandic Crisis Response Unit

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Íslenska Friðargæslan

Active	1990s–Present
Country	Iceland
Role	Peacekeeping
Size	100
Engagements	Operation Enduring Freedom
Commanders
Notable commanders	Col. Arnór Sigurjónsson Col. Halli Sigurðsson

Icelandic Crisis Response Unit Mobile Observation Team in Afghanistan.

Icelandic Crisis Response Unit in Afghanistan.

The Icelandic Crisis Response Unit (ICRU) or Íslenska Friðargæslan, is an 100-person expeditionary military unit, with a civilian element, operated by the Icelandic Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is primarily designated for peacekeeping operations and was established in the 1990s to improve the status of Iceland within NATO as it lacked sufficient armed forces to support NATO peacekeeping operations.

The ICRU has been deployed to the former territories of Yugoslavia, Kosovo and Afghanistan. It has a civilian observer mission in Sri Lanka in co-operation with Norway and has deployed civilian mine removal personnel to Lebanon.

Iceland sent its first peacekeepers in 1950, when two Icelandic policemen were sent to Palestine as a part of an UN peacekeeping operation. Since then Icelandic specialists have taken part in various peacekeeping operations, mostly within the UN, but also within NATO, since the establishment of the ICRU.

1 Personnel
2 Operations
3 Intelligence gathering
4 Controversy
5 Equipment
- 5.1 Vehicles
- 5.2 Hand Weapons
6 Ranks of the Icelandic Crisis Response Unit
- 6.1 Officers
- 6.2 Enlisted
7 Sources
8 See also

[edit] Personnel

The majority of those under the colours of the ICRU are Icelandic policemen, Coast Guardsmen and others already with paramilitary or military training. They are augmented with specialist civilians such as doctors and medics who are trained by the Norwegian Defence Force when deployed in a military capacity.

[edit] Operations

The ICRU classifies its operations in the following manner

Peacekeeping and Crisis management
Observer missions
Reconstruction
Humanitarian and Emergency assistance

[edit] Intelligence gathering

The Icelandic Intelligence Service (IIS) is intelligence gathering organization designated for acquiring foreign and military intelligence. Its main responsibility has been the ICRU, but it is also responsible for Iceland's defence. The IIS was under the command of the Sheriff of Keflavík International Airport until 2007 when it was transferred to the Defence department.

[edit] Controversy

It is often claimed that Iceland has a tradition of non-militarisation and should therefore practice pacifism. The ICRU's existence, among other things, has thus generated much anger with Icelandic Socialists, Social democrats and other people on the left in Icelandic politics, who cherish that ideal.

On the other hand, more traditionally-minded elements in Iceland have cited the Viking warrior-peasant founders of Iceland as evidence that combat is not absolutely alien to the Icelandic spirit and heritage.

[edit] Equipment

[edit] Vehicles

& Nissan Patrol armored and modified with larger tires and suspension for mountaineering.

[edit] Hand Weapons

ICRU personnel are often supplied with the weaponry and ammunition the military forces they are cooperating with use. The standard weaponry is however of Norwegian origin.

Heckler & Koch G3 battle rifle
Glock 17 pistol
Diemaco C8 assault rifle
Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun
Rheinmetall MG3 medium machine gun

[edit] Ranks of the Icelandic Crisis Response Unit

[edit] Officers

NATO Code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF-D-	Student Officer
Iceland	No Equivalent	No Equivalent	No Equivalent	No Equivalent	No Equivalent							No Equivalent	No Equivalent
Ranks						Ofursti (Colonel)	Undirofursti (Lt. Col.)	Majór (Major)	Kafteinn (Captain)	Liðsforingi (1st Lt.)	Undirliðsforingi (2nd Lt)

[edit] Enlisted

NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4		OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Iceland						No Equivalent	No Equivalent	No Equivalent	No Equivalent	No Equivalent																No Equivalent	No Equivalent
Ranks											Flokksstjóri 1. (Mstr. Sgt.)						Flokksstjóri 2. (Sergeant)						Korporáll (Corporal)										óbreyttur (Private)