@@billw.overbeck8913Is he like you? Cos i'am not like you. Missile boats you 95% don't fit in. Only 16 personnel is in. Done that. Most likely you don't.
I served 40 years ago. I was an ugly and fat youngster. Still all went well. It was physically hard for me, but still a positive experience. My mind worked well. I managed to get some camraderie for life, which is nice. Now l'm a rock solid 60 -years oldtimer and a staff sergeant.
I served 11 months in the Finnish Army in the late 1980s and I've been ordered to refresher trainings many times after that. My experiences are positive and I was willing to do that.
Ei haittaa jos puolustaa yleensä ottaen maata, kunhan ei tartte tehdä sitä, tupa "kavereiden" kanssa, suurin osa oli täysiä mulkkuja. ei mitään luottoa niitä kundeja kohtaan(kahta lukuunottamatta)
I havent had any, 25 years since my service, A-man and 362days=12 months, served the maximum time :D I still remember how to operate assault rifles, machine guns and tank cannons and more, it is in the backbone :)
@@koff41 As the Putin Jugend sing: ”from Lisbon to Vladivostok and Alaska too”. In Russian world there are no borders, the only goal is to spread peace (war) all over the world. It may be bonkers but russia didn’t become the largest country in the world by accident or by peaceful means.
Well, as the title of the video tells, it's mainly info package for new conscripts. Puolustusvoimat (defense forces) has a large array of other videos on their channel where they detail military's capabilities and duties better. I'm so glad in this age that us Finns haven't fallen for same naive thinking as damn near every other european nation that any future conflict would be impossible.
I served in the defense forces for 9 months in total, most of it as a military police. I remember those 9 months being one of the best experiences in my life, we had a good spirit back in there 👍🏼
I went back to Finland and served my service even though I was born in Australia. I felt that it was my duty as all my family had done the same including fought in wars.
As a Finn I completed my military service on January 2018 right after when we celebrated our 100 years of Independence and I graduated from High School. I served 6.5 months during my training and now I am enjoying my time in college and in the reserves. I honestly can say our military training is great quality and teaches you valuable skills that are not only useful in the military but also in the civilian life. A lot of young Finnish men get very nervous cause they aren't 100% sure what to expect but I can assure everyone it's not that difficult or as bad as the rumors might say and anyone can get through it just fine because you're never alone and have so many people to support you. At times it's tough but with sisu and patience you will get through it and can surprise yourself on what you yourself are capable of. For me it was a huge confidence boost and I lost by 15 - 20 kilos by the end of it so I was in great shape afterwards and made me realize how strong I really was. Finnish Defense Forces is a proud tradition that not only connects us to our fellow soldiers our brothers and sisters in arms but also to different generations who came before us. My Great grandfather served during WW2, my grandfather did his service, my father did his service and my brother did his service and so has many of my other relatives. This same theme also repeats itself in many other Finnish families so you understand the scale and meaning of it to us. It also warms and reliefs my heart to know that our will to defend and fight for our home hasn't wavered or decreased through these years but only grown stronger especially during these uncertain times.
As a British woman who has a Finnish husband, my impression is that Finnish men are on the whole more competent than British ones and it's largely thanks to the military service. I'm still not really excited for my son to go there one day though 😅
Well, your son gets to know some young men and woman around the country (and world), some of them will be life long friends. So don´t be sorry.. you will be a little anxious like most Finnish moms, but it is normal and in the end you will be happy and proud.😉
It should be noted that your son isnt obligated to serve if he has lived longer than 7 years in a foreign country, at which point it becomes voluntary if he wants to serve. Though as someone who's done their service and continues today by choice, its a worthy experience. You wont get another one quite like it anywhere else, really.
Well, being neighbours to Russia does wonderfully concentrate the mind... We are way bigger than the UK by land area but have only 5,5 million inhabitants: conscription is simply the only way to defend our Eastern border. I did my service back in the 90's, I was so not the military type and didn't enjoy that side of things at all, but the friendship and solidarity among us conscripts was really amazing, I don't know if I have ever laughed so much as during those 8 months...
Yeah, I served 12 months and it definitely was the best time of my life and still is in my top 5 experiences. I was happy to do it and would do it again any day.
I had to take a temporary leave from my service due to mental health issues, most of it now solved and I'm going back tomorrow. I'll be serving 234 days as a non-commissioned officer and while I'm excited, I'm also extremely anxious to go back. I'll try to remember to come back to this next summer and tell you about my experiences!
Almost all men does the military service. There are very few that doesn't. Nobody loves war but if you have a neighbour that has tried to invade your country several times you have to do something. We don't have the luxury you have. USA has saved your independence twice. We were forced to do do it ourselves.
@@squidcaps4308 75% is the number in the draft. However of those 75% not all manage to go through the service. Too many simply quit in first week. Some for mental health reasons, some choose non-military service. For FDF it has been a problem awhile.
I would like to say it once more. Men that are willing to risk their lives for people who are not able or willing to do so. It's easy to be a pacifist in a free and democratic country.
Pretty sure this video was shown to young men in school when i was like 17 or the year of my 18th birthday. Like all men were ordered to hall and there was some information given about the conscription and the process and i think this video was showed. So this was like first contact the military had to us, then was the health examination and then call ups. Then the service.
One of the best things i think about military service, is that since everybody has to do it, you will see what kind of people there are in the society you live in. not only the limited social circles your education and locality provides.
Conscription is mandatory for men, so apart from a few exceptions every finnish man has gone through conscription. It's not recruitment, it's mandatory. Either conscription, civil services or jail. I did a full year and I quite enjoyed my time there. Got physically fit and made some great friends.
Some of the dumbest people I know have never served, in practice it's not like school or what ever the learning obligation is called. So anyone can figure out a way to get c-papers if they really want. I however served 165 days back in 2014.
@@raspuxdleppaniemi1938 Think you're right. Remember reading something about a guy who whined about "being a prisoner" at home because he didn't wan't to do the conscription.
I served 9 months a few years ago, and while boot camp was annoying (to nobody's surprise), the rest was actually a blast. I made it into the special forces as a software programmer so most of my time was spent like a typical 08-16 office job, with the occasional practice on the firing range or combat training and marches. I met some great people during that time, learnt many surprisingly useful things, and I was at a rehearsal last year where I learnt more about my wartime tasks. Overall it was very much a positive experience, and I feel I'm ready whenever those skills are needed. I don't own any actual firearms (at least not yet), although I do practice shooting at ranges every now and then. I very much recommend anyone who isn't obligated to serve to give it a go. I'm very much a pacifist myself, but I also recognise that peace must be earned. It is not to be taken for granted.
I was at coastal artillery at 92/93. Were stationed on island close to Helsinki. Good times :D Served 285 days as seaguard (under and above). Got also firecontrol training. First 3 years after service i was nominated to Rapid Action unit for Helsinki, so there was training weeks every year. Then official emergency troops were established. I enjoyed military service.
As Type 1 Diabetic I had the rare freedom/opportunity to choose whether or not I wanted to serve: FDF had experiment going researching how diabetics would do in the Service. While I was ultimately given the peace-time exemption from service, the amount of consideration They gave for my preferences and experiences with physical activity+eating (I had it really rough at the time) and my recent health history/care balance with Diabetes was amazing. I felt they actually cared and tried to work out a way I could fullfill my wish and duty even though my state wasn't at all the most suitable one. I understand they're relaxing the DM-ban once again in near future due advances in medication and tools. That rejection may have been one of the biggest influences that drove me to the medical care field for a career. If I would not be of use at the frontline, maybe I could be for those that were! And note that this was not as Military Service alternative "Civil Service". I was not required to participate in CS. While CS has pretty nasty image (mostly due the unfortunate fact that it's where "service dropouts" end up), most of it is REALLY flexible and great way to gain critical experience both in civilian world and as possible civilian specialist! Service times and requirements, too, are not that bad compared to Military Service. Certain obvious and many more not-so-obvious Civilian careers and jobs are tracked by the FDF & government organizations due to their nature of being part of critical conflict infrastructure. The more educated (possible reserve-led) civilian specialists there were available, the less Active Military manpower those same jobs tied up. If a conflict broke out with Russia, I'd expect to receive quick summons from my Regional Command due to my Age, Career and Location.
