New conscripts to begin service at the Army

On Monday 7 July 2025, the conscripts in the contingent 2/25 will start their service, of whom altogether up to c. 9,700 trainees will start their service at the Army brigade-level units.

The length of the conscript service part of the liability for military service varies from 165 to 255 to 347 days. For the recruits trained for rank-and-file tasks, service usually takes 165 or 255 days in total. If in reserve officer or non-commissioned officer training or that for demanding rank-and-file special tasks, a person liable for military service will serve for 347 days, which is the case for close to fifty percent of all conscripts.

Conscript service is tasked to produce capable wartime troops for sustainment of the Finnish Defence Forces’ basic readiness and capability to raising readiness where appropriate. Conscript service will develop the personal capacity of an individual soldier to operate as part of a more comprehensive entity, as well as enhance competences in social skills and physical fitness.

Conscript service starts by a six-week basic training phase. For the first few weeks, the trainees familiarise with the daily battle rhythm of a company-level unit, battalion-level unit, and brigade-level unit.  During the basic training phase, conscripts internalise general grounds for military operating, and acquire soldier’s basic skills relating to survival and force protection. In all three services of the Finnish Defence Forces, the basic training phase provides the conscripts with a solid base for secure operating as a soldier, battle mate and part of a maneuver team.

During the basic training phase, branch training selections will be determined, based on which the conscripts are then assigned to specific branch-training basics for the branch training phase.

The basic training phase concludes with the final selections to rank-and-file training and non-commissioned officer training that will also determine the set length of the training-specific service time.

Conscript, make full use of your specialised skills while in service

During the basic training phase, conscripts may apply for special tasks that are compatible with their own competences and civil education. When applying for special tasks while in service, you get to make full use of your skills, accumulate work experience, and establish contacts for the future. Special tasks are available, among other, in the fields of intelligence, communication and information systems, research, public communications, media, and ecclesiastics. Applying is underway during 7-27 July 2025. To familiarise with the tasks, see: Erityistehtävien miehistöhaku - Intti.fi .

Further efforts made at Army garrisons for health security while in service

Over the past late autumn and early winter, the Finnish Defence Forces’ garrisons abounded in more severe respiratory infections than is customary. Enhanced contingency measures will therefore be implemented again at all garrisons for prevention of respiratory infection spread at service start of the contingent. At all Army company-level units, specific attention will be paid to, among other, service arrangements, sustained hand hygiene, and use of surface disinfectants. At service start, the trainees will be assigned to detachments that remain separated for three weeks in order to prevent any infections from spreading. Detachment-based operating will not have any significant effect on conscript training. Preventive measures aim to prevent outbreaks of epidemics and safeguard from their transmission to society from garrisons.

The Army will closely monitor and surveil the prevailing health situation at garrisons, and modify its activity accordingly to secure sustained in-service security and health security of conscripts and service personnel.