Local defence exercises strengthen common security – check the exercise activities in your area at the beginning of September

The Army will be training local defence across Finland 2–9 September 2022. The exercises will improve local troops’ readiness to carry out local combat and protection tasks and strengthen the authorities’ abilities to cooperate in situations of disruption everywhere in the country.

The series of exercises directed by the Army Command will include six exercises in different parts of the country. Approximately 6000 persons from the Defence Forces will take part in the exercises. In addition to the Defence Forces’ reservists, conscripts and regular personnel, officials of cities, police, rescue services and the social affairs and health sector, actors in voluntary national defence as well as companies in the industry and energy sectors will be involved in the exercises. 

Local defence is built and maintained together

Local security is built on common preparedness and training.  In local defence exercises, the Defence Forces’ local units train together with agencies and companies in the area in order to be prepared for any  event of disturbance. The purpose of the training consists in being able to secure the vital functions of society, including traffic connections, energy supplies and operation of data networks, and preventing disturbances from spreading any further. The objective of the training is to ensure that the everyday life of the people living in the area remains as normal as possible in all situations and that, where necessary, they get instructions for what to do in case of disturbance. 

– In local defence exercises, we develop leadership, information exhange and situation picture with other authorities and practise cooperation for eventual disturbances. This autumn, the exercises include, for example, themes related to civil defence, says Deputy Chief of Staff, Army Operations, Brigadier General Tero Ylitalo.  

Progressive training for reservists

Local units strengthen the Defence Forces’ readiness and capability across the territory. In emergency conditions, the tasks of local units include protection of strategic infrastructure, surveillance in the area and operating against the adversary’s special units. In addition to the Defence Forces’ service personnel, active reservists who know their area well and want to get better at their wartime task are  also placed in local units. More information about reservists’ activities in local units is accessible here. 

– The reservists operating in local units are an important asset for us. In local defence exercises, they get to train their wartime task as a part of a larger unit and advance progressively in it, Brigadier General Ylitalo says.  

Regularly organised local defence exercises improve the performance and know-how of the Defence Forces’ troops in their emergency conditions tasks.  In week 36, exercising will be seen and heard across the country. Military vehicles will be on the move in inhabited built-up areas, and some of the exercises will also involve flight activity. The training units will use blank ammunition that will not pose any threat to bystanders, but will cause some noise.

Exercises in the autumn

Pohjoinen 

• Time of the exercise: 5-9 September 2022
• Training area: Rovaniemi, Kittilä, Sodankylä
• Number of troops c. 320
• Number of vehicles c. 95
• Participating agencies: Lapland Border Guard District, Lapland Police Department, Rescue Services of Lapland, Lapland Hospital District, Regional State Administrative Agency for Lapland, Municipality of Kittilä, Finavia 
• Exercise Director: Colonel Jukka Kotilehto
• Public Information Officer for the exercise: Taina Pirinen, tel. +358 299 452 346 [email protected] 

Savo-Karjala

• Time of the exercise: 5-9 September 2022
• Training area: Kuopio and Siilinjärvi
• Number of troops c. 700
• Number of vehicles c. 90 
• Participating agencies: Eastern Finland Police Department, Rescue Services of North Savo, North Savo Hospital District, Kuopio University Hospital, City of Kuopio, Municipality of Siilinjärvi
• Exercise Director: Colonel Ari Lehmuslehti
• Public Information Officer for the exercise: Satu Hujanen, tel. +358 299 451 113, [email protected]

Kehä

• Time of the exercise: 2-9 September 2022
• Training area: Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen, Kirkkonummi, Raasepori and Hanko
• Number of troops c. 1100
• Number of vehicles c. 200
• Participating agencies: City of Espoo, City of Hanko, Western Uusimaa Police Department, Rescue Services of Western Uusimaa 
• Exercise Director: Colonel Vesa Laitonen
• Public Information Officer for the exercise: Meri Leppänen, p. +358 299 421 235, [email protected] 

Naantali-Raisio

• Time of the exercise: 2-9 September 2022
• Training area: Naantali, Raisio
• Number of participating troops c. 1200
• Number of vehicles c. 200
• Participating agencies: Southwestern Finland Police Department, Southwest Finland Emergency Services, Border Guard, City of Naantali, City of Raisio, Regional State Administrative Agency for Southwestern Finland
• Exercise Director: Colonel Riku Suikkanen         
• Public Information Officer for the exercise: Viljami Honkiniemi, tel. +358 299 441 302, [email protected]

Etelä-Savo

• Time of the exercise: 3-9 September 2022
• Training area: Savonlinna, Mikkeli
• Number of troops c. 1140
• Number of vehicles c. 270
• Participating agencies: Rescue Services of South Savo, Eastern Finland Police Department, East Savo Hospital District Joint Municipal Authority (SOSTERI), South Savo Social and Health Care Authority (ESSOTE), North Savo Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment and South Savo Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Regional State Administrative Agency for Eastern Finland, City of Savonlinna
• Exercise Director: Colonel Petri Olli
• Public Information Officer for the exercise: Jaana Kuusisto, tel. +358 299 432 784 [email protected] 

Päijät-Häme

• Time of the exercise: 2-9 September 
• Training area: Lahti, Hämeenlinna, Hattula, Tampere
• Number of troops c. 1380
• Number of vehicles c. 160
• Participating agencies: Häme Police Department, Rescue Services of Häme, Emergency Response Centre, Western Finland Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Central Finland Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Päijät-Häme Joint Authority for Health and Wellbeing, Regional State Administrative Agency for Western Finland, Regional State Administrative Agency for Inland Finland, Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, all cities and municipalities in Päijät-Häme and Kanta-Häme
• Exercise Director: Colonel Oula Asteljoki
• Public Information Officer for the exercise: Mirva Riihimäki, tel +358 0442 414, [email protected] 

Read more about the local defence exercises: Local defence exercises - Maavoimat - The Finnish Army

Learn about applying to the local defence troops in your area: Local forces - Intti.fi

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