This year, the Army Seminar programme included talks about Russia’s war of aggression given by Ukrainian soldiers and discussions about collective defence of NATO’s Eastern flank. Apart from Ukraine, the 7th Army Seminar also had participants from NATO member states’ Army commands, NATO commands and the Finnish Defence Forces’ services.
The topic of the Army Anniversary Seminar was the air-land integration into Eastern Flank Deterrence Line (EFDL) in the High North. The seminar started off with updates from the battlefield in Ukraine by Ukrainian soldiers - changes that have occurred and the use of different C2 and weapons systems. Next, the participants moved on to discuss the EFDL concept. The issue is now more topical than ever, because both the Air Force and the Army capabilities are being enhanced substantially in the next few years.
The enhancement is influenced not only by developments in warfare and technology but also by the ongoing NATO integration and cooperation with the Allies. The EFDL concept is a description of a joint use of NATO’s land operations and capabilities and a response to the change of warfare we are currently witnessing. In addition to the Ukrainian and Finnish participants, the seminar was attended by personnel from the NATO commands, the Nordic Countries, the United States and the United Kingdom.
- This year, we celebrate the anniversary together with our Allies and the Finnish Air Force. Cooperation between the Air Force and the Army has intensified over the years as we have been preparing for the introduction of the new F-35 fighters and capabilities. Along with the NATO integration, expectations and opportunities for this cooperation, also with the Allies, are growing further. The seminar was yet another indication of what we are doing together to face the future challenges, said Commander of the Finnish Army, Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki in his speech at the anniversary concert.
The Army Seminar was held in Tikkakoski on 25 February, in cooperation with the Air Force. As part of the Army anniversary festivities, Commander of the Army inspected the Central Finland Regional office in Jyväskylä on 24 February 2026. Central Finland Regional Office represents the Army in Jyväskylä and Central Finland. It provides conscripts and reservists with digital services as well as a physical point of contact and organises call-ups in Central Finland each Autumn. Last year, call-ups were organised in 16 localities, with 32 call-up events altogether. The number of young people subject to call-up was 1,900.
The regional office personnel are doing very important and concrete national defence work, communicating with municipalities, other authorities and most importantly, the conscripts and reservists in the area. There are a number of active reservist associations in the area, providing various possibilities for voluntary national defence activities, and the training site of the National Defence Training Association in Tikkakoski is vital for improving the performance of local forces.
- On the basis of the inspection and discussions I can conclude that cooperation in the area is close and well established; exercises are organised regularly to practise cooperation in disruptions and emergency conditions. Preparing for emergencies and disruptions is everybody’s business. Each and every Finn can participate in national defence. People can defend Finland in their own way, in their everyday life as well as in service or refresher exercises. After all, the key actor at the centre of comprehensive security is an individual citizen; everyone’s contribution counts, General Välimäki says.
The anniversary of the Army and the Central Finland Regional Office was also celebrated by a concert in Jyväskylä. The Dragoon Band, with Sami Pitkämö as the soloist, played Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra, honouring the guests by playing the songs Kalyna pam’jati and Top Gun Anthem.
