Military prep courses grow in popularity among Finnish youth before enlistment

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				Military prep courses grow in popularity among Finnish youth before enlistment

New conscripts reporting for duty at the Santahamina garrison in Helsinki. Photo: Vesa Moilanen / Lehtikuva

An increasing number of young Finns are enrolling in pre-enlistment training courses ahead of their mandatory military service, with organisers saying basic outdoor and practical skills are no longer a given among new conscripts.

Wilderness guide and voluntary defence trainer Patrik Berghäll is leading a new preparation course in Turku aimed at young men and women beginning service in January. The course offers hands-on exposure to military life, but without any combat or weapons training.

“My son will eventually enter the military, and I started thinking about the skills he has and the ones he should also have,” Berghäll told Yle.

The course is designed to build practical confidence. Participants camp in military tents, carry gear, and handle standard equipment such as puukko knives, sleeping bags, combat vests, and helmets.

“We’re not teaching how to fight or shoot,” Berghäll said. “This is about getting familiar with the basics, how to manage in the field, how to take care of your kit, how to sleep outside, how to carry weight.”

While similar training exists online, Berghäll said real-world experience remains essential.

“You only learn some things by doing. When you’ve spent a night in a tent, you know what to expect. You think, ‘I can handle this.’”

Among the key skills taught is knife use, once common, now increasingly rare. Berghäll pointed out that in the 1980s, most children knew how to handle a puukko, but that knowledge has faded.

“We used to build forest shelters and make campfires. Today, many young people haven’t used a knife for anything,” he said.

The prep course also introduces participants to safe weapon handling, not with firearms, but with airsoft replicas that match the weight and feel of a standard-issue assault rifle. Training includes how to carry the weapon safely and prevent accidents.

Physical conditioning is also part of the programme. Berghäll recommends future conscripts walk at least 10,000 to 15,000 steps daily and take up regular running. The course includes hikes with extra weight in backpacks to simulate service conditions.

Military or civilian service is compulsory in Finland for men aged 18 to 30 unless medically exempted. Women may enlist on a voluntary basis. Most serve between six and twelve months.

Berghäll said the course is meant to ease the transition into service, particularly for those who feel uncertain.

“It’s not about proving anything,” he said. “It’s about realising you’re capable, and getting through the first days with confidence.”

HT

Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi

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