English speaking into Finnish army

Fedor1992 · Post by **Fedor1992** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 5:21 pm

Hi

I'm English born and I've live there my whole life. My mum's Finnish so I've been brought up with the language and I can speak it. I'm not quite fluent but I'm quite comfortable with the language and can cope in most social situations.
Anyway I decided to do the national service out here and I start on Monday (9th July) at Santahamina. I just have a few questions and I was hoping just to hear some opinions. I understand some people have had different experiences but it would be nice to know.

1) Does the time in the army generally go quickly or does it drag out? I know this may depend on what you get trained in but it would be good to know what it's generally like.

2) I'm looking to do 9-12 months so I can get the ful experience but I was wondering if anyone knew what kind of training do the foreign soldiers receive or do they not get offered anything different from the Finns? I'm just wondering whether they suggest certain training for the foreign soldiers especially.

3) I've been reading into the Sotilaspoliisi (military police) and that seemed like something that would I interest me so I was wondering how advanced/fluent your Finnish language has to be to be considered for this training.

4) I was believed to understand that if you do 6 months you get 2 paid holidays during that time, if you do 9 it's 3 and 12 it's 4. Is there a set duration for these holidays eg. 5 days or a week, or does it depend on certain circumstances?

5) How well received are foreigners I the Finnish army or does everyone get along with everyone?
Any information/opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Kiitos

**Sponsor:**

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 5:51 pm

5) How well received are foreigners I the Finnish army

If they allow you into the army you're a Finn.
Santahamina is where the non Finnish speaking Finns end up, so you're among equals.

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 6:35 pm

rinso wrote: If they allow you into the army you're a Finn.

Although there are a handful of tosspots on this forum who would dispute that.

Good luck Fedor, enjoy your time in the forests!

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 6:39 pm

It looks like they've put quite a few of the gringos in the MP lately... dunno if total no-speaks get chucked to the supply depot automagically, thats usually for the thick&fat. For the 9-12 you need to be in for NCO training or some specialist like medic, mp, diver or such... depends on the luck and inclinations. Army is - you need rush to be ready to wait

... as far as learning Finnish goes, I guess if they still go with the basic - you're not allowed to the canteen before you can "report yourself" and know the "signs of royalty and those of gods" so you'll learn fast or give up smoking, coffee and donuts... just try to figure out your left from your other left (in Finnish) before you come over.... if you're in Cambridge area I can give you a drill

just remember the mnemonics... (small roses) ensign got toast, subleutenant two pieces, lieutenant has ham&cheese on his toast, and captain has a hamburger. (big roses) major is big cheese on bread. lieutenant-colonel got two breads and full colonel three. (lions) anyone with cheese pickles is a general... and addressed as such...only snag is the logically illogical general-lieutenant is above general-major...

though in bootcamp you'll be most acquainted with the "gods" i.e. your under-sergeant and "their lordships", the "student" and "trainee" (NCO and CO trainees)...

Kutittaa · Post by **Kutittaa** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 7:02 pm

NSFW

Among equals.

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 11:00 pm

One of my sons, also British, also not very fluent in Finnish is starting in Karjalan Prikaati on Monday. He applied for the paratroopers but was one push-up short of getting in. He then tried the military police in Santahamina but was told it was too late, all the places were already taken. So he will be doing regular training along with around 2000 other conscripts in Vekaranjärvi. Most of his friends who are heading home on Friday said that it was OK in the beginning but dragged on towards the end. Some hated it.

I've been asked to buy mosquito spray, a roll of plastic freezer bags (3 litres) and deodorant spray for shoes. A frontal head lamp is also useful (but he has one already).

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 1:54 am

Freezer bags are way good if they are allowed

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 2:04 am

DO WORK WHICH HAS A MEANING!

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 2:08 am

I think that is the MP K9 showing off their "liberal gear"

Kutittaa · Post by **Kutittaa** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 7:24 pm

1 push-up short of getting in? Are you serious...? IIRC You needed to 100 to join the Australian army.. (At least it was 100 3-odd years ago) They were a snap. I could have done those on my thumbs...

How many did they make him try and do... 10,000? Did his limbs crack at 9,999? Ridiculous that they wouldn't let him in over 1 pushup... Goodness...

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 7:51 pm

Kutittaa wrote:1 push-up short of getting in? Are you serious...? IIRC You needed to 100 to join the Australian army.. (At least it was 100 3-odd years ago) They were a snap. I could have done those on my thumbs...

How many did they make him try and do... 10,000? Did his limbs crack at 9,999? Ridiculous that they wouldn't let him in over 1 pushup... Goodness...

As many as possible in 60 seconds.
http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/portal/pu ... et+testit/

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 10:02 pm

Yes, it's based on points. He actually did OK in the push-ups and everything else but he was a bit unlucky in that we didn't have any snow down here before he went for the selection so he wasn't able to train for cross-country skiing. He was cycling instead but he hadn't skied for over 6 months. Overall, he was one point short which was the equivalent of a couple of push-ups.

Kutittaa, I'm sure he would be more than willing to challenge you to push-ups.

Kutittaa · Post by **Kutittaa** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 11:09 pm

Then if it wasn't the push-ups, why did you mention that he failed because of them..? /facepalm

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 9:02 am

I didn't. I said he was one push-up short of getting in. If he had done one or two more he would have got more points and then he would have got in. But in actual fact it was his cross-country skiing that let him down (he did finish the course, reckoned he did as well as he could). The push-up was a figure of speech, a benchmark, a way of quantifying how close he was to being selected. I guess the Finns who've been there and done that know what I mean.

Kutittaa · Post by **Kutittaa** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 11:39 am

....So it was either the push-ups or the skiing, c'mon you're splitting hairs, as they say.

Finland Forum

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