@@JohnSmith-hm5pk Usually they're just people that find Service too demanding for one reason or another (mental problems, "just barely interested", "I just don't want to.."). Some could have critical change happen in Civilian Life (like death of spouse and having kids) or encounter other health concern (accident or injury that makes Armed Service not viable). So in general just what you'd expect when you put certain.. "on-the-edge cases" into completely different and unfamiliar environment. It just doesn't work (out). For most not-"I don't wanna" cases, you're given a leave to recover/sort out things and then negotiated whether or not you continue your Conscription or change to Civil Service. In some cases they can even re-class you to have Peace-Time Exemption from Service altogether. "I don't wanna"s are transferred straight into Civil Service and have no much say in the matter. If you do not do Conscription Service, you do Civil - or sit it out in jail. It's like the last chance to "step up your game" at that point. Main advantage of Civil Service is that you're not really tied to certain location or profession as long as it can reasonably be logged/monitored by FDF in cooperation with the employer. It'd be just extra keeping track of work hours and so on - and if on medical leave, it's even easier as you can just ask the hospital to communicate everything straight to your Unit/Regional Command. MORE EDITS: And you kinda have to know/remember that Civil Service in it's current form is quite recent thing. You can imagine that in post-WW2 environment not being able to, or God help refuse!, do your Armed Service had a HUGE stigma. It could pretty much destroy peoples social status if you didnt have "extremely good reasons" for it. Even at best/worst, you were barely above prisoner-worker if you'd been assigned to pre-(modern) Civil Service duties.
i was freed because of severe mental health problems, but i also got an opportunity to join if i wanted to, it's just i don't trust myself at all in the service, so mainly that's why i don't consider joining it any time soon
@@jerejk1100 Gotta hand it to you, it's always better to be honest with yourself than find out the bad way. And there's 'always' the option to volunteer later on if situation changes, even for us that are Freed-From-Service. While I understand they've come long way with in-service (and general) Psych-Help, it's nowhere near where it 'should' be. Dunno if there's a lot of variation between Units these days. I understand some has had pretty.. rough.. reputation on certain aspects of heath/mentalcare services even to these days!
My grandfather was in the winter war. Did the whole nine yards and came home in one piece. My father born 1939 has told me about his time in the military. Was no joke back then. One thing he told me stuck with me. 30 kilometres full packing through the forest, with no lights. In the winter. That's hard.
You got that right about the purpose of this video. It's to give as much info as possible to young people about what's coming for them. I wish there was this kinda info for me also before I went to service in early 90's. I served 11 months
Served 9 months in the Navy 2015. Our ship had often a week of surveiling the terrritorial integrity patroling our waters. A few times there was a mission to go chase and identify russian ships or a column and photograph them. Also to show them how quickly we can respond and that we are watching them. You never knew what they were up to. Everydoby got super excited and a bit nervous on the ship every time this happened. It’s not often you actually encounter russians face to face with nobody else around but just you and them. Good times and a lot of memories
I did my conscript service and my childhood friends did too. We had a plan that after high school we'll go to the army and after that to the university and then settle down. We wanted to go to the army because our dads, uncles, neighbors, grand dads etc been in the army and it was a part to become an adult. And I loved my service time and special training after the conscript service.
I have HUGE respect for Finland! And while I might not agree with only men being conscripted I honor the Finnish sovereignty to make their own decisions without my unwanted opinions. They have a huge boarder to defend and protect.
When I was a teenager and about to serve in the military, I didn't like the idea of mandatory military service. But now as a 34 year old guy, I understand that in Finland, conscription is absolutely necessary! Because we have this neighbour called Russia
I served in 1993-94. I had a great privilege to be commanded by the fantastic officers and NCO's. Our company's call-up leader was the best damn leader I have ever known before the service and after. He really cared his troops and coached us well. Have lots of great memories from the service time. The service gave enormous mount of skills and extremely valuable knowledge and lessons for later life. Our quartermaster's lesson about the service and this applies nicely to life in generally was great. "Here you have to do sometimes do things which are not fun, but you just need to do them as it is your duty"! I would do the service all over again in a heart beat! Jolly good fun it was.
Served for 277 days, was part of the _piruntorjuntapatteristo_ - that'd be litreally translated the "Anti-Devil Battallion", not an official branch but you get the gist of it. Didn't have to do much training for sure. Good to have it in the rear view mirror; it's a lot more fun to remember it than to wait for it.
hello! from Finland here, and finished my year of service last December. this is not as much of a recruitment video, as the service is mandatory for men. this is very much an informative video, and they actually played this for us during the call-up event. the part in the beginning where they're going through the different branches and roles also isn't for show-off purposes (at least not completely) but for letting the crowd of upcoming soldiers know where and what they can do for service, so you could bring it up during the interview. another video you could enjoy is "taistelukenttä 2020" or "battlefield 2020" it shows how Finland could react during to a war
Yes quite many Finns (including me) has been at service in Finnish Defence Forces. It was pretty fun and got good experience and lifelong friends. Personally I think it is better to be prepared to the worst then not being prepared for anything... But hoping that you'll never need those skills (our history tells that there is a possibility that we could need them)...
I was at air defences and I was there for an year. I went through the corporal training. I liked to be there. I liked the routine and the fact that during that time, you didn't need to think much you just do as teached and ordered. But when I was promoted to a corporal it changed a little bit because I am a leader. Then they decided to choose me and 9 other corporals from 50 corporals to "mentor" or teach the new corporal trainees. It was an honour to be chosen to do that
I was in there for 8.5 months but due to having panic attack on first firing training, i spent rest of time without gun mainly in office working under sergeant major, i ended up decided where everyone slept when second group came after half a year, so i have surprisongly lot of power
Best vacation year of my life, everything was arranged. At weekdays it was all about sports, action, shooting drills or blowing things up. Weekends we just got drunk and went out to catch some girls. For those people who say it was miserable and waste of time because they could be at work or exetera, they've got about 50 years left before retirement to do their work. Good times.
this is Finland, we men/women take care that this is and will remain our homeland! this is how I/many others were raised! with respect to the video, corporal Tommi Ilvonen, Mr. President of the Republic, a soldier of the 1st company of the 1st group, a policeman, a Jaeger and we are proud of who we are!! huraa to you wonderful friends whom I have met/acquainted in the US Army
6:30 your though was totally correct. The best way to defend the country is to make it clear to everyone that they should not f**k with us. Best defence is the information that this country does not fall. Most of us have also good memories of the serving and we know what to do if things go bad. We also trust on the system and we have sisu. :)
So great trip. I went as a volunteer person (a little before 20 y age). Also I was so intrested that I served full 11 months. I got 12-friends from there and friendship continues still after 20 years. Its nothing like E-company in Band of Brothers but I would still repeat Capt. Winters words that " I served with company of heroes".
i started my service in the Uusimaa Brigade in January 2015 due to speaking Swedish slightly better than Finnish, so I got to enjoy the "eccentricities" of serving on or near the archipelagos, namely never being dry, still holding on to old traditions that most other units had abandoned (folding your blanket into a perfect square you can bounce a coin off of, for example.) Overall, I really enjoyed it - finally felt like I was doing something important, something with a purpose, so I acclimated pretty quickly and got good recommendations from the platoon NCOs which let me pick whatever combat arm I wanted that wasn't SOF. I initially wanted to become a combat engineer or EOD tech before joining, but after seeing how hype the military police recruitment video was that year (really took a liking to CQB/urban combat, appropriate usage of force, so on, and it seemed like a nice fit.) So, went off to MP NCO training after boot camp, came back very much grown, and since the Russians had taken Crimea just under a year ago the instructors of the MP platoon (actually 11/2 platoons as 2 squads need to be on guard at all time while the rest train) were VERY dedicated to making us into quality soldiers, since a lot of people were expecting similar hybrid-style attacks from Russia towards us until a couple years ago, maybe? This incidentally also made my life a total fuckfest, since the 9 month guys I had in my squad knew their MP duties better than me since I'd spent a lot of time training leadership skills instead of combat arm particulars. Struggled on/off with returning chronic depression, but when my new guys came in after completing boot camp I stepped to the plate again and ended up a pretty squared away squad leader - not the most squared-away in the platoon, though, got the nickname "Mother Goose" because I was buddy-buddy with pretty much everyone who'd joined in January like me, which meant that I'd always "acquire" extra snacks, food, sausages, meat pies, chocolate and coffee while out on exercise and handing it out to my boys to keep them fighting fit :) The reason why I say we were lucky to have experienced the invasion of Crimea so recently was that we trained like fuck - people like to talk shit about MPs just standing at the gate or whatever, but the reality was that every week I wasn't on guard rotation, I spent (on average) 3/4ths or something each week either on exercise or just in the field doing CQB drills, wrestling for hours, ambush reaction drills, hand-to-hand stuff, full gear and gas mask mud runs, so on. After counting all my days on exercise or in the field, I realized that if my calculations were correct, the only people who had us beat were Recon NCOs/COs - and the pretty much live in the forest. Realized I had an alcohol problem that I sorted out a few years ago, proceeded to volunteer for weekend camera guard duty for 7 weekends straight while going on exercise on the weeks and noticed my mental health skyrocketing, lots of stuff. Turned out better than I expected with a rifle considering my eyesight, was platoon top 3 with pistols, got to shoot a shitload, up to 5k practice rounds and 1k+ real rounds according to some hazy guesstimations - still, being "good" with a pistol was like 90% luck, if you got a relatively new one you'd score well, but if you got one of the run-through Browning Hi-Powers us Navy chumps had to settle with while the Army used brand new Glocks you'd be fucked. So we improvised a lot, the new modernized version of the RK62 was barely a wishful thought at that point and so we had no rail space, fastening flashlights to the handguards with bits of bicycle inner tube instead, among other things. I got a voluntary weekend exercise letter a few months after I left in December of 2015, and instantly said yes - have been an active part of the reserves since then, which is the longest ongoing commitment in my life at the moment at 9 years - during those years I got recon training, medic training, got my CQB drill up to par with current demands and am currently undergoing further voluntary training to learn more amphibious infantry/marine stuff. Met lifelong friends there, was pretty much the thing that turned me from an awkward mentally ill kind with a substance problem into a confident and much more militarily capable mess of mental issues and addiction lmao. Ah well... tl;dr was 10/10 p much except adjusting to civilian life after getting out was TOUGH
A full year in armored air defence. Was one of the most fun years in my life honestly thinking back to it. Not many other chances to spend almost 24/7 with a bunch of friends for a year straight. The level of bonding that happens if you just get good mates is crazy. Also most of us take it seriously which I liked.
