Military Academy Karlberg is a Swedishmilitary academy, since its inauguration in 1792 in operation in the Karlberg Palace in Solna, just north of central Stockholm. It is thus the oldest military academy in the world to remain in its original location. Swedish cadets join the academy as part of their three-year training as do officers aspiring to become navy lieutenants or army and air forcecaptains. As of 2007, the academy employs approximately 150 people and train some 300 officers annually. Notwithstanding Karlberg being a military institution, the palace and its park, classified as a historical monument of national interest, is accessible to the general public.
History
King Gustav III's ambitions to establish an academy for cadets at Ulriksdal Palace were cancelled following his death in 1792 as his wife Queen Sophia Magdalena wished to have that palace as a private residence. The Kungliga Krigsacademien was subsequently relocated to Karlberg Palace, the former royal summer residence, where the first generation of cadets began their education in November the same year. Shortly after the death of the king, during the regency of Gustav IV Adolf, an enlargement was found necessary to accommodate the officers and construction work on the elongated pavilions of the palace commenced the following year to be accomplished to the design of Carl Christoffer Gjörwell three years later. Until 1867 both navy and army cadets were educated at Karlberg, after which the two military educations were separated for 132 years before being unified again in 1999, since 2003 accompanied by air force officers.
Heraldry and traditions
Colours, standards and guidons
The colour of the Military Academy Karlberg was presented to the former Military Academy at the Karlberg Palace in Solna by His Majesty the KingCarl XVI Gustaf at the 200-years school anniversary on 23 May 1992. It is drawn by Ingrid Lamby and embroidered by machine in insertion technique by the company Libraria. Blazon: "On blue cloth in the centre, an erect white rapier of Gustaf II Adolf pattern surmounted an open yellow chaplet of laurels and in the second and fourth corners the year 1792 divided with two yellow figures in each corner."
Coat of arms
The coat of the arms of the Military Academy Karlberg 1977–1983, the Swedish Army Staff College 1983–1994, the Military Academy Karlberg 1994–1999 and the Military Academy Karlberg from 1999. Blazon: "Azure, an erect rapier argent inside an open chaplet of laurels or. In field III and IV the year 1792 with two figures each field of the last colour".
Medals
In 2003, the Militärhögskolan Karlbergs förtjänstmedalj in gold, silver and bronze of the 8th size was established. The medal ribbon is of blue moiré with a yellow and a red stripe on each side. A wreath of laurel in gold/silver is attached to the ribbon.
