For Military Conscripts

For Military Conscripts

In Finland we have this thing called mandatory military service! Why do we hold on to it? Let's find out! Read the full story

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Scho-Ka-Kola, 100 g Tin Box, Original Scho-Ka-Kola, 100 g Tin Box, Milk Chocolate
Scho-Ka-Kola, 100 g Tin Box
Scho-Ka-Kola, 100 g Tin Box
3.99 USD
Now available. Sold 2725 in the last two weeks.
Särmä TST L1 T-shirt, Merino Wool, Green Särmä TST L1 T-shirt, Merino Wool, Black
Särmä TST L1 T-shirt, Merino Wool
Särmä TST L1 T-shirt, Merino Wool
29.99 USD 36.99 USD
Now available. Sold 670 in the last two weeks.
Särmä Light Merino Socks
Särmä Light Merino Socks
10.99 USD 12.99 USD
Now available. Sold 1217 in the last two weeks.
Särmä Merino Socks
Särmä Merino Socks
10.99 USD 12.99 USD
Now available. Sold 939 in the last two weeks.
Särmä TST Boot Socks, Merino Wool
Särmä TST Boot Socks, Merino Wool
15.99 USD 19.99 USD
Now available. Sold 214 in the last two weeks.
Särmä TST L1 Balaclava, Merino Wool, Green Särmä TST L1 Balaclava, Merino Wool, Black Särmä TST L1 Balaclava, Merino Wool, Khaki Särmä TST L1 Balaclava, Merino Wool, Off-white Särmä TST L1 Balaclava, Merino Wool, Orange
Särmä TST L1 Balaclava, Merino Wool
Särmä TST L1 Balaclava, Merino Wool
19.99 USD 24.99 USD
Now available. Sold 393 in the last two weeks.
Särmä TST L1 Boxers, Merino Wool, Green Särmä TST L1 Boxers, Merino Wool, Black
Särmä TST L1 Boxers, Merino Wool
Särmä TST L1 Boxers, Merino Wool
19.99 - 23.99 USD 23.99 USD
Now available. Sold 307 in the last two weeks.
Kierto product
Terävä Jääkäripuukko 140, Carbon, w. Leather Sheath, Right, Black Terävä Jääkäripuukko 140, Carbon, w. Leather Sheath, Right, Brown Terävä Jääkäripuukko 140, Carbon, w. Leather Sheath, Left, Black Terävä Jääkäripuukko 140, Carbon, w. Boltaron Sheath, Black Terävä Jääkäripuukko 140, Carbon, w. Boltaron Sheath, Green Terävä Jääkäripuukko 140, Carbon Steel, w.o. Sheath
Terävä Jääkäripuukko 140, Carbon Steel
Terävä Jääkäripuukko 140, Carbon Steel
47.99 - 87.99 USD
Now available. Sold 110 in the last two weeks.
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Terävä Jääkäripuukko 110, Carbon, w. Leather Sheath, Right, Black Terävä Jääkäripuukko 110, Carbon, w. Leather Sheath, Right, Brown Terävä Jääkäripuukko 110, Carbon, w. Leather Sheath, Left, Black Terävä Jääkäripuukko 110, Carbon, w. Boltaron Sheath, Black Terävä Jääkäripuukko 110, Carbon, w. Boltaron Sheath, Green Terävä Jääkäripuukko 110, Carbon Steel,  w.o. Sheath
Terävä Jääkäripuukko 110, Carbon Steel
Terävä Jääkäripuukko 110, Carbon Steel
44.99 - 84.99 USD
Now available. Sold 92 in the last two weeks.
Särmä TST L2 Turtleneck Shirt, Merino Wool, Green Särmä TST L2 Turtleneck Shirt, Merino Wool, Black
Särmä TST L2 Turtleneck Shirt, Merino Wool
Särmä TST L2 Turtleneck Shirt, Merino Wool
55.99 USD 69.99 USD
Now available. Sold 101 in the last two weeks.
Särmä TST L1 Liner Gloves, Merino Wool, Green Särmä TST L1 Liner Gloves, Merino Wool, Black Särmä TST L1 Liner Gloves, Merino Wool, Khaki
Särmä TST L1 Liner Gloves, Merino Wool
Särmä TST L1 Liner Gloves, Merino Wool
21.99 USD 26.99 USD
Now available. Sold 94 in the last two weeks.
Särmä TST L1 neck tube, merino wool, green Särmä TST L1 neck tube, merino wool, black Särmä TST L1 Neck Tube, Merino Wool, Khaki
Särmä TST L1 Neck Tube, Merino Wool
Särmä TST L1 Neck Tube, Merino Wool
12.99 USD 15.99 USD
Now available. Sold 80 in the last two weeks.
Kalakalle Ham Cock, 182 g, canned
Kalakalle Ham Cock, 182 g, canned
5.99 USD
Now available. Sold 98 in the last two weeks.
Särmä TST L1 Long Johns, Merino Wool, Green Särmä TST L1 Long Johns, Merino Wool, Black
Särmä TST L1 Long Johns, Merino Wool
Särmä TST L1 Long Johns, Merino Wool
24.99 - 35.99 USD 35.99 USD
Now available. Sold 68 in the last two weeks.
Kuivalihakundi Beef Jerky Original, 150 g Kuivalihakundi Beef Jerky Five Peppers, 150 g Kuivalihakundi Beef Jerky Mild Habanero, 150 g Kuivalihakundi Beef Jerky Hot Naga, 150 g Kuivalihakundi Beef Jerky Smoked, 150 g
Kuivalihakundi Beef Jerky, 150 g
Kuivalihakundi Beef Jerky, 150 g
14.99 USD
Now available. Sold 237 in the last two weeks.
Särmä TST L2 Long Johns, Merino Wool, Green Särmä TST L2 Long Johns, Merino Wool, Black
Särmä TST L2 Long Johns, Merino Wool
Särmä TST L2 Long Johns, Merino Wool
47.99 USD 59.99 USD
Now available. Sold 35 in the last two weeks.
Kierto product
Särmä TST General Purpose Pouch Zip S, M05 Woodland Camo Särmä TST General purpose pouch Zip S, green Särmä TST General Purpose Pouch Zip S, M05 Snow Camo
Särmä TST General Purpose Pouch Zip S
Särmä TST General Purpose Pouch Zip S
34.99 USD
Now available. Sold 26 in the last two weeks.
Clenzoil Cobra Bore Cleaning System
Clenzoil Cobra Bore Cleaning System
9.99 USD 15.99 USD
Now available. Sold 57 in the last two weeks.
Mil-Tec Elastic Pant Blousers, 2-Pack
Mil-Tec Elastic Pant Blousers, 2-Pack
2.99 USD
Now available. Sold 215 in the last two weeks.
Kierto product
Särmä TST Organizer pocket, green Särmä TST Organizer pocket, black
Särmä TST Organizer pocket
Särmä TST Organizer pocket
39.99 USD
Now available. Sold 40 in the last two weeks.
Särmä TST Finnish M05 Rank Insignia, Full Color Särmä TST Finnish M05 Rank Insignia, Subdued Green Särmä TST Finnish M05 Rank Insignia, Subdued Desert
Särmä TST Finnish M05 Rank Insignia
Särmä TST Finnish M05 Rank Insignia
4.99 USD
Now available. Sold 602 in the last two weeks.
Hoppes Boresnake
Hoppe's Boresnake
10.99 - 19.99 USD 17.99 - 19.99 USD
Now available. Discontinued product. Sold 30 in the last two weeks.
Jalas FX2 insoles
Jalas FX2 insoles
22.99 USD
Now available. Sold 5 in the last two weeks.
Original BUFF M05 Neck Tube, M05 Winter Camo Original BUFF M05 Neck Tube, M05 Woodland Camo Original BUFF M05 Neck Tube, M05 Snow Camo
Original BUFF M05 Neck Tube
Original BUFF M05 Neck Tube
15.99 USD
Temporarily out of stock. Sold 1 in the last two weeks.
Casio W-202-1AVEF
Casio W-202-1AVEF
39.99 USD
Temporarily out of stock.
Fenix E12 V2.0 flashlight
Fenix E12 V2.0 flashlight
34.99 USD
Temporarily out of stock.
Kierto product
Suunto A-10 NH Compass
Suunto A-10 NH Compass
19.99 USD
Temporarily out of stock.
Princeton Tec Fred headlamp, green Princeton Tec Fred headlamp, black
Princeton Tec Fred Headlamp, 200 lm
Princeton Tec Fred Headlamp, 200 lm
35.99 USD
Temporarily out of stock.
Kierto product
Gerber Dime multitool
Gerber Dime multitool
29.99 USD
Temporarily out of stock.
Casio G-Shock DW-5600E-1VER
Casio G-Shock DW-5600E-1VER
129.99 USD
Temporarily out of stock.
Mechanix Specialty Vent Gloves, Black Mechanix Specialty Vent Gloves, Coyote
Mechanix Specialty Vent Gloves
Mechanix Specialty Vent Gloves
32.99 USD
Now available. Sold 27 in the last two weeks.
Särmä TST waterproof notebook
Särmä TST waterproof notebook
9.99 USD
Temporarily out of stock.
Light My Fire Spork Titanium
Light My Fire Spork Titanium
18.99 USD
Temporarily out of stock.
Light My Fire FireSteel Bio Army
Light My Fire FireSteel Bio Army
17.99 USD
Temporarily out of stock.
Casio F-91W-1YER
Casio F-91W-1YER
29.99 USD
Temporarily out of stock.
Kalakalle Grain-fed Pork, 235 g, canned
Kalakalle Grain-fed Pork, 235 g, canned
5.99 USD
Temporarily out of stock. Sold 15 in the last two weeks.
Kalakalle Smoked Salmon groats in tomato sauce, 235 g, canned
Kalakalle Smoked Salmon groats in tomato sauce, 235 g, canned
5.99 USD
Temporarily out of stock.