This video was one that was show to us a couple of times at the "call-ups" and later at the unit. It is a kind of ad to market military service to the young people of Finland. I think it's good to have something like this available because before the service you will be so lost. And most are lost even during and after...
1 year in tank company ( Leo ) and now i have been called 7 times after that to train. Even someone spend shorter time in army, there is training camps after that also
I started my military service in july 2017 and got into reserves in december 2017. Had a great time, met lifelong friends and learned a bunch.. also shooting with a rifle was awesome. Now with what is happening in Ukraine, the motivation in defending our country has grown. We will do what we have to do to stay independent, like our grandfathers did.
The guy who's speaking is a radio host of Radio Rock and i think he's now a captain in reserve, but he's done this things mostly and pr-stuff like tried some of the weapons on video and etc.
Yes, this video is actually meant mainly for those that are soon to be conscripted. And I have to say that even if those subtitles were not wrong, they missed lot of the nuance and detail that the voice over told. For example when video was talking about first morning the voice over refered rumors as "tornari" = Tower rumor, where the tower comes from finnish army property mark which is tower or chess rook. What this video doesn't say is that there is an alternative to military service and that is civil service. You are working somewhere in civilian role (elder care and being office clerk in some government office are common) for 12 months, although I might be wrong. I can't remember exactly how long it was. And then there is the third option that is prison. I think there is few instances every year when someone just refuses to serve and gets thrown to prison. I was conscripted for 12 months as an Auxiliary mechanic in air force. It was mainly something you just had to get through. While you were in the military it sucked when you were wet and/or cold but afterwards you feel richer for the experience.
13 months, first month is "training"... which really just means you have that month to find a place since they don't do that for you. I spent almost 3 months in the training center, first because it was really difficult to find a place at the end of the year and then we started getting used to it a bit too much and became "legionaires".. We did have fun thou, then i went to take care of handicapped kids for 13 hours a day, 6 days a week so i feel like i "served", it was REALLY difficult work mentally and physically. I'm 3rd generation pacifist but i do support the military and am pro-NATO. That is not a paradox, not all pacifists are ideologist zealists, there are a lot of us that are pragmatic pacifists: sometimes wars are going to happen and for ex supporting Ukraine will prevent much, MUCH larger wars in the future.
I'm a Finn and I served in the 1990s in field artillery, as a private. The training was about anti-artillery technical reconnaissance and topography. Actually the latter part, along with understanding of maps, coordinate systems etc. helped a lot when I was working in USA and used software made by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. I have not been called for refresher training at all, probably because the systems I was trained on were quite obsolete at the time.
I served as a tank driver for 1 year back in 2010-2011. I have only positive memories from the service and i got many new good friends that are close till this day:)
This is not a promotional video, but rather a general education video about the FDF's activities. An info package. The military service is, and has always been part of Finnish men's life, and part of the society. None of it is supposed to be beating one's own chest, but rather listing the opportunities, requirements and risks of the different military branches and jobs. It will be "you", the average Joe, doing those tasks if SHTF. It's safe to say that every other bloke you come across the street has served, and would be called to arms if the big neighbor starts acting like a retard, again. And boy, the Finns are READY and MOTIVATED to defend the country if needed! All in all, the experience is valuable, greatly valued within the society, and it sure as hell does help one "grow up", mentally. The local saying is that the service "turns boys into men", and I can sign that notion. It's less about becoming a buff warrior, more about understanding that the comfy, modern life of ours is vulnerable. That it should not be taken for granted, requires everyone's support, and needs to be protected at all cost. It teaches you how to team work, even if your team's made out of people you generally would not get a long well, and generally makes you less of a picky eater. t: served 6 months back in the late 00s. Was very glad to get back in the civvies back then. Now would PAY to get back in the boots instead.
I served in tankbrigade in 1990-91 as tank driver. Back then soviet union still excisted. No one said it aloud but everyone knew we trained to fight against possible soviet invasion. Soviet Union crashed but now there is similar idiots in Russia so we are still prepared. My grandparents fought in WW2 against red army but hopefully we dont have to again.
I served a whole year at the turn of the millennium and overall I look back on it fondly. Sometimes I even miss it! It's just like any other job; sometimes it can feel grindy and boring, even frustrating, and at other times it's exciting. What's really nice is the camraderie that forms between you and your platoon mates. Sometimes those can form into lifelong friendships. I think the conscription is overall a good thing for the Finnish society. It kinda serves as a rite of passage. Sure it can be a bit intimidating at first since for a lot of young men is the first time they're away from their parents for an extended period of time. However, since everybody from all walks of life go through it I think it's a good growth opportunity to learn to get along with different kinds of people.
Mandatory for men absolutely we had that system in sweden aswell if you dont went to military 6 month in jail 🤣i think voluntarily for women my opinion the best ...its good to go to military when you 18 20 you learn alot about life meet alot of people and you learning to take some shit aswell 🤣. keep on Dwayne nice videos .i made my service in north sweden lapland Arvidsjaur hunter soldat 1991 1 year then in was in the FN unit went Libanon and kosovo jugoslavia .
I was a sergeant in the conscript during the filming of this video, you can actually see my platoon in Säkylä military base just chilling there and eating. But yes, this is more of an informational video for young people to get their mind eased a bit before call ups. As long as you go there knowing you will not be the main character you'll be fine.
Been through it, in the late 90s. I liked it. Not every minute of it, of course, but overall. I like that it's "mandatory", it's a sort of rite of passage, and most come out of it better than when they entered. It's not for everyone, of course, and that's fine.
i served a year in signals. half of the time we were bunking in the forest :D or visiting other garrisons to build a network for them. tbh i was trained to the HQ so my squad usually slept in barracks or what not provided by the hosting brigade.i especially liked to train with the airborne jaegers, unfortunately i was only allowed to see the helo inside but couldn't hitchhike with them :D :D :D
Switzerland has conscription as well but only for the training time. But they are frequently called back to refresh and update it. If a war would come, they don't go to some central point but all go to their local point to defend. That will take a few hours. So whoever invades Switzerland will find opposition everywhere. But more countries have conscription.
2:43 Both men and women have to be 18 - 29 years old and in good health when they start the military service. I am male, but due to autism and epilepsy I was placed in the reserve and released from service during peacetime. As I write this, I am 31 y.o, so I can no longer be ordered to do military service. In times of war or crisis, I can however be ordered first to training and then to combat or support missions.
I was 2,5 weeks in service and got a bronchitis during that time. Eventually I got discharged for medical reasons and didn't finish my service. I'm one of those who haven't completed service,
2006, Medic. Best 9months of my life. I was a wild one with alcohol and other...This place made me respect others and work with others. You make friends for life
It used to be like this in Sweden, I did one year back in the day. Lots of people avoided it by bribing Psycologists to write a paper stating that they were unfit to serve, did their time at civil services like eg Firefighters, or just refused and went to prison. I think that I'm the only one in my extended friends group (~20 people) who actually served in the military. Big waste of my time. Later conscription was made voluntary, and became more popular, and now it's mandatory but only for a few selected people.
21 years since I started my army training as anti-armor jaeger. Tough but made some cool memories that wouldn't be possible in civilian life. Doing live ammo combat training while there's a mortar fire landing near and pioneers blasting a corridor through imagined minefield, winter camping in lapland and fighting in darkness and snow. Explosive training. Good times, didn't have to think much, just do what you're told.
Been there done that. Master chargeant. I didnt really love it when I was in military first one year. But now having these one week training camps 8 reserv I like a lot. Us being experts in our field in army. Good food exelent company❤
11 months '93-94. Corporal / fire control. It was somewhat similar to Finnish Army simulator game. Most of army time was spent in waiting. It really brought some memories :p We did measure targets and gave fire commands to the artillery. Learned basics of messaging too. Of course we are able to use assault rifles. I think it would be more or less like an end of the world if I ever get drafted to action.
