President of the Republic encourages the youth to get moving – Commander-in-Chief’s physical activity programme supports preparing for conscript service

President of the Republic Alexander Stubb will be part of a campaign for increasing physical activity that aims to encourage young people to get moving and improve their physical condition before start of the conscript service part of the liability for military service. The physical activity programme of Commander-in-Chief will start on Monday 14 April to peak at service start on 7 July.

– I do remember how exciting it was to report for service back in 1988. Physical challenges came to mind, yet no information was easily available on how to prepare in advance. Now I want to ensure that conscripts have a better opportunity to do so, President of the Republic Alexander Stubb says.

The physical activity programme is to focus on the joy of physical activity and providing comprehensive support for well-being during conscript service and its relating physical training. Rather than aiming for record-setting performance, the goal is the type of fair physical readiness that aids in enduring the marches, tests, and daily service.

– This is not about setting a new record at the Cooper Run Test. What matters is that you have the energy to march, feel well, and enjoy physical activity. Our body and mind go hand in hand, President Stubb points out.

New contents on social media on a weekly basis

On a weekly basis, new contents of the physical activity programme will be published on the Finnish Defence Forces’ social media channels. The training regime, tips, and videos – featuring both Commander-in-Chief and conscripts – will offer easy-access methods for increasing physical activity as part of everyday life. The full programme, free of charge, can be downloaded at the Finnish Defence Forces’ MarsMars -application (additional information on MarsMars.fi) and online on the intti.fi -site at: link.

The importance of being physically active increasingly relevant

Alongside promoting physical preparedness, the training programme of Commander-in-Chief encourages developing physical activity behaviours that last a lifetime. Sustained good physical performance capacity is useful while in service and also throughout one’s life.

– Physical activity does not drain our energy but rather gives us more of it. My philosophy is that an hour of physical activity contributes two hours to my day, President Stubb summarises.

The campaign will also be seen on social media channels of President of the Republic and Office of the President of the Republic of Finland.

Enhancing physical activity and performance capacity in the call-ups is part of the Finnish Government’s Get Finland Moving -programme that aims to increase the physical activity of every age group in society. For more information on the programme, see suomiliikkeelle.fi/en/.