Finnish Rapid Deployment Force
Encyclopedia
The Finnish Rapid Deployment Force (FRDF) is the spearhead international force of the Finnish Defence Forces
(FDF). It can also be used for national defence.
The force is trained to participate as a part of multinational peacekeeping
and "crisis management" operations and can be deployed at short notice.
Although the FRDF is an addition to rather than a replacement for traditional peacekeeping forces, many Finnish peacekeepers have FRDF training, and FRDF soldiers are mostly used as a sort of recruitment pool for international peacekeeping missions, which may consist of a mix of normal reservists, FRDF-trained reservists and professional soldiers (mostly officers).
Formed in 1996, the first battalion became operational in 1998. Elements of the group were first deployed in 1999 as a part of the KFOR operation in Kosovo
.
In 2008, training of anti-aircraft troops was supposed to begin in the Karelia Brigade
, but for some reason didn't happen yet.
tests. These tests are the same that all FDF conscripts take before selection for NCO
training, with the exception of an interview and English language test. As of 2002, all FRDF servicemen are trained to be at least NCOs. The requirements aren't considered to be nearly as high as those of Army
and Navy
special forces, such as the Para Jägers and Combat Divers.
About 50% of applicants are accepted every year. Applicants are typically young men (18–20 years old) who have already been assigned a place to complete their mandatory conscript service, but voluntarily want to apply for international training in addition to national defence training. Women can also be accepted, but typically make up less than 10% of trainees. Up to a few dozen servicemen fail to complete their training every year, usually because of poor suitability to the required NCO
training, physical problems or general lack of motivation.
After training, servicemen can voluntarily sign a "readiness contract" for one year at a time. This obligates them to, if needed, participate in training for crisis management or peacekeeping operations during that year within a week's notice. In practice, the contract serves as an application for participating in a peacekeeping mission such as KFOR. Most servicemen who complete their training do sign this contract. FRDF-trained reservists are usually given top priority for places in international peacekeeping operations, although normal FDF reservists can apply.
The FRDF service itself does not differ radically from the standard Finnish conscript service. Still, there are key differences:
The main FRDF training site is at Porin Prikaati
(Pori Brigade) located in Säkylä
, Finland
. The core units are trained here, the arms branches varying yearly, with some years placing emphasis on the training of combat engineers and others on infantry, etc
Additionally, anti-NBC training is given to volunteer FRDF servicemen at the Suojelukoulu in Keuruu
.
platoon, about 40-50 servicemen. ATU servicemen differ from the Pori Brigade servicemen in that they have already served a period of their conscript service in the Nyland Brigade before applying. ATU applicants have basically the same admission tests as regular FRDF, except that applicants to the ATU also have to go through a swimming test, and are also required to have a B-class driver's licence. The units train separately, but both wear the "Rapid Deployment Force" arch insignia.
The ATU is a joint project with the Swedish Armed Forces
, the Swedish forces being trained at Amfibieregementet (1st Amphibious Regiment), with joint exercises held regularly.
is the standard FDF ground forces' green beret, but instead of wearing a silver pin depicting a roaring lion, the international beret features a roaring golden lion wearing a crown.
Conscripts must earn the golden pin in a "beret mark test" or "beret march", which is an unusually long march/exercise. Upon successful completion, the golden lion is awarded. In UN operations, the standard UN blue beret is used, but in NATO-led operations such as KFOR and ISAF the FRDF beret is used (notably also by peacekeepers who have no conscript FRDF training).
ATU servicemen may wear the Navy or Coastal Jäger beret during conscript training, they do not receive the international beret.
Finnish Defence Forces
The Finnish Defence Forces are responsible for the defence of Finland. It is a cadre army of 15,000, of which 8,900 are professional soldiers , extended with conscripts and reservists such that the standard readiness strength is 34,700 people in uniform...
(FDF). It can also be used for national defence.
The force is trained to participate as a part of multinational peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
and "crisis management" operations and can be deployed at short notice.
