Voluntary national defence

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.

Voluntary national defence provides you an excellent opportunity to sustain your competence proficiency in tasks relating to emergency conditions by partaking in voluntary national defence activities organised by national defence organisations, and by undertaking training in voluntary training exercises or training events. Your contribution is needed even if you have not recently been called to a refresher training exercise. Wartime troops become resupplied and replenished by means of other reserves during wartime.

Voluntary national defence is a versatile hobby. Through training and exercises, you can develop and maintain your military skills, become familiar with different branches and their cooperation, and also train to become a reservist instructor yourself. Through the activities of national defence organisations, you can, for example, network with other reservists and engage in shooting sports and physical training.

Voluntary national defence includes, among other things, the voluntary national defence training organised by the National Defence Training Association of Finland (MPK), the diverse voluntary activities of reservist organisations and other national defence organisations, as well as the activities of numerous heritage and tradition associations.

By participating in voluntary exercises and training, you may earn days comparable to refresher training days, which are taken into account when considering promotions in the reserve.

Participation in voluntary exercises, MPK courses, and reservist activities is not counted toward the statutory maximum number of refresher training days.

Training of the National Defence Training Association MPK

The MPK training forms part of the reserve training system. Following the conscript service, apart from refresher training, you can maintain and develop your soldier skills and operating capability by taking MPK courses, or becoming an MPK voluntary instructor. These courses offer you competences and refresher training day equivalents that are considered while determining promotions. By participation in voluntary training events you may also more easily receive a placement in the FDF wartime units.  

Founded in 1993, the MPK is a public body that operates as an organisation for cooperation in voluntary national defence training. The MPK aims to advance national defence by means of training, communications, and cooperation. On a yearly basis, the MPK organises altogether over 3,000 courses attended by nearly 26,000 persons in total. The majority of these courses are soldiers’ military capabilities training events. 

Apart from soldiers’ military capabilities training, the MPK also organises, among others, familiarisation activity for those preparing for the conscript service, as well as preparedness and safety training targeting all citizens to help them to cope better in everyday danger situations and in emergency conditions.

Additional information on the training opportunities offered by the MPK is available at mpk.fi.