The Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias announced, also through SKAI, adjustment of the recruitment of the Armed Forces to Finnish model not in terms of months of service but in terms of combining intensive training with retraining in the reserve.

But what does the Finnish Model provide?

According to the Constitution of Finland, every Finnish citizen is obliged to participate in the national defense. Every male Finnish citizen aged 18-60 is liable for military service, while women can apply for military service on a voluntary basis. A person liable for military service must perform either armed or unarmed military service or civilian (civilian) service. During military service, conscripts receive high-quality military training. After completing military service, they are assigned to the reserve of the Finnish Defense Forces. The training system is constantly evolving to meet the evolving demands and needs of the Defense Forces.

All conscripts begin their military service as equal in all respects. Anyone can perform well in the military, regardless of their background. Depending on the training, military service lasts 165, 255 or 347 days. Conscripts training for simple duties serve 165 days, those training for duties requiring special skills and those completing unarmed service serve 255 days. Recruits training to become officers, non-commissioned officers or the more demanding special duties in the hierarchy serve 347 days. Civilian service lasts 347 days.

Military service provides conscripts with high-quality military training. In military service, conscripts can also learn useful everyday skills and leadership skills and to acquire know-how for professional life as well. The aim is for conscripts to be able to use their previous skills and knowledge in their service duties.

After military service they are classified in the reserve. Non-commissioned officers remain in the reserve until they reach the age of 50 and will receive a maximum of 80 or 150 days of retraining during their reserve. Officers and non-commissioned officers remain in the reserve until they reach the age of 60, during which time they will receive a maximum of 200 days of retraining. Every male aged 18-60 belongs to the auxiliary reserve.

Daily allowance and equipment allowance

Paid daily allowance, daily wage, to cover daily expenses during military service.

The daily allowance is progressive according to the time of service:

  • 5.90 euros (1-165 days)
  • 9.80 euros (166-255 days)
  • 13.65 euros (256-347 days)

The daily allowance usually paid into the bank account twice a month, every Friday, to compensate for each day of service, including weekends, exemplary conduct leave, sick leave, personal leave and paternity leave. Days of service do not include special personal leaves and absences without leave.

The women they receive an equipment allowance of EUR 1.50 per day to cover expenses not foreseen by the Finnish Defense Forces, such as, for example, underwear.