Although the FRDF is an addition to rather than a replacement for traditional peacekeeping forces, many Finnish peacekeepers have FRDF training, and FRDF soldiers are mostly used as a sort of recruitment pool for international peacekeeping missions, which may consist of a mix of normal reservists, FRDF-trained reservists and professional soldiers (mostly officers).
Formed in 1996, the first battalion became operational in 1998. Elements of the group were first deployed in 1999 as a part of the KFOR operation in Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
.
Order of battle
The FRDF currently consists of:- A mechanizedMechanizedMechanized refers to the use of machines. Related articles:*Mechanised agriculture*Mechanization* For "Mechanized artillery", see Self-propelled artillery* For "Mechanized force" and "Mechanized warfare", see Armoured warfare*Mechanized infantry...
jägerJäger (military)Jäger is a term that was adopted in the Enlightenment era in German-speaking states and others influenced by German military practice to describe a kind of light infantry, and it has continued in that use since then....
battalion (Jääkäripataljoona 101) equipped with Sisu Pasi APCs - A combat engineer battalion (Pioneeripataljoona 102)
- A CIMIC company
- A NavyFinnish NavyThe Finnish Navy is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. The Navy employs 2,300 people and about 4,300 conscripts are trained each year. Finnish Navy vessels are given the ship prefix "FNS" simply short for "Finnish Navy Ship"...
Hämeenmaa classHämeenmaa class minelayerThe Hämeenmaa class minelayers is a two vessel strong class of minelayers, used by the Finnish Navy.The ships have a steel hull and alloy superstructure. The class has an ice operating classification of ICE-1A and can operate around the year...
minelayers - HQ officers
- Military observers
- A brigadeBrigadeA brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
-level communications- and command system. - 6 F-18CF/A-18 HornetThe McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets . Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and...
Hornet fighter aircraft and 200-300 personnel from the Finnish Air Force.
In 2008, training of anti-aircraft troops was supposed to begin in the Karelia Brigade
Karelia Brigade
Karelia Brigade is one of the three Finnish Army readiness brigades. It is located in the Eastern Command at Valkeala. With some three thousand soldiers it is the second largest brigade in Finland...
, but for some reason didn't happen yet.
Conscript Training
Only volunteer conscripts that have passed an entry test and not yet started their military service can apply for FRDF training, with few exceptions. The test consist of basic physical, intelligence, psychological and EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
tests. These tests are the same that all FDF conscripts take before selection for NCO
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
training, with the exception of an interview and English language test. As of 2002, all FRDF servicemen are trained to be at least NCOs. The requirements aren't considered to be nearly as high as those of Army
Finnish Army
The Finnish Army is the land forces branch of the Finnish Defence Forces.Today's Army is divided into six branches: the infantry , field artillery, anti-aircraft artillery, engineers, signals, and materiel troops.-History of the Finnish Army:Between 1809 and 1917 Finland was an autonomous part of...
and Navy
Finnish Navy
The Finnish Navy is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. The Navy employs 2,300 people and about 4,300 conscripts are trained each year. Finnish Navy vessels are given the ship prefix "FNS" simply short for "Finnish Navy Ship"...
special forces, such as the Para Jägers and Combat Divers.
About 50% of applicants are accepted every year. Applicants are typically young men (18–20 years old) who have already been assigned a place to complete their mandatory conscript service, but voluntarily want to apply for international training in addition to national defence training. Women can also be accepted, but typically make up less than 10% of trainees. Up to a few dozen servicemen fail to complete their training every year, usually because of poor suitability to the required NCO
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
training, physical problems or general lack of motivation.
After training, servicemen can voluntarily sign a "readiness contract" for one year at a time. This obligates them to, if needed, participate in training for crisis management or peacekeeping operations during that year within a week's notice. In practice, the contract serves as an application for participating in a peacekeeping mission such as KFOR. Most servicemen who complete their training do sign this contract. FRDF-trained reservists are usually given top priority for places in international peacekeeping operations, although normal FDF reservists can apply.
The FRDF service itself does not differ radically from the standard Finnish conscript service. Still, there are key differences:
- All servicemen are at least trained as NCOsNon-commissioned officerA non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
, and serve the maximum amount of conscript service time in the FDF, 362 days. The usual time for conscripts is 180 or 270 days.