Everyone should experince milirary service. Didn't like it one bit, but i learned to appreciate all the freedoms you have in the sivilian life. Also i really feel like i grew up to adulthood in the military.
I was engineer in military back in 2001, so a lot of mines and explosions :) I remember thinking back then that im never getting more pissed off how much i was there, but overall only good memories.
I trained myself as a sergeant.. that takes a year.. If you have a right mindset for it, its a positive experience. I was in the navy.. so i learn to command troops, how to move and navigate at the sea, drop seamines.. and ofc how to take orders and use a rifle. But, if u have proplem with authority issues from the start.. then finnish military service is not your thing.
Of course, it was tough in the army many times. When you talk about that time with others who have done military service, the discussions become fun. You apparently only remember the fun that happened. I myself served in the Nylands Brigade and was trained as a sniper. Been to rehearsal exercises twice. The military was a time you never forget. 🙂🙃😊
I did eleven months in the Finnish artillery way back in 97-98. It was easy. The system is built to handle ALL Finnish men regardless of their education or capability to pick up the required skills. For those not very bright, there were simpler duties, and for others there were more complex tasks, but the system had to be able to cope with, and to make use of, each and every one. I was trained as an artillery squad leader and I've shot hundreds of rounds on Russian D-30 howitzer and on Finnish 155K83 howitzer. I still remember the basics of all tasks involved and if given a week or two of refresher training, I'd be good to go again in case duty calls. The video is clearly a promotional video towards young FInns who are yet to serve. It tries to depict the military as a modern and effective force, and then moves on to describe the very first days and to control some of the worries that young people might have when entering the service. These videos are very well produced, even if their balance does not really reflect the every day realities of conscription. There's a lot of running and rushing, and then there's a lot of waiting.
You asked, here is the answer: As an example - out of those men, who were born 1980, has 80% got military training. However, the men born 1990 has the same percentage lower - 70%. We have 300.000 soldiers in the war organization, but it can be collected upto 1.000.000, if needed. The willingness to serve the country has raised up during the war in Ukraine's area. I did serve already back in 1977 - 1978. Last heavy three trainings were 2018. After that I've got only some NLAW special trainings for local area defence purposes. th-cam.com/video/hupsUq-fzq8/w-d-xo.html There were time in 1980's - 1990's when a lot of training was not done. But since 2010, it accelerated again. At the end of my period I had been ranked as a captain in infantry. The mandatory tasks ended at the age of 60 years. Still voluntary exercising anyway.
I served 11 months. Positive experience, even -30C camping in forest was bit tough with 80's equipments. We are logistically an island, long border with Russia, and 90% of trade is transported by sea. We have very strong artillery just to protect the border. We have weapons for a pretty large army. Baltic Sea is luckily now a NATO lake, so attack to our sea transport would end getting help from Sweden, Poland etc. We can protect only our coasts. (Lot on islands, shallow water, so for defender places to cover and hide, easy to lay mines.) We will be learning from Ukraine also about drones and tactics. And we are buying F-35's and Patriots or Iron Dome. Nearly all block of flats made cold war time have bomb shelter with air filters against gasses and nuclear pollution. You can watch here in TH-cam a lecture of former colonel Martti J Kari, titled Strategic Culture of Russia. There are translated versions also. (It's in Finnish, titled Venäjän strateginen kulttuuri) I think Russia is risk to us. But I do hope that the Russian people will get better life without dictatorship.
I served 11 months. It was rough, but I made it. Some did not, some even jumped out of window due to pressure. But for me service was excellent and effective and now I am prepared to defend our country.
I am currently serving in the finnish army, i have 55 days service left and it has been ok. Some improvements from old traditions would be good but other than that a nice experience.
As a Finn, I would say it would be better to make the conscript service mandatory for everybody instead of being mandatory only for men. However, I would make the mandatory service much much shorter, like 4-6 weeks. That would be enough to learn the basics (basically using different weapons and living in the woods) and any further training would be voluntary service only. When I did my mandatory conscript service, it was pretty clear that some of the men didn't do anything worth the service there. They were forced to be there and they did the absolute minimum effort in everything and I wouldn't trust they learned much. I have hard time believing that forcing them to be in the service about 4 months extra after learning the basics is worth the expense. That said, I do think that conscript service is a cost effective way to maintain Finnish Defence Forces because the whole point is to have strong enough defense to make it obvious for Russia that Finnish is not a sensible target but not waste any extra resources on top of that. Training every adult in the country to use assault rifles, rocket launchers and NLAW anti-tank missiles should be enough deterrent and 4 weeks should be plenty for all that. (Russia is never mentioned in the official training but it just happens that the enemy is always approaching from the East in every exercise.)
While you could train someone to use a rifle and pitch a tent in 4-6 weeks, I doubt you could instill the discipline and organizational skills any military needs to function within such a short time frame. I'd argue 3 months minimum for that to really take root.
@@Deuzen_FIN Yeah, if you assume the brainwashing is the requirement for military performance. I'm pretty immune to brainwashing and it all seemed like a waste of time. It would have been much more effective to simply explain why discipline and troop movement is done the way it's done and then simply trust that everybody understands the reason and does their best. Maybe that wouldn't work for the less-gifted members?
One interesting fact is that The Åland Islands (Ahvenanmaa in finnish) are excempt from the conscription because Åland is a demilitarized zone ever since 1856, we can still serve if we choose too but it's not mandatory like it is for those living in mainland Finland
Actually you - just like the majority of the Ålanders, I suppose - get it a bit wrong. It's a common misconception also here in the mainland. The demilitarisation of Åland and the exemption of military service of the men of Åland are two different things, which are not linked. Originally that exemption was granted c. 100 years ago, because there was no Swedish-language garrisons in Finland at that time. Because there has been one for c. 70 years now, that outdated and inequal exemption could/should be ended.
My service was in Kirkonmaa 03, first (and last) arrival aka in january 2013. Whole experience was genuinly something that you can't forget about. Good and bad :D But overall it has made a very positive impact in general for my life.
I served 9 months in the Finnish army in 2002. After that I've been to refresher training twice. I was trained as a medic. After army I graduated as a nurse. I sure did learn to bind ankles in the army :D
Aamuja t:2/22 res vyks!! It was amazing experience and i would go again if could!!! A lot of negativity from my roommates but everything combined it was fun!
Fun fact, you walk in a street in finland and 95% of men you see are well trained soldiers =)
Also the guys playing in your favorite heavy metal band are army officers in reserve
more like 75%
@@billw.overbeck8913 I doubt, if considered only adults. Although the numbers are changing... But I still doubt
@@billw.overbeck8913Is he like you? Cos i'am not like you. Missile boats you 95% don't fit in.
Only 16 personnel is in. Done that. Most likely you don't.
@@billw.overbeck8913 It's disrespectful to make fun of reservists. Only those who avoid military service talk like that
I served 40 years ago. I was an ugly and fat youngster. Still all went well. It was physically hard for me, but still a positive experience. My mind worked well. I managed to get some camraderie for life, which is nice. Now l'm a rock solid 60 -years oldtimer and a staff sergeant.
I served 11 months in the Finnish Army in the late 1980s and I've been ordered to refresher trainings many times after that. My experiences are positive and I was willing to do that.
Niin kyllä se kuulemma intti (ja kertaukset) aina kotiolot voittaa! (kuulemma)
@@AnttiHara -88 ssapumiserässä oli samaan aikaan yks 17v. kaveri,jolla oli kersa. Intti tais olla pelastus.
Ei haittaa jos puolustaa yleensä ottaen maata, kunhan ei tartte tehdä sitä, tupa "kavereiden" kanssa, suurin osa oli täysiä mulkkuja. ei mitään luottoa niitä kundeja kohtaan(kahta lukuunottamatta)
I havent had any, 25 years since my service, A-man and 362days=12 months, served the maximum time :D I still remember how to operate assault rifles, machine guns and tank cannons and more, it is in the backbone :)
So you are specialist or one of us who got gold on chest. I respect that, nice!
With a neighbour like Russia (past, present and future) it’s a no brainer.
800 miles border with Russia.
Old emo shiat, get real give one example why woul Russia attack Finland as I said no emo crap.
How about Ukraine..?@@koff41
@@koff41 are you 9 years old? havent you seen what russias been doing for the past ~2 years?
@@koff41 As the Putin Jugend sing: ”from Lisbon to Vladivostok and Alaska too”. In Russian world there are no borders, the only goal is to spread peace (war) all over the world. It may be bonkers but russia didn’t become the largest country in the world by accident or by peaceful means.
Well, as the title of the video tells, it's mainly info package for new conscripts. Puolustusvoimat (defense forces) has a large array of other videos on their channel where they detail military's capabilities and duties better. I'm so glad in this age that us Finns haven't fallen for same naive thinking as damn near every other european nation that any future conflict would be impossible.
And they got good vids. FDF, make me a man. I served a year.
You must understand that we have a 1,343.6 kilometer long border with Russia, so Finland must be ready if.....
