Local Defence troops (Finland)
Encyclopedia
Local Defence troops, or Local Defence units and Volunteer reserve units (Maakuntajoukot in Finnish) are local troops of Finnish Defence Forces
composed of volunteer reservists and other volunteers who have pledged to act within troops during a crisis. Finnish Defence Forces
and, under control of FDF, National Defence Training Association of Finland
are responsible for training of troops. Local Defence troops are composed of provincial companies, each of which is under command of Military province of their area (Sotilaslääni, four in total, divided to 19 military districts (aluetoimisto)), in total there are 28 companies.
Most important duties for Local Defence troops are protection, guarding, oversight and defence of certain objects and the area of their respective military district in general in addition to helping police and/or firedepartments and other officials in number of matters, in war time armed forces companies of Local Defence troops are called interception companies that are under direct command of headquarters of their respective Military province just as they are in peace time. Members of troops have their personal equipment (excluding most of battlegear such as flak vests, ballistic helmets and weaponry) in their home on a recipe from FDF, allowing quick mobilisation of troops in case of crisis since they only need battlegear and additional equipment such as vehicles, signalling equipment and supplies to be completely ready, these will be provided by garrisons and/or other military installations within or at least near to the military district the company in question is located in. Companies are always composed of reservists from area of certain military district within military province in question, providing an advantage of knowing the area of operations. Troops are trained regularly and their physical abilities are tested annually with conditions of suitability for troops set higher than basic expectations for professional soldiers of FDF.
which was abolished after World War II
, while some civilian organizations such as Finnish Red Cross
criticize that Local Defence troops shouldn't take a part in operations that fall under their area of expertice such as peace time volunteer rescue service.
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...
composed of volunteer reservists and other volunteers who have pledged to act within troops during a crisis. Finnish Defence Forces
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...
and, under control of FDF, National Defence Training Association of Finland
National Defence Training Association of Finland
National Defence Training Association of Finland is a voluntary organization providing safety and security training to all Finnish residents over the age of 15 and supplemental military training for all Finnish citizens over the age of 18.-Organization:...
are responsible for training of troops. Local Defence troops are composed of provincial companies, each of which is under command of Military province of their area (Sotilaslääni, four in total, divided to 19 military districts (aluetoimisto)), in total there are 28 companies.
Most important duties for Local Defence troops are protection, guarding, oversight and defence of certain objects and the area of their respective military district in general in addition to helping police and/or firedepartments and other officials in number of matters, in war time armed forces companies of Local Defence troops are called interception companies that are under direct command of headquarters of their respective Military province just as they are in peace time. Members of troops have their personal equipment (excluding most of battlegear such as flak vests, ballistic helmets and weaponry) in their home on a recipe from FDF, allowing quick mobilisation of troops in case of crisis since they only need battlegear and additional equipment such as vehicles, signalling equipment and supplies to be completely ready, these will be provided by garrisons and/or other military installations within or at least near to the military district the company in question is located in. Companies are always composed of reservists from area of certain military district within military province in question, providing an advantage of knowing the area of operations. Troops are trained regularly and their physical abilities are tested annually with conditions of suitability for troops set higher than basic expectations for professional soldiers of FDF.
Critics
Some left-wing political parties and other political groups have criticized Local Defence troops for being too close to White GuardWhite Guard (Finland)
The White Guard was a voluntary militia that emerged victorious over the socialist Red Guard as part of the Whites in the Finnish Civil War of 1918...
which was abolished after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, while some civilian organizations such as Finnish Red Cross
Finnish Red Cross
The Finnish Red Cross is a part of International Federation of Red Cross, which is one of the biggest and well-known international organisation in the world and on the field of humanitarian aid. FRC has over 90,000 members and around 45,000 active volunteers in Finland. FRC is divided to 12...
criticize that Local Defence troops shouldn't take a part in operations that fall under their area of expertice such as peace time volunteer rescue service.
See also
- Home GuardHome Guard-Military:*British Home Guard*Combat Groups of the Working Class *Confederate Home Guard, during the American Civil War*Croatian Home Guard and Imperial Croatian Home Guard*Danish Home Guard...
- Estonian Defence LeagueEstonian Defence LeagueThe Estonian Defence League is the name of the unified paramilitary armed forces of the Republic of Estonia. The Defence League is a paramilitary defence organization which aim is to guarantee the preservation of the independence and sovereignty of the state, the integrity of its land area and its...
- White Guard (Finland)White Guard (Finland)The White Guard was a voluntary militia that emerged victorious over the socialist Red Guard as part of the Whites in the Finnish Civil War of 1918...
- National Defence Training Association of FinlandNational Defence Training Association of FinlandNational Defence Training Association of Finland is a voluntary organization providing safety and security training to all Finnish residents over the age of 15 and supplemental military training for all Finnish citizens over the age of 18.-Organization:...