The military oath and affirmation ceremonies of contingent 1/26 will take place in Sodankylä and Rovaniemi garrisons on Saturday, 14 February 2026.
Recruits who started their service in January will take the military oath or affirmation on Saturday, 14 February 2026. Those serving in the Lapland Jaeger Battalion will swear the oath or give the affirmation in the garrison of Sodankylä, while the ceremony of the Rovaniemi Air Defence Battalion will be arranged in the garrison of Rovaniemi.
The military oath is sworn and the affirmation given by repeating the words after the reader, in front of the brigade-level unit commander and the unit flag. The reader both in Rovaniemi and Sodankylä will be Member of Parliament, Chair of the Defence Committee Heikki Autto.
The troops will be reviewed by Commander of the Jaeger Brigade Colonel Marko Kivelä and, in Sodankylä, commanded by Commander of the Lapland Jaeger Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Juha Hollanti, and in Rovaniemi, Commander of the Rovaniemi Air Defence Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Juha Kakko.
The field devotional in Sodankylä will be held by Chaplain Juhana Nissinen, and in Rovaniemi, Lapland Air Wing's Chaplain Niko Ryynänen. Music in the ceremony will be performed by the Lapland Military band, led by Senior Conductor Captain (Mus.) Juhani Valtasalmi and Marching Bandmaster Captain Timo Toivonen.
The ceremonies can be attended by invitation only. The recruits invite their families, who must register for the event via the recruits. Each recruit can invite three family members at most.
Lapland Jaeger Battalion's Military Oath and Affirmation Event Programme in the garrison of Sodankylä:
8.00–13.30 Equipment display
8.30 Military affirmation ceremony
9.30 Review of troops and Military oath ceremony
11.00–13.30 Field lunch
appr. 13.30 Conscripts start their leave
Rovaniemi Air Defence Battalion's Military Oath and Affirmation Event Programme in the garrison of Rovaniemi:
10.45–15.00 Equipment display
11.00–13.00 Field lunch
13.00 Military affirmation ceremony
14.00 Review of troops and Military oath ceremony
appr. 15.00 Conscripts start their leave
There may be more traffic than usual on roads towards Sodankylä in the morning before the event and in the afternoon starting at about 13.30. There may also be more traffic than usual on roads towards the garrison in Rovaniemi in the morning before the event and in the afternoon starting at about 15.00.
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The military oath and affirmation ceremonies of contingent 2/26 will take place in Keminmaa on 8 August 2026.
