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Refresher training exercises Refresher training exercises sustain the capability of wartime troops and the national defence skills of reservists. A person liable for military service who is part of the reserve can be ordered to attend a refresher ...

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 al...

About to enter into the military? Finnish liability for military service safeguarding the defence capability The Finnish Defence Forces will train conscripts to form a sustained combat-efficient wartime force and reserve. This will establish a pre...

Voluntary military service for women Interested in military service? You can apply for voluntary military service the year you turn 18. To apply, you must be a Finnish citizen and physically and mentally fit for military training. You can also app...

Voluntary military service for women - Frequently asked questions

Get ready for military service If you get selected for service, you will receive your Military Service Order at the selection event or later by mail. It will tell you when and at which brigade-level unit you must report for service. The Military S...

Exemption from refresher training exercise You may apply for exemption from a refresher training exercise: for health-related reasons for reasons related to work or studies for personal reasons In case you live abroad permanently. Exemption is gra...

28.8.2026 | The exercise conducted in Louisiana was part of the cooperation between Karelia Brigade and the Virginia National Guard under the official partnership program between Finland and state of Virginia.

21.1.2026 | The closing date for submitting applications for the voluntary military service for women was 15 January 2026. Altogether 1360 women applied to the voluntary military service in total.

20.2.2026 | The Finnish Defence Forces will participate this spring’s key arctic exercise series during 9.–20.3.2026. The Norwegian-led Cold Response 26 -exercise will convene up to c. 7,500 soldiers in Finland and c. 25,000 soldiers in Norway from altogether 14 nations. In Finland, the exercise activity will focus on the Finnish Defence Forces’ exercise area at Rovajärvi but forces will be on the move across northern Finland.

5.11.2025 | Lively Sentry 25, led by the Guard Jaeger Regiment, will be organised from 27 November to 4 December 2025. The exercise will be conducted in the areas of East Uusimaa, Kymenlaakso and Päijät-Häme.

In the reserve Once you have completed the conscript service part of the liability for military service, you will be mustered out in the Finnish Defence Forces’ reserve. As part of the reserve, your competence and know-how will be sustained by ref...

Promotions in the reserve Military ranks and service ranks signify a supervisory position, training and task. Promotions in the reserve are based on the number of refresher training days, wartime task as well as suitability. You may accumulate the...

Conscript service and training The objective of military training is to sustain the readiness of the Finnish Defence Forces and to train individuals liable for military service in tasks of national defence. Military training is provided annually f...

Accommodation, meals and clothing During the military service, you will be given free of charge accommodation, meals, clothing, health services and social support services. The Finnish Defence Forces will remain committed to sustaining and promoti...

Entailing activities that provide support to Finland’s national defence, voluntary national defence aims to strengthen people’s will to defend the country and enhance the survivability of both authorities and citizens alike in varying security situations.

Selection event Regional offices will invite those who applied for voluntary service to a selection event which will be organised in April. If you applied for service between 16 January 2025 and 15 January 2026, your selection event will take plac...

Health care services During the military service, you will have access to health care services free of charge. Enter into service feeling well! All long-term illnesses must have been examined and taken care of and injuries treated prior to the ser...

9.3.2022 | The application period for women’s voluntary military service closed on 1 March 2022. This year, a total of 1588 women applied to conscript service. This was the first time applications were submitted online through the E-service. Women who complete military service are and will be an important asset for the Defence Forces.

Readiness unit training Consisting of Finnish Army personnel and conscripts, the readiness units contribute to sustaining enhanced readiness in responding to rapid changes in the security environment on a national level. These units form part of t...

Communications and media In various communication conscription tasks, you can specialize in, for example, online communication, graphic design, filming, journalistic work or combat camera tasks. Graphic artist You support the Finnish Defence Force...

8.12.2022 | The start of the annual application round to women’s voluntary military service has been advanced. This change is due to a new Act on women’s voluntary military service which entered into force in June. As a consequence, applications must be submitted as early as 15 January at the latest.

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...

Applying for cyber conscript training Applying for cyber conscript training happens through the special forces application process before the start of one’s military service. The application period for the cyber conscript training starting in July...

Air Force situation picture operators and fighter controllers Situation picture operator and fighter controller non-commissioned officers operate in modern air surveillance and control system elements close to air surveillance, fighter control, an...

Preparing for the service It is worth preparing for the approaching service by getting your civilian life matters in order, becoming familiar with the daily routines in the military and the service tasks as well as getting increasingly fit. The mo...

30.6.2026 Conscripts of contingent 2/26 to start military service in the Army 30.6.2026 Contingent 2/26 to start service in a new era 21.1.2026 Altogether 1360 women applied to voluntary military service 13.1.2026 Record number of applicants for s...