Light infantry battalion A light infantry battalion will be established (with up to about 500 troops). The battalion can be deployed by air or ship and may be part of collective defence, some international operations or nationally, including in support of the police. The light infantry battalion will consist of HQ staff, HQ Company and three standing light infantry companies equipped with mortars and antitank weapons to counter armoured vehicles. Special Operations and a National Air Operations Centre Special Operations will be strengthened through a number of new initiatives: - - The Special Operations Command will be reorganised to accommodate for an enhanced operational capacity. In addition, investments in more operators for both the Jaeger Corps and the Frogman Corps will be carried out. In the agreement period 2018 - 2023, the number of special operation patrol units will be increased by more than 50 percent. It is the ambition to further double the number of special operations patrol units compared to today’s level in the next Defence Agreement. The Special Operations Command will be enhanced with equipment for a deployable Special Operations HQ (Special Operations Component Command) in collaboration with the Netherlands and Belgium. The ability to plan and deploy special operations air task groups will be strengthened. In addition, national crisis management is strengthened by the establishment of a National Air Operations Centre. New military vessels solve environmental protection and pollution control tasks The Parties note that the tender for new pollution control ships will be reconsidered in order to further examine a solution where new military vessels, in addition to their operational military tasks, when necessary, can also solve environmental protection and pollution control tasks. Conscription and mobilisation Conscription allows the Armed Forces to mobilise in the event of a crisis or war. National service will therefore be focussed on skills that would be required in case of mobilisation. Enrolment by conscription gives the Armed Forces increased flexibility, depth and acts as an important recruitment platform for further military education. There is also a wider cohesive effect for society as national service brings together people from all walks of life and different parts of the country. By this Agreement, national service is retained and strengthened with an increased intake of conscripts by up to 500 new recruits annually. At the same time, the number of conscripts serving longer national service than four months will also increase. Therefore, more conscripts will be drafted for the Royal Life Guards and for the new brigade mobilisation companies, who are enrolled for eight months’ of national service. There will also be more conscripts for the national emergency preparedness service. During the agreement period there will be an evaluation of conscription and national service with a view to assessing whether the number of conscripts should remain constant or be further increased. In order to enhance the Armed Forces’ ability to mobilise in case of crisis or war, a mobilisation company will be established for each of the three combat battalions in the brigade. Using conscripts on eight months national service and a five year mobilisation duty, the companies will be built up gradually. In case of mobilisation due to crisis or war, the mobilisation units will receive additional education and training prior to deployment. The new brigade will be composed of standing forces, mobilisation units and reservists. Up to approximately 1,000 reservists may be affiliated with units and HQ’s either as permanent staff or in some other form associated to the brigade.