regarding military service and studies

mhz123 · Post by **mhz123** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 9:21 pm

Hello,

Hello, I am a Finnish citizen living in UK. I reached the age of 18, I am aware of the fact that I am liable for military service now, however I haven't received a letter for call up, and this could be perhaps due to having Finnish embassy having my old address ( i have moved recently). Regardless, I am starting my studies in university this September and I am visiting Finland hopefully within the next few weeks. I heard that as soon as I enter the helsinki-vantaa airport, i will be held and transfered to a military base without my consent, however, I would like to come to Finland and make an agreement stating that, after I finished my studies ( 6 years of medicine), I will do my duty in military service. So, how do I get through the airport in Finland without being held by the police, and where can I make this agreement?

Thank you very much

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Adrian42 · Post by **Adrian42** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 9:46 pm

If the call-up letter has not arrived by June, in the year when the person liable for military service is 18, the person should contact the nearest Finnish authority (embassy or consulate).

http://www.finemb.org.uk/public/default ... B#Military

That page of the Finnish embassy in London also contains more information on the correct contact points for you - there is no need for you to travel to Finland, you can sort all that out from the UK.

atas · Post by **atas** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 9:54 pm

Strange. Don't you have a standardized way of students postponing their military service for studies? Or this way doesn't cover studies in foreign countries (also strange)? So, a student can be picked up arbitrarily anytime, let's say in the middle of semester, for service?

If I were you I would go to the embassy first and ask. I don't know the Finnish law, but possibly you can sort this out. Cases such as yours (not showing up for the call up), in my country would be punished with extra service, but "payable", so virtually an affordable fine (after everything else is sorted out of course!).

tjawatts · Post by **tjawatts** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 10:02 pm

I suggest you call the embassy and ask. If you arrive at the airport and your call up day has gone and you didnt inform that you wouldnt be going they may well take you into custody at the airport.

"If the call-up letter has not arrived by June, in the year when the person liable for military service is 18, the person should contact the nearest Finnish authority (embassy or consulate)."

t

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 10:33 pm

They definitely prefer you going in after med school, they love their free doctors. But yes, contact the embassy and do the paperwork - you have to be accepted into university though to be able to postpone, the "hope, intend, wish" doesn't cut... you can go through the draft, get a placement, and then apply for the waiver though.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 9:25 am

atas wrote:Strange. Don't you have a standardized way of students postponing their military service for studies?

You start be going to your call-up...

Anyway, if you're a physician at peace time, that is what you would do at the time of war as well. As a consequence the army doesn't even want train you to do something else because it would be a waste of time and resources. You should be able to reach a agreement with them without much problem.

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 9:59 am

atas wrote:Strange. Don't you have a standardized way of students postponing their military service for studies?

Yes, of course there is, it's just paperwork and an intervieIw etc. Most students prefer to do their service before their studies but, yes in the case of medical studies I can see the interest in doing the service after finishing your degree.

They only get heavy on conscripts who do AWOL after they have officially started their service. My son went hitchiking around Europe just before his military service and cut his timing a bit close to the edge, so we had to bail him out with a high-speed train ticket to get him back to Helsinki in time!

Now he's going to start his studies which he postponed for one year after he got the place.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 11:40 am

atas wrote: So, a student can be picked up arbitrarily anytime, let's say in the middle of semester, for service?

If you miss out on your draft and get an arrest warrant as "military AWOL", they might get you handcuffed and taken to a garrison if you enter the country between ages 19 and 29 and get ID'd by the police. When I was serving some guy in their 30s that had come over with the Sweden ferry got a rude awakening in the drunk tank of the military police... But as far as studying goes - there are "reasons" as always

Adrian42 · Post by **Adrian42** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 11:59 am

atas wrote:Strange. Don't you have a standardized way of students postponing their military service for studies? Or this way doesn't cover studies in foreign countries (also strange)? So, a student can be picked up arbitrarily anytime, let's say in the middle of semester, for service?

You completely miss the problem.

When replying to the call-up letter it is possible to postpone the military service when there is a valid reason.

But when a Finn doesn't reply to the call-up letter, or (like the OP) doesn't receive it due to his fault of not telling the embassy his latest address, then he is considered trying to avoid conscription - which is a crime.

If he contacts the embassy telling that he made a mistake in not telling his latest address that is not a huge issue, but simply coming to Finland would be a bad idea that could result in immediately spending half a year either in the army or in prison.

CH · Post by CH » Wed Jul 24, 2013 12:05 pm

Are you a Finnish citizen only or do you have dual citizenship? If you do have dual citizenship you might be excempt according to this page:

If you have dual citizenship but are still legally required to do Finnish military service (in other words, the agreements mentioned above do not apply to you), you can be relieved from military service if you have lived somewhere else besides Finland for the last seven (7) years. If this is your case, you do not need to ask for separate permission to be freed from Finnish military service. You can, however, be ordered into military service if you move to Finland before the end of the year when you turn 30.

The FDF use the Finnish population data base to check on permanent residence and citizenship when they make their decision on whether you must do Finnish military service or not. That is why it is a good idea to check with the population clerk or the Finnish Embassy closest to you that your information is correct. This means information on your nationality/nationalities, permanent address, where you have lived in the past seven years and so on. If you are a Finnish citizen, but have another nationality, too, make sure you do not automatically lose your Finnish citizenship at the age of 22. This applies especially if you are entering military service from abroad and are 21 or older.

Do note the end of the quote, if you do have dual citizenship... here is information on how to retain your citizenship (getting a Finnish passport or writing a letter stating that you want to keep your citizenship is probably the easiest way).

atas · Post by **atas** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:39 pm

Adrian42 wrote:
atas wrote:Strange. Don't you have a standardized way of students postponing their military service for studies? Or this way doesn't cover studies in foreign countries (also strange)? So, a student can be picked up arbitrarily anytime, let's say in the middle of semester, for service?
You completely miss the problem.

When replying to the call-up letter it is possible to postpone the military service when there is a valid reason.

No, I was just wondering why the OP hadn't done the necessary procedures before, but from the other comments, I see that you get the call-up first. Obviously, it is more practical in Finland to do it this way (since "most people go to the army first" anyway), but not for the OP. Of course, not actually replying to the call up will be a problem, valid reason or not.

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