Reservist benefits in exercises

While attending a refresher training exercise you are entitled to free meals, accommodation, gear and equipment, as well as access to health care and medication. You are paid a reservist salary and a per diem for all exercise days. In addition, your travel expenses covering arrival in and departure from exercise are reimbursed if you are unable to use public transport. 

In matters relating to legal protection and social security, you can get help from the social welfare officer of the brigade-level unit which organises the given exercise.  This assistance is available free of charge, and the social welfare officer can be contacted already prior to exercise start. Compensation remains available also for any injuries sustained in conjunction with an exercise.

Reservist shooting an assault rifle at a gun range

Travel

You can book yourself a service trip with the personal code you received from the Defence Forces. You can make a travel reservation either on the 'VR Matkalla' application or in vr.fi.

The use of the VR Matkalla application and the long-term code require logging in. For this, you must have a personal account for VR's services.

On the train, you must present your travel ticket to the conductor and your refresher training order as proof of discount. 

With the reservation code, you travel in the Eko class. You can also upgrade your seat to the upper floor of the Restaurant wagon or to the Ekstra class by paying the extra fee yourself.

 

Read more on traveling by train at Conscripts discount - VR

Travelling in bus, metro and tramway traffic

In service, your company-level unit will give you a long-duration code for booking trips in bus, metro and tramway traffic on trips available on the Matkahuolto Matkat mobile app.  The long-duration code is intended only for booking trips for leaves and assigned travel relating to military service (not for travel in evenings off, for example). 

The trips have to be booked before boarding the vehicle.  You are allowed to have two round trips reserved simultaneously.  When travelling, you must wear the Defence Forces leave uniform and carry your conscript card. 

You will be able to make reservations using the Matkat mobile app that you can download on your phone from an application store (Google Play / App Store) free of charge.  Enter the long-duration code you received from your company-level unit into the application for booking a free trip.  Note that train tickets must be purchased separately using the VR Matkalla mobile app, so you have to filter VR train trips out of the application.  

Quick Guide for Conscripts - Using the Matkat App

  1. Download the Matkahuolto Matkat mobile app from the app store (Google Play / App Store).
  2. Register in the app using your email address and activate the app via the email you receive. No password is required.
  3. Enter the code you received from the Finnish Defence Forces in the app menu under Enter code. After entering the code, you can purchase tickets for €0, excluding VR trains.
  4. Search for a trip using the app’s route search by entering addresses in the From and To fields and selecting the travel date.
  5. Choose a suitable service or travel chain from the search results.
  6. Check the full trip details in the route plan, select suitable ticket products and purchase your tickets. In local transport, the app automatically suggests the correct ticket product. On Matkahuolto long-distance services, change the default passenger type (Adult or Discount ticket) to Conscript, if available. 

Travel by car

If you are unable to use public transport, you can be reimbursed for the expenses accrued while traveling by car (or another vehicle) as listed in the following. Passengers are not entitled to any reimbursement!

KM

€

3 - 25

6,00

26 - 50

8,35

51 - 100

17,95

> 100

0,18 €/km

 

 

 

 

 

 

As for other travel reimbursement, please agree on this before the exercise start with the exercise commander or exercise administrative officer, company sergeant major. Contact information will be available in the release enclosed in the exercise order.

Reservist salary and per diem allowance

The reservist salary equals taxable income and does not have to be separately reported to the tax authority. You will receive a salary calculation on the reservist salary for your employer. Please double-check this document to ensure that it is signed by a military authority. This allows you to submit a request for rectification in case applicable.

The reservist salary for the rank and file is from this date 68.42 euros, the nco's 71.85 euros and for the officers and special officers 75.27 euros per day.

The daily allowance is EUR 6.15 for everyone. The allowance is tax-free income. Women get an additional allowance of EUR 1.50 per day. 

A person liable for military service can be reimbursed for particular tasks involving responsibility and danger (e.g. combat diving and paratrooping activity).

A person invited to a voluntary exercise qualifies for the above listed benefits except for the reservist salary. 

All benefits are paid to the bank accounts of those attending the exercise following the exercise end, at least once a month, by the brigade-level unit which organised the exercise.

Regional offices

Regional offices will help you before and after your military service. Do not hesitate to contact us!