Not if, but when
When*
Never trust Ruzzia. They are incapable to be peaceful
..shit hits the fan
And we have only the population 5,5 million people.
Which border is attacked at the moment.
Again.
I served in the defense forces for 9 months in total, most of it as a military police. I remember those 9 months being one of the best experiences in my life, we had a good spirit back in there 👍🏼
I went back to Finland and served my service even though I was born in Australia. I felt that it was my duty as all my family had done the same including fought in wars.
🫡
As a Finn I completed my military service on January 2018 right after when we celebrated our 100 years of Independence and I graduated from High School. I served 6.5 months during my training and now I am enjoying my time in college and in the reserves. I honestly can say our military training is great quality and teaches you valuable skills that are not only useful in the military but also in the civilian life. A lot of young Finnish men get very nervous cause they aren't 100% sure what to expect but I can assure everyone it's not that difficult or as bad as the rumors might say and anyone can get through it just fine because you're never alone and have so many people to support you. At times it's tough but with sisu and patience you will get through it and can surprise yourself on what you yourself are capable of. For me it was a huge confidence boost and I lost by 15 - 20 kilos by the end of it so I was in great shape afterwards and made me realize how strong I really was. Finnish Defense Forces is a proud tradition that not only connects us to our fellow soldiers our brothers and sisters in arms but also to different generations who came before us. My Great grandfather served during WW2, my grandfather did his service, my father did his service and my brother did his service and so has many of my other relatives. This same theme also repeats itself in many other Finnish families so you understand the scale and meaning of it to us. It also warms and reliefs my heart to know that our will to defend and fight for our home hasn't wavered or decreased through these years but only grown stronger especially during these uncertain times.
As a British woman who has a Finnish husband, my impression is that Finnish men are on the whole more competent than British ones and it's largely thanks to the military service. I'm still not really excited for my son to go there one day though 😅
Well, your son gets to know some young men and woman around the country (and world), some of them will be life long friends. So don´t be sorry.. you will be a little anxious like most Finnish moms, but it is normal and in the end you will be happy and proud.😉
It should be noted that your son isnt obligated to serve if he has lived longer than 7 years in a foreign country, at which point it becomes voluntary if he wants to serve. Though as someone who's done their service and continues today by choice, its a worthy experience. You wont get another one quite like it anywhere else, really.
@@pohjantuulet247Don't they lose their dual citizenship if they don't do the military service?
@@liisagawley2053 No, but if they move to Finland before the age of 29, Finnish Defense Forces can order the dual citizen into conscription.
@@pohjantuulet247 We live in Finland, so I think he will be obligated. But I will encourage him to make the most of it, when the time comes 😊
Well, being neighbours to Russia does wonderfully concentrate the mind... We are way bigger than the UK by land area but have only 5,5 million inhabitants: conscription is simply the only way to defend our Eastern border. I did my service back in the 90's, I was so not the military type and didn't enjoy that side of things at all, but the friendship and solidarity among us conscripts was really amazing, I don't know if I have ever laughed so much as during those 8 months...
Yeah, I served 12 months and it definitely was the best time of my life and still is in my top 5 experiences. I was happy to do it and would do it again any day.
Like they say if you want peace prepare for war. I would add specially if you live next to Russia.
Einstein had a different view :D
@@eekijokinen345 Einstein was a physicist, not a soldier.
Fish out of water.
@@KirosanaPerkele You clearly dont get my comments source or irony.. mee kotti ja uima
@@eekijokinen345 En voi, ei oo kylpyammetta kotona.
I had to take a temporary leave from my service due to mental health issues, most of it now solved and I'm going back tomorrow. I'll be serving 234 days as a non-commissioned officer and while I'm excited, I'm also extremely anxious to go back.
I'll try to remember to come back to this next summer and tell you about my experiences!
Almost all men does the military service.
There are very few that doesn't.
Nobody loves war but if you have a neighbour that has tried to invade your country several times you have to do something.
We don't have the luxury you have.
USA has saved your independence twice.
We were forced to do do it ourselves.
65% is not "almost all men".
Yeah, a long eastern border with Russia gives a good reason for the military service.
@@kognak6640 Has risen to 75% but it of course changes year to year. But the recent events have raised the numbers, which is kind of a no-brainer.
@@squidcaps4308 75% is the number in the draft. However of those 75% not all manage to go through the service. Too many simply quit in first week. Some for mental health reasons, some choose non-military service. For FDF it has been a problem awhile.
I would like to say it once more.
Men that are willing to risk their lives for people who are not able or willing to do so.
It's easy to be a pacifist in a free and democratic country.
Pretty sure this video was shown to young men in school when i was like 17 or the year of my 18th birthday. Like all men were ordered to hall and there was some information given about the conscription and the process and i think this video was showed. So this was like first contact the military had to us, then was the health examination and then call ups. Then the service.
One of the best things i think about military service, is that since everybody has to do it, you will see what kind of people there are in the society you live in. not only the limited social circles your education and locality provides.
yes, how many horrible people are there around make you think if you really want to defend the country
Conscription is mandatory for men, so apart from a few exceptions every finnish man has gone through conscription. It's not recruitment, it's mandatory. Either conscription, civil services or jail. I did a full year and I quite enjoyed my time there. Got physically fit and made some great friends.
Not jail anymore I think, but some sort of ankle device. I might be wrong. Either way it was great fun and useful to serve.
Some of the dumbest people I know have never served, in practice it's not like school or what ever the learning obligation is called. So anyone can figure out a way to get c-papers if they really want. I however served 165 days back in 2014.
Likewise, my only regret regarding the service was that it eventually ended.
pretty sure nowadays its house arrest with ankle monitor and if you break it you go to jail
@@raspuxdleppaniemi1938 Think you're right. Remember reading something about a guy who whined about "being a prisoner" at home because he didn't wan't to do the conscription.
I served 9 months a few years ago, and while boot camp was annoying (to nobody's surprise), the rest was actually a blast. I made it into the special forces as a software programmer so most of my time was spent like a typical 08-16 office job, with the occasional practice on the firing range or combat training and marches. I met some great people during that time, learnt many surprisingly useful things, and I was at a rehearsal last year where I learnt more about my wartime tasks.
Overall it was very much a positive experience, and I feel I'm ready whenever those skills are needed. I don't own any actual firearms (at least not yet), although I do practice shooting at ranges every now and then. I very much recommend anyone who isn't obligated to serve to give it a go.
I'm very much a pacifist myself, but I also recognise that peace must be earned. It is not to be taken for granted.
I was at coastal artillery at 92/93. Were stationed on island close to Helsinki. Good times :D Served 285 days as seaguard (under and above). Got also firecontrol training. First 3 years after service i was nominated to Rapid Action unit for Helsinki, so there was training weeks every year. Then official emergency troops were established. I enjoyed military service.
As Type 1 Diabetic I had the rare freedom/opportunity to choose whether or not I wanted to serve: FDF had experiment going researching how diabetics would do in the Service.
While I was ultimately given the peace-time exemption from service, the amount of consideration They gave for my preferences and experiences with physical activity+eating (I had it really rough at the time) and my recent health history/care balance with Diabetes was amazing. I felt they actually cared and tried to work out a way I could fullfill my wish and duty even though my state wasn't at all the most suitable one. I understand they're relaxing the DM-ban once again in near future due advances in medication and tools.
That rejection may have been one of the biggest influences that drove me to the medical care field for a career. If I would not be of use at the frontline, maybe I could be for those that were!
And note that this was not as Military Service alternative "Civil Service". I was not required to participate in CS. While CS has pretty nasty image (mostly due the unfortunate fact that it's where "service dropouts" end up), most of it is REALLY flexible and great way to gain critical experience both in civilian world and as possible civilian specialist! Service times and requirements, too, are not that bad compared to Military Service.
Certain obvious and many more not-so-obvious Civilian careers and jobs are tracked by the FDF & government organizations due to their nature of being part of critical conflict infrastructure. The more educated (possible reserve-led) civilian specialists there were available, the less Active Military manpower those same jobs tied up. If a conflict broke out with Russia, I'd expect to receive quick summons from my Regional Command due to my Age, Career and Location.
What kind of drop-outs? How do they happen?
@@JohnSmith-hm5pk Usually they're just people that find Service too demanding for one reason or another (mental problems, "just barely interested", "I just don't want to.."). Some could have critical change happen in Civilian Life (like death of spouse and having kids) or encounter other health concern (accident or injury that makes Armed Service not viable).
So in general just what you'd expect when you put certain.. "on-the-edge cases" into completely different and unfamiliar environment. It just doesn't work (out).
For most not-"I don't wanna" cases, you're given a leave to recover/sort out things and then negotiated whether or not you continue your Conscription or change to Civil Service. In some cases they can even re-class you to have Peace-Time Exemption from Service altogether.
