Local defence and inter-agency co-operation to be exercised in September

Local defence will be exercised throughout the country during 1.–8. September. Across Finland, the exercises will develop collective security, inter-agency co-operation, and the ability to prepare for disturbance situations. Joint drilling will include, for instance, situations relating to rescue activity and civil protection.

The local defence exercises will be participated by the Finnish Defence Forces and the Finnish Border Guard, up to c. 6,000 troops. Alongside the Finnish Defence Forces’ units, the training audience will comprise authorities from the Police, rescue and emergency services, social and health sector, towns and municipalities, as well as a number of other operators. 

– In addition to military national defence training, we will drill with other authorities varying situations relating to, for instance, civil protection, evacuations, and rescue activity. By training together, we ensure that we sustain the ability to secure and safeguard citizens’ daily life in all situations. Regional co-operation and co-ordination among the Finnish Defence Forces, local authorities and operators is particularly important and features heavily in the exercises. Local defence is an integral part of comprehensive national defence in which all citizens have a role, DCOS Army Operations, Brigadier General Sami-Antti Takamaa says. 

Local forces strengthening collective security 

Local forces function as the corner stone of local defence. They consist of, among others, local battalions and their command elements whose area of responsibility is in principle a region. 

– Reservists have a key role in local force activity. Therefore, it is important that reservists on a regular basis get to maintain and develop their expertise as part of these exercises. The majority of the reservists are assigned to the local forces based on their training and experience, but it is also possible to become involved by informing this willingness to one’s own Regional Office, Brigadier General Takamaa points out. 

In local defence exercises, local forces train regional securing and combat missions as well as leading, information interchange, and situation picture sharing with regional authorities. In exceptional circumstances, the set missions involve securing strategic targets, controlling areas, combat, and counter-special-forces operating.

Local defence exercises are part of the Army’s annual training and exercise activity. The Army Command leads the planning of the entity for training exercise and inter-agency co-operation. 

Exercising in different regions 

Local defence exercises will be held throughout the country during 1.-8.9.2023. In built-up residential areas, military vehicles will be visible, and some of the exercises will include flight activity. Training audience troops will use blank drill ammunition that pose no danger to outsiders but may cause noise disturbance.

Pohjoinen

• date of exercise: 4.–8.9.2023
• area of exercise: Rovaniemi, Sodankylä
• c. 550 troops
• c. 80 vehicles
• participating authorities: Lapland Police, Wellbeing Services County of Lapland, Sodankylä Municipality, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Lapland Air Command, Lapland Border Guard District
• exercise director: Colonel Ari Mure
• exercise PIO: Taina Pirinen, tel. +358 299 452 346, [email protected] 

Vyötärö 

• date of exercise: 2.–8.9.2023
• area of exercise: Kajaani, Kuusamo, Kuhmo (Vuosanka)
• c. 1,300 troops
• c. 130 vehicles
• participating authorities: Oulu Police, Kainuu Rescue Department, Northern Ostrobothnia Rescue Department, Wellbeing Services County of Kainuu, Wellbeing Services County of Northern Ostrobothnia, Regional State Administrative Agency for Northern Finland, Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia, City of Kajaani, Kuusamo Town, Kuusamo Lutheran Church, Finavia, Kainuu Border Guard District
• exercise director: Colonel Ari Lehmuslehti
• exercise PIO: Satu Hujanen, tel. +358 299 451 113, [email protected] 

Kehä

• date of exercise: 3.–8.9.2023
• area of exercise: Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo, Kauniainen, Kirkkonummi
• c. 800 troops
• c. 150 vehicles
• participating authorities: Helsinki Police, Helsinki Rescue Department, City of Helsinki, Gulf of Finland Coast Guard District
• exercise director: Colonel Vesa Laitonen
• exercise PIO: Meri Leppänen, tel. +358 299 421 235, [email protected]

Etelä-Pohjanmaa

• date of exercise: 1.–8.9.2023
• area of exercise: Seinäjoki, Vaasa, Ilmajoki
• c. 800 troops
• c. 200 vehicles
• participating authorities: Ostrobothnia Police, Ostrobothnia Rescue Department, Wellbeing Services County of Southern Ostrobothnia, Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Southern Ostrobothnia, Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Ostrobothnia, Regional State Administrative Agency for Western Finland, Regional State Administrative Agency for Inland Finland, City of Seinäjoki, West Finland Coast Guard District, Customs
• exercise director: Colonel Marko Kivelä
• exercise PIO: Henna Mäntylä, tel. +358 299 443 303, [email protected]

Kanta-Häme

• date of exercise: 2.–8.9.2023
• area of exercise: Forssa, Riihimäki, Hämeenlinna, Hattula, Lahti, Pirkkala, Jyväskylä
• c. 960 troops
• c. 120 vehicles
• participating authorities: Häme Police, Kanta-Häme Rescue Department 
• exercise director: Colonel Petri Toivonen
• exercise PIO: Vili Riuttanen, tel. +358 299 442 414, [email protected]

Etelä-Kymi

• date of exercise: 3.–8.9.2023 
• area of exercise: Hamina, Kotka
• c. 1,700 troops 
• c. 200 vehicles
• participating authorities: Southeastern Finland Police, Wellbeing Services County of Kymenlaakso, Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Southeastern Finland, Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland, Hamina Town, City of Kotka, Virolahti Municipality, Miehikkälä Municipality, Pyhtää Municipality, Customs
• exercise director: Colonel Petri Olli
• exercise PIO: Päivi Visuri, tel. +358 299 431 107, [email protected] 

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