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 apply later, by 15 January of the year you turn 29 at the latest. You can complete military service in any of the Defence Forces’ units and tasks.

Please note that you can start your service only after you have turned 18, and you must start it during the year you turn 29 at the latest. Military service must be completed during the year you turn 30. This applies to both men and women.

Level playing field

The contents and requirements for women’s military service are identical with those set for men. Men and women have equal opportunities to get to leadership training and later on to a military career. Service tasks are not assigned according to sex but personal suitability and skills. Women begin their service at the same time as men. More information about the training: conscript training.

After service, women belong to the reserve. They may be ordered to refresher training exercises on the same grounds as men. After 30 days of military service, women are subject to the Conscription Act and thus liable for service until the end of the year that they reach the age of 65. More information about the training: refresher training.

Applying:

You can apply for military service the year you turn 18 at the earliest. Applying is simple - just fill in the application form online. Online applications including attachments must be submitted on 15 January at the latest. If applying online is not possible, you can submit a paper application form. Your paper application with attachments must be received by the regional office that deals with conscription matters of your home municipality by 15 January. Before you apply, read about the different service tasks and give some thought to your preferences; where and when you would like to serve. 

You can find instructions for applying at our application site.

Getting ready for service

You can prepare for service in various ways. Do physical exercises to improve your fitness, take care of your well-being and make sure you have sorted all civilian matters before you enter service. More information and tips for getting ready for service here. If you want to read about women’s experiences in voluntary military service, see Women talk about their service  

More about getting ready here. 

Military service

Conscript service is made up of different training phases which include various courses. Everybody starts military service as recruits. The Defence Forces offers over 500 different tasks with different requirements for future conscripts, so you have a good chance of finding a service task that makes sense to you and corresponds to your skills. Depending on the training, military service lasts 165, 255 or 347 days.

You will receive your Military Service Order either at the selection event or by mail. It will tell you when and at which brigade-level unit you must report for service. Make sure you arrive at your unit on time on the day you start your service.

You can read more about military service here and also learn about the various service tasks.

If you change your mind

If you have been ordered to military service but change your mind, you must inform your regional office in writing (by email or letter) before the start of service that you will not enter service after all. After the start of military service, you have 30 days to communicate that you will not continue service. After the period of 30 days, you are liable for military service.

Within 30 days, the commander of a brigade-level unit can also revoke the order to enter service, if the person concerned is not fit for service as referred to in Section 9 of the Conscription Act. For more information, see Act on Voluntary Military Service for Women.