Finland - Reserve Duty
Finland has a long-established preparedness system and for decades the so-called comprehensive defence approach has laid the foundation for collaborative arrangements between different actors in society. This approach has created the basis for coordinating the preparedness measures of the public and private sectors as well as citizens’ voluntary activities. This entity constitutes the crisis readiness network relying on our collaborative preparedness measures. Finland’s military defence is based on a robust defence system implemented in accordance with territorial defence principles, general conscription and a strong will to defend the nation as well as international military cooperation.
The number of wartime troops will be reduced in the long term, refl ecting the changes in the security environment and available resources as well as the diminishing annual conscript intakes and the ageing of materiel. All able-bodied men in the annual age groups must be trained in order to generate the required wartime reserve. The number of men who do not serve as conscripts and national service dropouts has increased in recent years. By 2010 approximately 80% of the age group completed the national service. If the number of those not serving continued to rise, it may jeopardise the entire conscription system.
Service in the reserves was obligatory after the completion of active duty. For officers and NCOs, active reserve duty continued until age sixty; and for others, until age fifty. Those who completed their active reserve obligation at age fifty were listed in class one of the auxiliary reserve until age sixty when all reserve obligations ended. Those exempted from active duty on grounds of disability were assigned to class two of the auxiliary reserve, and those aged seventeen to twenty without military training were listed in class three.
Until the late 1970s, annual training of reservists was neglected because of budgetary pressures. Efforts were underway in the 1980s to improve the situation in order to compensate for the declining intake of conscripts and to ensure that reservists acquired some familiarity with the new and more complex equipment being introduced. The number of reservists undergoing annual training increased from 30,000 in 1979 to nearly 50,000 in 1988, declining to about 35,000 each year by 2012. The relatively infrequent and brief periods of reserve training were still considered insufficient by some observers, however. They noted that Switzerland, although it required a shorter period of initial service, trained far more reservists each year by longer and more frequent refresher call-ups.
Because the personnel of the Defence Forces are made up mainly of reservists during wartime, it is essential that training received during conscription is maintained and supplemented. Therefore, refresher exercises are organised. Refresher exercises are based on the Conscription Act, according to which rank and file in the Reserve can be called to refresher exercises for a total of 40 days, rank and file with special training (longer service period) for 75 days and officers, warrant officers and NCOs for a total of 100 days. If necessary the aforementioned quota can be exceeded by at most 20 days with the consent of those liable for military service and their employer. Refresher exercises are realised in the same composition as in training during the unit training period in military service.
The aim is that each conscript who has received international training signs a contract for being on stand-by for crisis management service when entering the reserve. Out of the conscripts that went through international FRDF training between 1996 and 2010, around 75 percent have served in a crisis management operation at least once. The aim is to have those on stand-by go on crisis management duty with their own unit or squadron 0 to 2 years after they have completed their conscript service.
Troops assigned to the Fast Deployment Forces could expect to be called for refresher training at least every fifth year; those in some specialist categories were called up more often. Other reservists, generally those in higher age brackets, were not scheduled for training unless their assigned categories were changed. Call-ups were on a battalion basis, and reservists exercised their wartime tasks for a period of seven to ten days. The cumulative total period of active duty for reserve officers could not exceed 100 days; for reserve NCOs, 75 days; and for privates, 40 days.
A strong will to defend the nation is the bedrock of military defence. Transparent and rational action strengthens support of the citizens and public opinion towards defence policy objectives and the Defence Forces’ activities. It is possible to maintain and promote the will to defend the nation and a favorable opinion of the Defence Forces by making it easier for citizens to enrol in voluntary defence activities.
General national defence instruction is conducted on National Defence Courses and Provincial Defence Courses, their respective Advanced and Continuing Education Courses as well as in Special Courses on National Defence. National defence courses are conducted by the Defence Forces and the regional courses by the civilian authorities, supported by the Defence Forces.
The use of reserve troops will be intensified by developing voluntary defence arrangements as part of our wartime defence. Local defence troops can be issued tough security and combat arms branches’ tasks and they will be trained to be capable of providing executive assistance.
Voluntary defence refers to authority-supported actions, which citizens and organisations voluntarily take to foster the country's security. According to the principles of total defence, voluntary defence activities aim to support the authority action in safeguarding Finland's overall security.
In addition to being an important resource, voluntary defence activity strengthens the will to defend the country. The citizens, who wish to take part in voluntary defence, can attend defence courses, which systematically supplement normal refresher training exercises of the Defence Forces. The courses are organised by National Defence Training Association. The Defence Forces command the voluntary operations of their wartime troops and take part in directing and supporting the National Defence Training Association.
There are also many other possibilities to participate in voluntary defence activities through reservist organisations. In addition, other non-governmental organisations, such as voluntary fire brigades, the Finnish Red Cross and the Voluntary Rescue Service support authorities in crisis situations and offer an arena for voluntary activity.
The development and reorganisation of voluntary defence is in progress. The aim is to build a system where this important resource is effectively used to enhance our common cause - security. There is a need to clarify the division of tasks between the authorities and voluntary organisations as well as define the rights and responsibilities of the volunteers. Special attention is also paid on the role of women in these activities.
Voluntary military defence supports the Finnish Defence Forces’ wartime troop training as well as the maintenance of defence capabilities. It also augments the nation’s general preparedness and capability for action. Consequently, the Defence Forces’ wartime troop training can be supported in an economical way and the Defence Forces’ capacities for executive assistance can be developed. Wartime regional troops are reinforced by voluntary local defence troops, which are developed as cores of regional troops. Local defence troops are capable of rapidly responding to threat scenarios in emergency conditions as well as providing support for society’s vital functions. The most important tasks of local defence troops are to protect key targets and functions as well as to patrol appropriate areas and to support the activities of the authorities. In the future local defence troops’ tasks can be expanded to include the tasks of the combat arms branches.
Voluntary military defence boosts the Finnish citizens’ will to defend the nation and increases the Defence Forces’ provincial visibility. Furthermore, it broadens women’s opportunities in participating in the national defence. Voluntary military defence, its prerequisites and the other required resources will be further developed. Voluntary military defence will be carried out under parliamentary control and under the guidance of the Ministry of Defence.
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