- The first six months of training are basically the same as for all Finnish conscript NCOs or reserve officer candidates. After approximately 6 months, the NCO and reserve officer training is completed and is followed by a 2-month special training period. Some servicemen are trained as medics and vehicle drivers during this period, while others are given special small armsSmall armsSmall arms is a term of art used by armed forces to denote infantry weapons an individual soldier may carry. The description is usually limited to revolvers, pistols, submachine guns, carbines, assault rifles, battle rifles, multiple barrel firearms, sniper rifles, squad automatic weapons, light...
and combat training. This period is followed by a short "group training" phase, a final combat exercise where the national defence training is tested. The conscript training is ended by a three-month international period during which the servicemen often live in base camps simulating those used in international missions. The servicemen train patrolling, checkpoint operation, cooperation with foreign forces, riot control, cordon & search etc.
- The training usually culminates in an international exercise. These exercises have been organized yearly in Lithuania (Amber Hope), Norway (Battle Griffin) and other countries. FRDF conscripts last participated in the NATO Partnership for peacePFP-Politics:*Party of Freedom and Progress *People First Party *People First Party , a political party in the Republic of China *Peace and Freedom Party *Progressive Federal Party...
multinational exercise Amber Hope 2007.
The main FRDF training site is at Porin Prikaati
Pori Brigade
The Pori Brigade , based in Huovinrinne, Säkylä, is a Finnish Army unit, part of the Western Command of Finland. It comprises the Satakunta Jaeger Battalion, the West Finland Signals Battalion, and the Satakunta Engineer Battalion...
(Pori Brigade) located in Säkylä
Säkylä
Säkylä is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Satakunta region. The municipality has a population of and the municipality covers an area of of which is inland water...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. The core units are trained here, the arms branches varying yearly, with some years placing emphasis on the training of combat engineers and others on infantry, etc
Additionally, anti-NBC training is given to volunteer FRDF servicemen at the Suojelukoulu in Keuruu
Keuruu
Keuruu is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region.The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
.
Amphibious Task Unit
Another training site is Uusimaa Brigade where the ATU, or Amphibious Task Unit, is trained. The force trained yearly there is about the equivalent of a Coastal jägerFinnish Jäger troops
The Jäger Movement were volunteers from Finland trained in Germany as Jägers during World War I. Supported by Germany to enable a Finnish sovereign state, it was one of many means by which Germany intended to weaken Russia and to cause Russia's loss of western provinces and...
platoon, about 40-50 servicemen. ATU servicemen differ from the Pori Brigade servicemen in that they have already served a period of their conscript service in the Nyland Brigade before applying. ATU applicants have basically the same admission tests as regular FRDF, except that applicants to the ATU also have to go through a swimming test, and are also required to have a B-class driver's licence. The units train separately, but both wear the "Rapid Deployment Force" arch insignia.
The ATU is a joint project with the Swedish Armed Forces
Swedish Armed Forces
The Swedish Armed Forces is a Swedish Government Agency responsible for the operation of the armed forces of the Realm. The primary task of the agency is to train, organize and to deploy military forces, domestically and abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to defend the Realm in the...
, the Swedish forces being trained at Amfibieregementet (1st Amphibious Regiment), with joint exercises held regularly.
The International Beret
The FDF international forces' beretBeret
A beret is a soft, round, flat-crowned hat, designated a "cap", usually of woven, hand-knitted wool, crocheted cotton, or wool felt, or acrylic fiber....
is the standard FDF ground forces' green beret, but instead of wearing a silver pin depicting a roaring lion, the international beret features a roaring golden lion wearing a crown.
Conscripts must earn the golden pin in a "beret mark test" or "beret march", which is an unusually long march/exercise. Upon successful completion, the golden lion is awarded. In UN operations, the standard UN blue beret is used, but in NATO-led operations such as KFOR and ISAF the FRDF beret is used (notably also by peacekeepers who have no conscript FRDF training).
ATU servicemen may wear the Navy or Coastal Jäger beret during conscript training, they do not receive the international beret.