Military education was established at Setermoen in 1898 because of its strategic location in the midst of the mountains, and is one of the oldest army camps in Norway today. In many ways, the
Norwegian Armed Forces has shaped Setermoen and the community through its presence. Altogether, about 1,000 soldiers and 500 officers are stationed here, making it the largest
garrison in Norway. Stationed at Setermoen are the following battalions, which are part of
Brigade Nord: •
Artilleribataljonen (artillery battalion) •
Panserbataljonen (armoured battalion) •
Sanitetsbataljonen (medical battalion) •
Etteretningsbataljonen (intelligence battalion) In 2007, the government began a massive renovation program at Setermoen. Most of the main buildings and barracks were torn down and new ones built. Costs of the project were nearly (about US$155 million). The reason for the project was 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. ==References==