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26.8.2025 | The 109th Cadet Course and the 92st Midshipman Course graduate from the Bachelor of Military Sciences programme on 29 August 2025. The Supreme Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, President of the Republic Alexander Stubb will promote the 173 graduates to the rank of Lieutenant in the Presidential Palace's Hall of State. The graduation day with its traditional ceremonies will be a memorable event for the young officers.

26.8.2025 | The 109th Cadet Course and the 92st Midshipman Course graduate from the Bachelor of Military Sciences programme on 29 August 2025. The Supreme Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, President of the Republic Alexander Stubb will promote the 173 graduates to the rank of Lieutenant in the Presidential Palace's Hall of State. The graduation day with its traditional ceremonies will be a memorable event for the young officers.

26.8.2024 | The 108th Cadet Course and the 91st Midshipman Course graduate from the Bachelor of Military Sciences programme on 30 August 2024. The Supreme Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, President of the Republic Alexander Stubb will promote the 164 graduates to the rank of Lieutenant in the Presidential Palace's Hall of State. The graduation day with its traditional ceremonies will be a memorable event for the young officers.

Education and training This page provides the Defence Forces’ civilian and military personnel with information about possibilities for further education and training. In the Defence Forces, education and training of the regular personnel can be di...

General information The National Defence University is divided into divisions, departments and other administrative units. The university is led by a rector. The university has an under-graduate, graduate and post-graduate degree division. As well...

Conductors Chief Conductor Major (Mus.) Ville Paakkunainen Ville Paakkunainen (born 1978) served as the chief conductor of the Conscript Band of the Finnish Defence Forces 2017-2020. Before that, he served as the conductor of the Guards Band, the ...

Reserve Supplementary Training Programmes The FDF trains motivated reservists from the reserve rank and file into reserve NCOs, and from reserve NCOs into reserve officers on reserve supplementary courses. We encourage all interested reservists to...

The Midnight Hawks is the official aerobatic team of the Finnish Air Force. The team with its four Hawk jet trainers has proudly presented the consummate flying skills of Finnish military pilots in air shows in Finland and abroad since 1997. All Midnight Hawks pilots are qualified air combat and Hawk flight instructors at the Air Force Academy, rehearsing aerobatics on top of their teaching responsibilities.

Conductors Chief Conductor Captain (mus.) Juhani Valtasalmi Captain (mus.) Juhani Valtasalmi (born in 1978) started in the post of the Senior Conductor of the Lapland Military Band on 1 March 2024. His previous posts were with the Conscript Band o...

Military Academy The Military Academy is located in Santahamina, Helsinki. It is responsible for the Bachelor of Military Sciences studies given in the National Defence University and also provides guidance on the studies organised in the Service ...

Senior conductor Major (mus.) Jaakko Nurila Conductor Captain (mus.) Risto Sojakka Risto Sojakka is a versatile musician and conductor. He graduated as a Master of Music from the University of the Arts’ Sibelius Academy in 2019 and has completed h...

Voluntary military service for women - Frequently asked questions

Finnish National Defense Courses Finnish national defence courses (NDC) aim to enhance comprehensive security by educating highly influential individuals on societal preparedness and crisis management. Fostering cooperation among various sectors i...

At the forefront of military sciences and the art of war The National Defence University (NDU) is a military tertiary education institution that is part of the Finnish Defence Forces. The university is to produce highly educated personnel for the ...

26.8.2024 | The 108th Cadet Course and the 91st Midshipman Course graduate from the Bachelor of Military Sciences programme on 30 August 2024. The Supreme Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, President of the Republic Alexander Stubb will promote the 164 graduates to the rank of Lieutenant in the Presidential Palace's Hall of State. The graduation day with its traditional ceremonies will be a memorable event for the young officers.

23.3.2026 The anticipated textbook "Studying tactics" sees the light 10.3.2026 Seminar of Military Sciences 2026: Call for abstracts 30.1.2026 Russia Seminar looks into Russia's future military development 7.11.2025 Too little research is being co...

23.3.2026 The anticipated textbook "Studying tactics" sees the light 10.3.2026 Seminar of Military Sciences 2026: Call for abstracts 30.1.2026 Russia Seminar looks into Russia's future military development 7.11.2025 Too little research is being co...

What does the Naval Academy do? We train and educate skilled military professionals for the diverse circumstances at sea and on the coast. Our research supports and helps to develop all the Finnish Navy. Approximately 350 students attend the Naval...

Senior Conductor Major (Mus.) Tero Haikala Tero Haikala graduated as a clarinet pedagogue from Tampere Conservatoire in 2002, a musician from Pirkanmaa University of Applied Sciences in 2005 and as a wind orchestra conductor from Sibelius-Academy ...

Studying at the National Defence University The National Defence University offers university classes to approximately 900 people annually and continuing training to approximately 1,000 people. This page brings together general information useful ...