Jaeger Brigade’s military oath and affirmation ceremony in Keminmaa on 8 August 2026

Recruits who started their service in the Lapland Jaeger Battalion and the Rovaniemi Air Defence Battalion swear the military oath or give the military affirmation in Keminmaa on Saturday, 8 August. The ceremony is held on the Keminmaa School Campus and sports field.

The military oath is sworn and the affirmation given by repeating the words after a reader, in front of the brigade-level unit commander and the unit flag. The troops are to be reviewed by Commander of the Jaeger Brigade Colonel Marko Kivelä, and commanded by Chief of Staff of the Jaeger Brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Petri Sipilä. The pass in review takes place in Rovaniementie. The field devotional is held by Chaplain Karima Karppinen. The music in the event is performed by the Lapland Military band.

Approximately 4,500 members of the recruits’ families are expected to attend the event. In addition to attending the ceremony, they can learn about the Jaeger Brigade’s activities and training equipment.

Programme:

9:00-11:00   Bus transport from the parking area to the venue

9:00-15:00   Equipment Display, Urheilupuisto

9:00              Laying of Wreaths on Soldiers' Graves, Keminmaa cemetery for fallen soldiers

                     (Address: Kirkkotie 1, Keminmaa)

10:00            Military affirmation and military oath for those exempted from heavy duties, Valleniussali

                     (Vallenius Hall)

By 10:40      The parade units arrive and form up in the parade field

10:55            Hornet flypast by the Lapland Air Wing

11:00            Military oath ceremony, sports field

                     Pass in review, Rovaniementie

12:15            Field lunch and concert by the Lapland Military Band, sports field

14:00            Bus transport from the venue to the parking area

15:00            Conscripts can start their leave

Field lunch and Soldiers’ Home Canteen

Field lunch is served to conscripts and their families after the oath/affirmation ceremony.
The Soldiers’ Home Canteen has several service points in the area.

Traffic arrangements

Traffic may be busy on roads leading to Keminmaa (main road 4/E75 and main road 29), especially on road 921 by the Laivakangas harness racing track (about 10 km west of the centre of Keminmaa) in the morning when people arrive, and from 14:00 in the afternoon when they leave. There is a temporary speed limit of 60 km/h on the road by the Laivakangas harness racing track from 6:00 to 17:00.

The parade after the oath/affirmation ceremony takes the following route: Keminmaa keskuskenttä (central sports field) – Väylätie – Kallinkankaantie – Rovaniementie (1km), from which along a cycle lane to Väylätie. A 1 km section of the route Väylätie – Kallinkankaantie – Rovaniementie is closed starting from the Kallinkankaantie crossroads for the duration of the parade. The parade troops are to be reviewed in Rovaniementie, by Kirkonmäki School. Spectators are welcome to watch the parade on the cycle lane by Rovaniementie.

There is a temporary parking area for those arriving by car at the Laivakangas harness racing track (Valtatie 961, 95440 Tornio). Signs show the way from the main roads (4/E75, 29 and 921) to the parking area. The parking spaces in the Keminmaa centre are reserved for customer parking. There is a non-stop bus transport from the parking area to the venue from 9:00 to 11:00 and from the venue back to the parking area from 14:00. We recommend arriving well on time, about an hour before the event you wish to attend. Be prepared for busy traffic.

Väylätie is closed for traffic from 8:00 to 15:00. Access is allowed only for the nonstop bus transport, invited guests (parking space in the Keminmaa schoolyard), cars with the disabled parking permit (Keminmaa library parking space, northern end) and residents of the buildings. Show the disabled parking card or the permit/invitation allowing entry to the military police controlling the traffic.

There are toilet facilities on the venue.

Taking photos

For security reasons, using drones for photographing in the area is forbidden. Aviation in the area is temporarily restricted from Friday, 7 August, 12 noon to Saturday, 8 August, until 17:00. Using phones and cameras for photographing is allowed.

The units form up for the oath/affirmation on the sports field as follows:

The events are open to the public. Welcome!

Each recruit delivers the invitation and the necessary details of the event to their families.

We recommend leaving pets at home or in someone’s care. Do not leave your pet in a hot car. Please note also that the area will be crowded. If you wish to bring a pet to the event, the best place to watch will be on the Rovaniementie side of the sportsfield.

You can also follow the events on social media: the Jaeger Brigade Facebook page and the Army Instagram @maavoimat. No livestream will be provided of the events.