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Kesänen, Jaro Tapani Brigadier General Position Rector of the National Defence University Date and place of birth 22.8.1973 Helsinki Family Spouse Maria Kesänen Two children Career Matriculation Examination, Nikkarin Lukio Upper Secondary School, ...

EUTM Somalia Established in 2010, EUTM Somalia aims to support the development of the Somali security forces by providing training and advice. The overall strength of the Finnish personnel in the operation is 12 persons. EUTM Somalia supports the ...

Foreign citizens who have gained Finnish citizenship and who have completed the compulsory peacetime military service of his/her former home country, or a portion of if (at least four (4) months) can upon application be exempted from military service in peacetime. Decisions regarding exemption are made by the regional offices.

9.6.2025 | General Bryan P. Fenton, Commander of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), visited Finland on 7 June. The visit was hosted by Lieutenant General Kari Nisula, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the Finnish Defence Forces. General Fenton also met with the Chief of Defence, General Janne Jaakkola.

6.8.2025 | During the second half of the year, the United States will take extensively part in military presence and training activities in Finland and the Baltic Sea region.

7.4.2025 | The Commander of the Finnish Air Force visited Lockheed Martin's F-35 production line in Fort Worth and the Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith at the end of March. Finland's first F-35 fighter jets are currently in production, and preparations are underway at the training bases for the arrival of Finnish personnel.

20.1.2026 | The ferry flight of JF-501 from Lockheed Martin, Texas, to the training base in Arkansas begins Finnish Air Force’s F-35 fighter deliveries.

22.10.2025 | A detachment from the United States Marine Corps (USMC), Marine Rotational Force - Europe, led by Combat Logistics Battalion 6, are arriving to Finland and will train together with Nyland Brigade until the end of December. The detachment will have a strength of around 350 Marines by the beginning of November and will be stationed in Nyland Brigade.

3.10.2025 | The United States European Command’s Deputy Director of Operations, Brigadier General Mathew Wenthe, and the Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber (Air Force) Deputy Commander, Brigadier General Heather Blackwell, visited Finland on September 16-17, 2025. The visit was hosted by Defence Command Chief of C5, Major General Jarmo Vähätiitto.

22.10.2025 | A detachment from the United States Marine Corps (USMC), Marine Rotational Force - Europe, led by Combat Logistics Battalion 6, are arriving to Finland and will train together with Nyland Brigade until the end of December. The detachment will have a strength of around 350 Marines by the beginning of November and will be stationed in Nyland Brigade.

11.8.2025 | Representatives of the United States Joint Staff, USJS and of the U.S. military branches’ logistics leadership visited Finland 7–9 August 2025. The visit was hosted by the Defence Forces Deputy Chief of Staff Logistics and Armaments, Lieutenant General Jari Mikkonen.

28.10.2024 | The Chief of the Defence Command, Lieutenant General Vesa Virtanen visited The United States of America 22-27 October 2024.

21.8.2025 | The Utti Jaeger Regiment will lead an international special operations forces training exercise during 25 August – 12 September 2025. The exercise will develop the combined joint operating capability of special forces of the Alliance’s member nations in Northern Europe’s conditions.

21.8.2025 | The Utti Jaeger Regiment will lead an international special operations forces training exercise during 25 August – 12 September 2025. The exercise will develop the combined joint operating capability of special forces of the Alliance’s member nations in Northern Europe’s conditions.

3.6.2025 | Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Armed Forces, Admiral Christopher W. Grady, visited Finland on 2–3 June 2025. The visit was hosted by the Chief of Defence Command Finland, Lieutenant General Vesa Virtanen.

6.3.2025 | Two U.S. B-52 Stratofortress bombers dropped guided JDAM bombs on targets in Rovajärvi firing range area on 6 March. Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet fighters escorted the bombers to the target area.

6.3.2025 | Two U.S. B-52 Stratofortress bombers dropped guided JDAM bombs on targets in Rovajärvi firing range area on 6 March. Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet fighters escorted the bombers to the target area.

9.6.2025 | The Finnish Air Force will host the multinational Atlantic Trident 25 exercise and the deployment of NATO RQ-4D Phoenix remotely piloted aircraft to Finland in summer 2025.

5.12.2025 | The commander of NATO's Joint Force Command Norfolk, Vice Admiral Doug Perry, visited Finland from December 3 to 6, 2025. The visit was hosted by the Finnish Defence Forces' Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Lieutenant General Kari Nisula.

29.10.2024 | The production progress of the Finnish Air Force's F-35A fighters was celebrated at a forward fuselage signing ceremony of the first Finnish F-35 fighter, JF-501, in the United States on 28 October.