Military service
| Updated: 28.3.2013 - Next update: 28.3.2014 |
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Participants in military service and refresher courses for reservists
The number of men attending military service varies, mainly according to the size of the age group. Since the early 2000s, the number of those serving has decreased somewhat due to stricter advance and call up medical examinations. The aim of this is to reduce the number of those interrupting their military service, which has grown since the early 2000s. Interruptions of military service for health reasons have become more frequent – of individual causes, mental health reasons have increased the most. The number of women in voluntary military service has stabilised at some 400 women annually.Source:
Defence Command, J1 Personnel Division
Description of indicator
According to the Conscription Act, every male Finnish citizen is liable for military service from the beginning of the year in which he turns 18 years of age, until the end of the year in which he turns 60. Fulfilment of military service includes service as a conscript, participation in reservist training, extra service, and service during mobilisation, in addition to participation in call-ups and examinations assessing fitness for military service.
According to the Act on Voluntary Military Service for Women, upon application a woman can be accepted for voluntary military service corresponding to conscript service if, when entering service, she 1) is a Finnish citizen; 2) has turned 18 but not 30 years of age; and 3) is fit for military service in terms of her health and other personal characteristics.
The Ministry of Defence annually determines the number of women accepted for military service. If, within 45 days of the date of entering service, a woman performing military service announces that she will not continue to do so, she must be discharged from service immediately. In addition, during the 45 days referred to above, the detachment commander may cancel an assignment to military service on the basis of an injury, illness, apparent unsuitability or another, similar reason.
The number of those interrupting military service includes conscripts who have opted for unarmed service or whose service has been interrupted for health reasons. It also includes persons who, after entering service, have been granted a deferment of service; deceased persons, those who have lost their citizenship, those released on the basis of dual citizenship, deserters, and women who have announced within 45 days of the date of entering service that they will not continue in service.