"I don't wanna"s are transferred straight into Civil Service and have no much say in the matter. If you do not do Conscription Service, you do Civil - or sit it out in jail. It's like the last chance to "step up your game" at that point.
Main advantage of Civil Service is that you're not really tied to certain location or profession as long as it can reasonably be logged/monitored by FDF in cooperation with the employer. It'd be just extra keeping track of work hours and so on - and if on medical leave, it's even easier as you can just ask the hospital to communicate everything straight to your Unit/Regional Command.
MORE EDITS:
And you kinda have to know/remember that Civil Service in it's current form is quite recent thing. You can imagine that in post-WW2 environment not being able to, or God help refuse!, do your Armed Service had a HUGE stigma. It could pretty much destroy peoples social status if you didnt have "extremely good reasons" for it. Even at best/worst, you were barely above prisoner-worker if you'd been assigned to pre-(modern) Civil Service duties.
@@Makapaa Thanks for taking the time (y) :)
i was freed because of severe mental health problems, but i also got an opportunity to join if i wanted to, it's just i don't trust myself at all in the service, so mainly that's why i don't consider joining it any time soon
@@jerejk1100 Gotta hand it to you, it's always better to be honest with yourself than find out the bad way. And there's 'always' the option to volunteer later on if situation changes, even for us that are Freed-From-Service.
While I understand they've come long way with in-service (and general) Psych-Help, it's nowhere near where it 'should' be. Dunno if there's a lot of variation between Units these days. I understand some has had pretty.. rough.. reputation on certain aspects of heath/mentalcare services even to these days!
My grandfather was in the winter war. Did the whole nine yards and came home in one piece. My father born 1939 has told me about his time in the military. Was no joke back then. One thing he told me stuck with me. 30 kilometres full packing through the forest, with no lights. In the winter. That's hard.
You got that right about the purpose of this video. It's to give as much info as possible to young people about what's coming for them. I wish there was this kinda info for me also before I went to service in early 90's. I served 11 months
Served 9 months in the Navy 2015. Our ship had often a week of surveiling the terrritorial integrity patroling our waters. A few times there was a mission to go chase and identify russian ships or a column and photograph them. Also to show them how quickly we can respond and that we are watching them. You never knew what they were up to. Everydoby got super excited and a bit nervous on the ship every time this happened. It’s not often you actually encounter russians face to face with nobody else around but just you and them. Good times and a lot of memories
for me it was one of the best experiences i have ever had.
😂 best lol
What do you think about men who don't join the army?!
I did my conscript service and my childhood friends did too. We had a plan that after high school we'll go to the army and after that to the university and then settle down. We wanted to go to the army because our dads, uncles, neighbors, grand dads etc been in the army and it was a part to become an adult. And I loved my service time and special training after the conscript service.
I have HUGE respect for Finland! And while I might not agree with only men being conscripted I honor the Finnish sovereignty to make their own decisions without my unwanted opinions. They have a huge boarder to defend and protect.
When I was a teenager and about to serve in the military, I didn't like the idea of mandatory military service. But now as a 34 year old guy, I understand that in Finland, conscription is absolutely necessary! Because we have this neighbour called Russia
I still have many good frinds from those guys who i served with. I did my service 2005. I't was usefull experience. You learn lot of new skills.
I served in 1993-94. I had a great privilege to be commanded by the fantastic officers and NCO's. Our company's call-up leader was the best damn leader I have ever known before the service and after. He really cared his troops and coached us well. Have lots of great memories from the service time. The service gave enormous mount of skills and extremely valuable knowledge and lessons for later life. Our quartermaster's lesson about the service and this applies nicely to life in generally was great. "Here you have to do sometimes do things which are not fun, but you just need to do them as it is your duty"! I would do the service all over again in a heart beat! Jolly good fun it was.
Served for 277 days, was part of the _piruntorjuntapatteristo_ - that'd be litreally translated the "Anti-Devil Battallion", not an official branch but you get the gist of it. Didn't have to do much training for sure.
Good to have it in the rear view mirror; it's a lot more fun to remember it than to wait for it.
hello!
from Finland here, and finished my year of service last December.
this is not as much of a recruitment video, as the service is mandatory for men. this is very much an informative video, and they actually played this for us during the call-up event.
the part in the beginning where they're going through the different branches and roles also isn't for show-off purposes (at least not completely) but for letting the crowd of upcoming soldiers know where and what they can do for service, so you could bring it up during the interview.
another video you could enjoy is "taistelukenttä 2020" or "battlefield 2020"
it shows how Finland could react during to a war
Yes quite many Finns (including me) has been at service in Finnish Defence Forces. It was pretty fun and got good experience and lifelong friends. Personally I think it is better to be prepared to the worst then not being prepared for anything... But hoping that you'll never need those skills (our history tells that there is a possibility that we could need them)...
at 4:12 you ask what is that, it's UAV. Might use as a target practise, aerial reconnaissance or search operations
I was at air defences and I was there for an year. I went through the corporal training. I liked to be there. I liked the routine and the fact that during that time, you didn't need to think much you just do as teached and ordered. But when I was promoted to a corporal it changed a little bit because I am a leader. Then they decided to choose me and 9 other corporals from 50 corporals to "mentor" or teach the new corporal trainees. It was an honour to be chosen to do that
I have served. Like over 80% of my age. Over 900k men reserve. Biggest artillery in Europe.
I was in there for 8.5 months but due to having panic attack on first firing training, i spent rest of time without gun mainly in office working under sergeant major, i ended up decided where everyone slept when second group came after half a year, so i have surprisongly lot of power
This series of videos is one of the mainstays you are shown during the call-ups event before everyone is divided to different units.
I loved almost every second of it! In fact, I’ve done my good share afterwards too. Been involved voluntarily and loved it as well 😅
Best vacation year of my life, everything was arranged. At weekdays it was all about sports, action, shooting drills or blowing things up. Weekends we just got drunk and went out to catch some girls. For those people who say it was miserable and waste of time because they could be at work or exetera, they've got about 50 years left before retirement to do their work. Good times.
this is Finland, we men/women take care that this is and will remain our homeland! this is how I/many others were raised! with respect to the video, corporal Tommi Ilvonen, Mr. President of the Republic, a soldier of the 1st company of the 1st group, a policeman, a Jaeger and we are proud of who we are!! huraa to you wonderful friends whom I have met/acquainted in the US Army
6:30 your though was totally correct. The best way to defend the country is to make it clear to everyone that they should not f**k with us. Best defence is the information that this country does not fall.
Most of us have also good memories of the serving and we know what to do if things go bad. We also trust on the system and we have sisu. :)
So great trip. I went as a volunteer person (a little before 20 y age). Also I was so intrested that I served full 11 months. I got 12-friends from there and friendship continues still after 20 years. Its nothing like E-company in Band of Brothers but I would still repeat Capt. Winters words that " I served with company of heroes".
i started my service in the Uusimaa Brigade in January 2015 due to speaking Swedish slightly better than Finnish, so I got to enjoy the "eccentricities" of serving on or near the archipelagos, namely never being dry, still holding on to old traditions that most other units had abandoned (folding your blanket into a perfect square you can bounce a coin off of, for example.)
Overall, I really enjoyed it - finally felt like I was doing something important, something with a purpose, so I acclimated pretty quickly and got good recommendations from the platoon NCOs which let me pick whatever combat arm I wanted that wasn't SOF. I initially wanted to become a combat engineer or EOD tech before joining, but after seeing how hype the military police recruitment video was that year (really took a liking to CQB/urban combat, appropriate usage of force, so on, and it seemed like a nice fit.)
So, went off to MP NCO training after boot camp, came back very much grown, and since the Russians had taken Crimea just under a year ago the instructors of the MP platoon (actually 11/2 platoons as 2 squads need to be on guard at all time while the rest train) were VERY dedicated to making us into quality soldiers, since a lot of people were expecting similar hybrid-style attacks from Russia towards us until a couple years ago, maybe? This incidentally also made my life a total fuckfest, since the 9 month guys I had in my squad knew their MP duties better than me since I'd spent a lot of time training leadership skills instead of combat arm particulars.
Struggled on/off with returning chronic depression, but when my new guys came in after completing boot camp I stepped to the plate again and ended up a pretty squared away squad leader - not the most squared-away in the platoon, though, got the nickname "Mother Goose" because I was buddy-buddy with pretty much everyone who'd joined in January like me, which meant that I'd always "acquire" extra snacks, food, sausages, meat pies, chocolate and coffee while out on exercise and handing it out to my boys to keep them fighting fit :)
The reason why I say we were lucky to have experienced the invasion of Crimea so recently was that we trained like fuck - people like to talk shit about MPs just standing at the gate or whatever, but the reality was that every week I wasn't on guard rotation, I spent (on average) 3/4ths or something each week either on exercise or just in the field doing CQB drills, wrestling for hours, ambush reaction drills, hand-to-hand stuff, full gear and gas mask mud runs, so on. After counting all my days on exercise or in the field, I realized that if my calculations were correct, the only people who had us beat were Recon NCOs/COs - and the pretty much live in the forest. Realized I had an alcohol problem that I sorted out a few years ago, proceeded to volunteer for weekend camera guard duty for 7 weekends straight while going on exercise on the weeks and noticed my mental health skyrocketing, lots of stuff.