In Finland we have this thing called mandatory military service! Why do we hold on to it? Let's find out!

The numbers are not very favourable for Finnish people: We have a population of a fairly large city (5.5M) and our ground border with Russia is 1289 km (800 miles). What to do? Have all men serve in the Defence Forces and let women volunteer, of course!

With 22.000 conscripts trained annually, a war-time strength of 280.000 and a reserve of 900.000 fighters, military service touches virtually everyone. A man or woman in uniform doesn't draw attention on the street: everybody knows people who served, quite often by close relation.

The clothes and equipment issued by the FDF are actually quite good, but people often want to make things a bit more comfortable. This is what people most usually buy for their friend, family member, or significant other in service.

For more detailed information read the Wikipedia article on the subject.

Photos of Finnish military conscripts

Group of soldiers attending a field exercise. Some of them have gone "gona" after several months of service, as is apparent from the stances.

Two soldiers catching a nap on a forest road while on foot march. Rest improves combat readiness!

A platoon maneuvering in the woods in a combat exercise. Judging from the weather, its Finnish mid-summer.

Top picks to help your time in service

Your issued gear is made by the lowest bidder and designed for the masses. These items are smart choices to make your daily army living a bit more comfortable. And remember: a good soldier should always look after their combat readiness. Choosing the right gear for the mission is part of this.

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