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Ministry of Defence to launch national project promoting physical activity and capacity among people of call-up age

Finnish Ministry of Defence

26.03.2025 10:45

Finland's Ministry of Defence will launch an extensive national project to promote physical activity and capacity among young men of call-up age and women applying for voluntary military service. It seeks to include the promotion of physical ability and capacity in the call-up process. The project is part of the Get Finland Moving programme, which is a cross-government package of measures based on the Programme of Prime Minister Orpo's Government.

"Young people of call-up age are less physically capable than before. It is a serious concern both for the young persons themselves and for society as a whole. We will invest in the health and wellbeing of young people by including the promotion of physical ability and capacity as part of the call-up process. This will also benefit the conscription system and ensure that we have capable reservists in the future," Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen says.

The project will pilot practices of incorporating the promotion of physical ability and capacity as part of the call up process in 2025-2026. Its objective is to create practices that can continue after the project is completed. The two-year project has a budget of EUR 2 million, allocated from the Get Finland Moving programme.

"The project will address the lowering levels of physical capacity in a systematic and long-term manner. Our goal is to create permanent practices to encourage young people to lead a physically active lifestyle and maintain their physical capacity," Minister Häkkänen says.

Key measures of the project include:

1. Assessment of physical capacity: During the call-up process, young people will fill in a questionnaire about their physical capacity. The results will be used to assess the level of their physical capacity and give them individual feedback.
2. Physical activity counselling and guidance: Young people will be provided physical activity counselling and guidance during and outside the call-ups. This will be arranged in collaboration between municipalities, Regional Sports Federations and the National Defence Training Association of Finland (MPK).
3. MarsMars mobile app: The Defence Forces' MarsMars exercise app will be harnessed and developed to encourage young people to be more physically active.
4. Web communications: A new website will collate information for young people about physical activity and fitness and advice them on the best services for them.
5. Cooperation: The Defence Forces will work closely together with MPK, Regional Sports Federations, municipalities, educational institutions and private providers of sports services.
6. Research cooperation: The possibility of collecting research data as part of the call-up process will be investigated.