Turned out better than I expected with a rifle considering my eyesight, was platoon top 3 with pistols, got to shoot a shitload, up to 5k practice rounds and 1k+ real rounds according to some hazy guesstimations - still, being "good" with a pistol was like 90% luck, if you got a relatively new one you'd score well, but if you got one of the run-through Browning Hi-Powers us Navy chumps had to settle with while the Army used brand new Glocks you'd be fucked. So we improvised a lot, the new modernized version of the RK62 was barely a wishful thought at that point and so we had no rail space, fastening flashlights to the handguards with bits of bicycle inner tube instead, among other things.
I got a voluntary weekend exercise letter a few months after I left in December of 2015, and instantly said yes - have been an active part of the reserves since then, which is the longest ongoing commitment in my life at the moment at 9 years - during those years I got recon training, medic training, got my CQB drill up to par with current demands and am currently undergoing further voluntary training to learn more amphibious infantry/marine stuff. Met lifelong friends there, was pretty much the thing that turned me from an awkward mentally ill kind with a substance problem into a confident and much more militarily capable mess of mental issues and addiction lmao. Ah well...
tl;dr was 10/10 p much except adjusting to civilian life after getting out was TOUGH
A full year in armored air defence. Was one of the most fun years in my life honestly thinking back to it. Not many other chances to spend almost 24/7 with a bunch of friends for a year straight. The level of bonding that happens if you just get good mates is crazy. Also most of us take it seriously which I liked.
This video was one that was show to us a couple of times at the "call-ups" and later at the unit. It is a kind of ad to market military service to the young people of Finland. I think it's good to have something like this available because before the service you will be so lost. And most are lost even during and after...
1 year in tank company ( Leo ) and now i have been called 7 times after that to train. Even someone spend shorter time in army, there is training camps after that also
I started my military service in july 2017 and got into reserves in december 2017. Had a great time, met lifelong friends and learned a bunch.. also shooting with a rifle was awesome. Now with what is happening in Ukraine, the motivation in defending our country has grown. We will do what we have to do to stay independent, like our grandfathers did.
The guy who's speaking is a radio host of Radio Rock and i think he's now a captain in reserve, but he's done this things mostly and pr-stuff like tried some of the weapons on video and etc.
Yes, this video is actually meant mainly for those that are soon to be conscripted. And I have to say that even if those subtitles were not wrong, they missed lot of the nuance and detail that the voice over told. For example when video was talking about first morning the voice over refered rumors as "tornari" = Tower rumor, where the tower comes from finnish army property mark which is tower or chess rook.
What this video doesn't say is that there is an alternative to military service and that is civil service. You are working somewhere in civilian role (elder care and being office clerk in some government office are common) for 12 months, although I might be wrong. I can't remember exactly how long it was. And then there is the third option that is prison. I think there is few instances every year when someone just refuses to serve and gets thrown to prison.
I was conscripted for 12 months as an Auxiliary mechanic in air force. It was mainly something you just had to get through. While you were in the military it sucked when you were wet and/or cold but afterwards you feel richer for the experience.
13 months, first month is "training"... which really just means you have that month to find a place since they don't do that for you. I spent almost 3 months in the training center, first because it was really difficult to find a place at the end of the year and then we started getting used to it a bit too much and became "legionaires".. We did have fun thou, then i went to take care of handicapped kids for 13 hours a day, 6 days a week so i feel like i "served", it was REALLY difficult work mentally and physically. I'm 3rd generation pacifist but i do support the military and am pro-NATO. That is not a paradox, not all pacifists are ideologist zealists, there are a lot of us that are pragmatic pacifists: sometimes wars are going to happen and for ex supporting Ukraine will prevent much, MUCH larger wars in the future.
I don't think you go to prison anymore. You get house arrest with an anklet. If you break the rules then you may go to prison.
I'm a Finn and I served in the 1990s in field artillery, as a private. The training was about anti-artillery technical reconnaissance and topography. Actually the latter part, along with understanding of maps, coordinate systems etc. helped a lot when I was working in USA and used software made by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. I have not been called for refresher training at all, probably because the systems I was trained on were quite obsolete at the time.
Greeting from Helsinki, Finland. I was a tank driver in armoured brigade. My service was 11 moths. 1992-1993.
i actually loved militery easy life =) fun times best friends from that time =)
I served as a tank driver for 1 year back in 2010-2011. I have only positive memories from the service and i got many new good friends that are close till this day:)
This is not a promotional video, but rather a general education video about the FDF's activities. An info package.
The military service is, and has always been part of Finnish men's life, and part of the society. None of it is supposed to be beating one's own chest, but rather listing the opportunities, requirements and risks of the different military branches and jobs. It will be "you", the average Joe, doing those tasks if SHTF. It's safe to say that every other bloke you come across the street has served, and would be called to arms if the big neighbor starts acting like a retard, again. And boy, the Finns are READY and MOTIVATED to defend the country if needed!
All in all, the experience is valuable, greatly valued within the society, and it sure as hell does help one "grow up", mentally. The local saying is that the service "turns boys into men", and I can sign that notion. It's less about becoming a buff warrior, more about understanding that the comfy, modern life of ours is vulnerable. That it should not be taken for granted, requires everyone's support, and needs to be protected at all cost. It teaches you how to team work, even if your team's made out of people you generally would not get a long well, and generally makes you less of a picky eater.
t: served 6 months back in the late 00s. Was very glad to get back in the civvies back then. Now would PAY to get back in the boots instead.
I served in tankbrigade in 1990-91 as tank driver. Back then soviet union still excisted. No one said it aloud but everyone knew we trained to fight against possible soviet invasion. Soviet Union crashed but now there is similar idiots in Russia so we are still prepared. My grandparents fought in WW2 against red army but hopefully we dont have to again.
I served a whole year at the turn of the millennium and overall I look back on it fondly. Sometimes I even miss it! It's just like any other job; sometimes it can feel grindy and boring, even frustrating, and at other times it's exciting. What's really nice is the camraderie that forms between you and your platoon mates. Sometimes those can form into lifelong friendships.
I think the conscription is overall a good thing for the Finnish society. It kinda serves as a rite of passage. Sure it can be a bit intimidating at first since for a lot of young men is the first time they're away from their parents for an extended period of time. However, since everybody from all walks of life go through it I think it's a good growth opportunity to learn to get along with different kinds of people.
Mandatory for men absolutely we had that system in sweden aswell if you dont went to military 6 month in jail 🤣i think voluntarily for women my opinion the best ...its good to go to military when you 18 20 you learn alot about life meet alot of people and you learning to take some shit aswell 🤣. keep on Dwayne nice videos .i made my service in north sweden lapland Arvidsjaur hunter soldat 1991 1 year then in was in the FN unit went Libanon and kosovo jugoslavia .
I was a sergeant in the conscript during the filming of this video, you can actually see my platoon in Säkylä military base just chilling there and eating. But yes, this is more of an informational video for young people to get their mind eased a bit before call ups. As long as you go there knowing you will not be the main character you'll be fine.
I was in finnish military in 2012 and for the most part it was good time and got many friends from there.
Been through it, in the late 90s.
I liked it. Not every minute of it, of course, but overall.
I like that it's "mandatory", it's a sort of rite of passage, and most come out of it better than when they entered. It's not for everyone, of course, and that's fine.
i served a year in signals. half of the time we were bunking in the forest :D or visiting other garrisons to build a network for them. tbh i was trained to the HQ so my squad usually slept in barracks or what not provided by the hosting brigade.i especially liked to train with the airborne jaegers, unfortunately i was only allowed to see the helo inside but couldn't hitchhike with them :D :D :D
Best time of my life. Been on extra rehearsels 16 times after my conscription. I know my own men in my platoon.
Switzerland has conscription as well but only for the training time. But they are frequently called back to refresh and update it. If a war would come, they don't go to some central point but all go to their local point to defend. That will take a few hours. So whoever invades Switzerland will find opposition everywhere. But more countries have conscription.
2:43 Both men and women have to be 18 - 29 years old and in good health when they start the military service. I am male, but due to autism and epilepsy I was placed in the reserve and released from service during peacetime. As I write this, I am 31 y.o, so I can no longer be ordered to do military service. In times of war or crisis, I can however be ordered first to training and then to combat or support missions.
I was 2,5 weeks in service and got a bronchitis during that time. Eventually I got discharged for medical reasons and didn't finish my service. I'm one of those who haven't completed service,
2006, Medic. Best 9months of my life. I was a wild one with alcohol and other...This place made me respect others and work with others. You make friends for life
Greetings from Finland. I met my wife in the army around ten years ago.
