Joining the Finnish Army

Krackers · Post by **Krackers** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 1:41 pm

Greetings.

B/G

Married Finnish girl. Both living in Australia. Thinking about moving to Finland. Very aware of difficulties in working there.

I am an Officer in the Australian Army. I noticed that someone who seemed in the know posted a remark here that you do not need to initially speak Finnish to Join the Finnish Army. Although I hold two Masters and a bunch of other "desk" quals, I have nothing really to help me get a job in Finalnd wihtout speaking Finnish (yet) and I would love to continue soldiering. Can this be true? I know that Enlgish is the Language for the Scandinavian Military org, but for your general enlistment? I am very fit, but very old - 35.

So here is my plan for those who can pry the cracks open:

I recieve 8 months half pay (about 1500 euro a month at todays rate) after seperationg from Australian Army. I recieve 500 euro from Auastralian rental properties every month. We have no children yet. She is 25 and has a Finnish trade (surface treatment technology - somewhere between Domestic and Industrial Paining for metal and wood in Australia). She intends to go back to work there again. She is almost fluent now in Englsih except for some polish on the grammar and a bunch of Australian Certificates. We are sending off for my residencey permit and plan to exit Oz end of 2009. We intend going to Lapland - some place starting with R followed by 20 other letters (yes - I am better with Germanic languages - I realise I have a long road ahead).

Originally she is going over a month early (November) and looking for work. Should she get that then I will not pull my discharge papers for December, pack up and move. I was going to go to Finnish school for the full year of 2010. Towards the end of 2010 we will know if we can survuve as the army severance dries up. If not - retreat to Australia or Germany.

Okay - please blow my plan apart. I really need a good reality check kicking.

By the way - big wave to Fins and Aussie partners to Fins in Australia - we just moved to Victoria from NSW - I hope there is a better Finnish club here then Sydney (ie one that exists).

Finally - does the government really pay for Finnish school when you migrate there?

cheers and here is to a good year ---------- Krackers

**Sponsor:**

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 2:36 pm

I would love to continue soldiering. Can this be true?

the talk was about national conscription that citizens are obliged to do.... we don't do mercenaries. so yeah, apart from you're not a citizen and being way too ancient the language was the smallest problem... some 15 years ago.

We intend going to Lapland - some place starting with R followed by 20 other letters

so then you're intending on moving to the middle of arctic? OK, so if you want to experience that move to Kalgoorlie and start looking for a job as a water skiing coach. about the same amount of job prospects. now then if you might have it hard looking for a job she's even going to have it hard to find any job, - she read any news lately - the Kemijärvi paper factories closed... and people are getting laid off left right & centre so theres a lot of people looking up there. you on the other hand - with your experience and degrees - actually *might* be employable if you can find a niche job.

please blow my plan apart

you're supposed to pull the pin and throw the grenade, what do you want me to do with this pin you threw to me? call the shovel & bucket detail?

BTW you can't imagine how many people ask these questions 3 weeks/months *after* they've landed here...

sinikala · Post by **sinikala** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:56 pm

Krackers wrote:Okay - please blow my plan apart. I really need a good reality check kicking.

There's no really much of a plan to blow apart, but we can probably pee on it to put it out of it's misery.

The Finnish army is primarily conscription, with few professionals. Very few make a living from it.

English pages of their website --> http://www.mil.fi/english/

If you'd apply for citizenship, and would be below 30, you'd have to do conscription unless you'd been conscripted elsewhere.

http://www.mil.fi/perustietoa/julkaisut ... _08_en.pdf

What's not covered is if you have been a professional soldier elsewhere.

Even the UK army which as I'm sure you know, is professional, and does accept Aussies

http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/toughquestio ... theUK.aspx

has an age limit of 33

http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/toughquestio ... etobe.aspx

You could still send them an e-mail puolustusvoimat@mil.fi you never know, maybe they're desperate?!

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 6:09 pm

What do you do as a "brown job" anyway? Do you have any specialist skills? I understand the FDF does employ some civvies in certain tasks.

drewminen · Post by **drewminen** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 6:51 pm

Krackers,

I am an Aussie who up until 5 months ago was in the Royal Navy. Married a Finn and thus here I am. Thought about cutting across to the Finnish Army but you need to be 1. Finnish 2. Speak Finnish. As a Commissioned-Educated Officer, I am sure the Finnish lot are not going reject your application on you being a Proffessional, quite the opposite I think. Money is obviously not as good at entry but being an Officer will enhance your luck! Benefits as we both know is always better than civy st!! Even to join the Finnish police force requires citizenship and the ability to speak the local lingo. Entry level age is 40yrs.

Currently enrolled in a language course to level the field a bit. At the end of it I get a certificate level 3 which most companies recognise, saying you are not a liability, and I believe its part of the criteria in gaining Finnish Citizenship. Maybe some of the girls-gals out there can confirm?? You can get paid for the course, if your Mrs doesnt get paid too much

Good Luck.

onkko · Post by **onkko** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 6:57 pm

To serve in army as soldier you need to be finnish citizen and have finnish military training so you can forget that. We dont have same kind of system as australia do.
I assume you are moving to rovaniemi? Lapland Air Command (hornets, SAM:s etc..) is there so if you have served similar positions in australia you maybe are able to get some niche job as civilian but im not sure if that also requires citizenship. You can ask them in lapinlennosto@mil.fi

Other job i can think where fluent english and military training could help is as tourist quide, you need to learn how to drive snowmobile tho

There is lot of english tourists in winter.

And yes, if you are entitled to "kotouttamiskoulutus" ("to make home training", dunno how to translate) goverment pays finnish courses etc. according your personal needs + they pay labour market subsidy when you are in courses. Im not sure if you are entitled but i assume you are. Someone who moved here recently as finnish citizen spouse may know more.

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 8:21 am

SMF went to Imatra (Finland's ar se hole) and his wife was Russian.

Flossy1978 · Post by **Flossy1978** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:45 pm

Just stay in Australia with your wife.

You'll both be better off.

Not saying Finland is a bad place, I've lived here for 9 years. But there are so many more opportunities for both you there, than here.

Oombongo · Post by **Oombongo** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 2:02 pm

dude, you have more opportunities in Australia.

Jason Wright · Post by **Jason Wright** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:59 pm

Flossy1978 wrote:Just stay in Australia with your wife.

You'll both be better off.

Not saying Finland is a bad place, I've lived here for 9 years. But there are so many more opportunities for both you there, than here.

Yeah bro, your better off in Australia! Unless you speak fluent Finnish and have a MSc in IT/Engineering.

J

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 10:36 pm

And right now even that isn't looking to be a sure theing....

Finland Forum

Find information about moving to, living in and life in Finland