Thread by @TallbarFIN

FROM CIVILIAN TO SOLDIER.

In this thread, I'll explain briefly how the Finnish conscription works.

From rookie to being an expert of his/her branch of service.

#Finland #FinnishArmy

According to the Constitution of Finland every Finnish citizen is obligated to participate in national defence.

Every male Finnish citizen aged 18-60 is liable for military service, and women can apply for military service on a voluntary basis.

All males are liable to report at the drafting event (Finnish: kutsunnat, Swedish: uppbåd) of their municipality of domicile in the autumn of the year they turn 18.

The Finnish Defence Forces sends the youth an official invitation to the event along with an information package.

The conscripts are inducted twice a year, in January and in July.

The order of induction received from the draft board is binding: The conscript becomes a military person on the hour stated in the order even if he is absent from service.

ROOKIE SEASON

On the first day of their military service, conscripts receive their equipment, check them & move into their rooms ("Tupa" in finnish), where they have their own personal lockers and beds.

They learn to pack their equipment correctly into the lockers

First morning is probably the most memorable in Finnish military service. The military discipline comes as a shock to many.

Conscripts train the basic things like correct behaviour in the barracks, following commands & also get to know their new "home" a little better.

In their first week of service, conscripts receive their rifles and learn the basics how to clean them, assemble & disassemble them.

They also learn the basics of how to use their weapon. After training this for few days, conscripts will fire their first live rounds.

In the following weeks, conscripts train the basic military tactics, use of their weapon in different situations & working as a group.

They also learn the military ranks and participate in various theory classes.

Basic training last 8 weeks. On the last week of that time conscripts undergo different challenges to show their potential & level of their skills.

The results of these tests will show is the conscript suitable for more demanding training & does he have potential as a leader.

In the end of their basic training, conscripts will know their branch of service & the lenght of their remaining service.

Also, the military oath is taken after the basic training period or about seven weeks into the conscript's military service.

The oath is administered by the unit's commanding officer and in the presence of the unit's flag.

Finnish Military Oath

Those ordered for leadership training attend next the NCO course. After the seven-week phase I of the course, a portion of the students are sent to Reserve Officer School or an equivalent institution for officer training, while the remaining NCO students complete the Phase II/III

After completion of their NCO or reserve officer training, the new conscript leaders are sent to normal units to serve as the leaders for the next incoming conscript cohort.

After the basic training comes Special training period. Conscripts move to their new units & start learning the special skills of their branch of service.

Special training lasts 2-3 months, conscripts learn the skills & use of weapons needed in their wartime duty.

After the Special training period, comes the Unit (Or Group) training period.

Conscripts now learn how to work as a wartime unit & how to put the skills learned in Special training period into good use.

The most important exercises are organized during the Group training period.

The training provides the capabilities to work in a wartime mission and meet the specified performance requirements.

After the Group training period, conscripts are gathered and placed in the wartime grou

New patch of Finnish soldiers know their mission & are moved to reserve.

They are ready to defend their country with their fellow reservists of different ages & origins.

United.

Almost every finnish male is military trained & has a wartime unit

The experience from the Finnish defence forces unites us, Finns love to tell their stories from the army

If you need a topic for conversation with a finn, I have 2 suggestions that always work: Hockey & Army 😄