We did our service in Hennala garrison in Lahti. I was assistant instructor for artillery gunsmiths and she played at Finnish conscript band.
As a coastal jaeger (Rannikkojääkäri, Kustjägare) NCO, this brings back a lot of memories :D
It used to be like this in Sweden, I did one year back in the day.
Lots of people avoided it by bribing Psycologists to write a paper stating that they were unfit to serve, did their time at civil services like eg Firefighters, or just refused and went to prison. I think that I'm the only one in my extended friends group (~20 people) who actually served in the military. Big waste of my time.
Later conscription was made voluntary, and became more popular, and now it's mandatory but only for a few selected people.
"There is army in every country and the best situation is that it is your own"
Actually there isn't an army in every country 😏
@@mixlllllll
If there is not one actually in the country, there's certainly one watching over the shoulder.
I'm starting my conscription in January🥴
11 months 1985 -1986 still remember the serial of my RK -62 :)
21 years since I started my army training as anti-armor jaeger. Tough but made some cool memories that wouldn't be possible in civilian life. Doing live ammo combat training while there's a mortar fire landing near and pioneers blasting a corridor through imagined minefield, winter camping in lapland and fighting in darkness and snow. Explosive training. Good times, didn't have to think much, just do what you're told.
Been there done that. Master chargeant. I didnt really love it when I was in military first one year. But now having these one week training camps 8 reserv I like a lot. Us being experts in our field in army. Good food exelent company❤
Hi from Finland. Thanks :)
11 months '93-94. Corporal / fire control. It was somewhat similar to Finnish Army simulator game. Most of army time was spent in waiting. It really brought some memories :p We did measure targets and gave fire commands to the artillery. Learned basics of messaging too. Of course we are able to use assault rifles. I think it would be more or less like an end of the world if I ever get drafted to action.
Everyone should experince milirary service. Didn't like it one bit, but i learned to appreciate all the freedoms you have in the sivilian life. Also i really feel like i grew up to adulthood in the military.
I was engineer in military back in 2001, so a lot of mines and explosions :) I remember thinking back then that im never getting more pissed off how much i was there, but overall only good memories.
I trained myself as a sergeant.. that takes a year.. If you have a right mindset for it, its a positive experience. I was in the navy.. so i learn to command troops, how to move and navigate at the sea, drop seamines.. and ofc how to take orders and use a rifle. But, if u have proplem with authority issues from the start.. then finnish military service is not your thing.
I served 11 months in 1991 with corps of signals in defence forces sas a group leader...mostly good memories about that time
Is the reader (the radio rock host) Jone Nikula? Sounds so much like him, that I got stuck into trying to figure it out 😁
Did serve my 11 months in 1985 and am now a captain in the reserve. It's been a very interesting ride for sure.
I served as a military musician in conscript band early 90's. Good memories 🎶🎷
Of course we had also basic trainings like others. But mainly we played music in parades, etc.
to those wondering 4:20 that's a reconnaisance or target practice drone
Of course, it was tough in the army many times. When you talk about that time with others who have done military service, the discussions become fun. You apparently only remember the fun that happened. I myself served in the Nylands Brigade and was trained as a sniper. Been to rehearsal exercises twice. The military was a time you never forget. 🙂🙃😊
I did eleven months in the Finnish artillery way back in 97-98. It was easy. The system is built to handle ALL Finnish men regardless of their education or capability to pick up the required skills. For those not very bright, there were simpler duties, and for others there were more complex tasks, but the system had to be able to cope with, and to make use of, each and every one. I was trained as an artillery squad leader and I've shot hundreds of rounds on Russian D-30 howitzer and on Finnish 155K83 howitzer. I still remember the basics of all tasks involved and if given a week or two of refresher training, I'd be good to go again in case duty calls.
The video is clearly a promotional video towards young FInns who are yet to serve. It tries to depict the military as a modern and effective force, and then moves on to describe the very first days and to control some of the worries that young people might have when entering the service. These videos are very well produced, even if their balance does not really reflect the every day realities of conscription. There's a lot of running and rushing, and then there's a lot of waiting.
You asked, here is the answer: As an example - out of those men, who were born 1980, has 80% got military training. However, the men born 1990 has the same percentage lower - 70%. We have 300.000 soldiers in the war organization, but it can be collected upto 1.000.000, if needed. The willingness to serve the country has raised up during the war in Ukraine's area.
I did serve already back in 1977 - 1978. Last heavy three trainings were 2018. After that I've got only some NLAW special trainings for local area defence purposes. th-cam.com/video/hupsUq-fzq8/w-d-xo.html
There were time in 1980's - 1990's when a lot of training was not done. But since 2010, it accelerated again. At the end of my period I had been ranked as a captain in infantry. The mandatory tasks ended at the age of 60 years. Still voluntary exercising anyway.
I served 11 months. Positive experience, even -30C camping in forest was bit tough with 80's equipments.
We are logistically an island, long border with Russia, and 90% of trade is transported by sea. We have very strong artillery just to protect the border. We have weapons for a pretty large army.
Baltic Sea is luckily now a NATO lake, so attack to our sea transport would end getting help from Sweden, Poland etc. We can protect only our coasts. (Lot on islands, shallow water, so for defender places to cover and hide, easy to lay mines.)
We will be learning from Ukraine also about drones and tactics. And we are buying F-35's and Patriots or Iron Dome.
Nearly all block of flats made cold war time have bomb shelter with air filters against gasses and nuclear pollution.
You can watch here in TH-cam a lecture of former colonel Martti J Kari, titled Strategic Culture of Russia. There are translated versions also. (It's in Finnish, titled Venäjän strateginen kulttuuri)
I think Russia is risk to us. But I do hope that the Russian people will get better life without dictatorship.
I served 11 months. It was rough, but I made it. Some did not, some even jumped out of window due to pressure. But for me service was excellent and effective and now I am prepared to defend our country.
I am currently serving in the finnish army, i have 55 days service left and it has been ok. Some improvements from old traditions would be good but other than that a nice experience.
Great positive experience for healthy man. Great memories!
As a Finn, I would say it would be better to make the conscript service mandatory for everybody instead of being mandatory only for men. However, I would make the mandatory service much much shorter, like 4-6 weeks. That would be enough to learn the basics (basically using different weapons and living in the woods) and any further training would be voluntary service only.
When I did my mandatory conscript service, it was pretty clear that some of the men didn't do anything worth the service there. They were forced to be there and they did the absolute minimum effort in everything and I wouldn't trust they learned much. I have hard time believing that forcing them to be in the service about 4 months extra after learning the basics is worth the expense.
That said, I do think that conscript service is a cost effective way to maintain Finnish Defence Forces because the whole point is to have strong enough defense to make it obvious for Russia that Finnish is not a sensible target but not waste any extra resources on top of that. Training every adult in the country to use assault rifles, rocket launchers and NLAW anti-tank missiles should be enough deterrent and 4 weeks should be plenty for all that. (Russia is never mentioned in the official training but it just happens that the enemy is always approaching from the East in every exercise.)
While you could train someone to use a rifle and pitch a tent in 4-6 weeks, I doubt you could instill the discipline and organizational skills any military needs to function within such a short time frame. I'd argue 3 months minimum for that to really take root.
@@Deuzen_FIN Yeah, if you assume the brainwashing is the requirement for military performance. I'm pretty immune to brainwashing and it all seemed like a waste of time. It would have been much more effective to simply explain why discipline and troop movement is done the way it's done and then simply trust that everybody understands the reason and does their best.
Maybe that wouldn't work for the less-gifted members?
Hey! Check out "Combat Camera Showreel 2022" by the Finnish Defence Forces for some cool more modern training footage 💪
One interesting fact is that The Åland Islands (Ahvenanmaa in finnish) are excempt from the conscription because Åland is a demilitarized zone ever since 1856, we can still serve if we choose too but it's not mandatory like it is for those living in mainland Finland
Actually you - just like the majority of the Ålanders, I suppose - get it a bit wrong. It's a common misconception also here in the mainland.
The demilitarisation of Åland and the exemption of military service of the men of Åland are two different things, which are not linked.
Originally that exemption was granted c. 100 years ago, because there was no Swedish-language garrisons in Finland at that time. Because there has been one for c. 70 years now, that outdated and inequal exemption could/should be ended.
My service was in Kirkonmaa 03, first (and last) arrival aka in january 2013. Whole experience was genuinly something that you can't forget about. Good and bad :D
But overall it has made a very positive impact in general for my life.
I served 9 months in the Finnish army in 2002. After that I've been to refresher training twice.
I was trained as a medic. After army I graduated as a nurse. I sure did learn to bind ankles in the army :D
I was there 23 years ago, best time in my life so far :)
Unforgettable 11 months in 1986 - 87. Tough time but lots lots of good memories 👍.
Aamuja t:2/22 res vyks!!
It was amazing experience and i would go again if could!!! A lot of negativity from my roommates but everything combined it was fun!