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

Product groups
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 1714 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
24.99 USD
Now available. Sold 1171 in the last two weeks.
Särmä Merino Wool Socks
Särmä Merino Wool Socks
9.99 - 12.99 USD 12.99 USD
Now available. Sold 1048 in the last two weeks.
Särmä Hiking Socks, Merino Wool
Särmä Hiking Socks, Merino Wool
13.99 - 17.99 USD 17.99 USD
Now available. Sold 618 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
Now available. Sold 132 in the last two weeks.
Särmä TST L2 Boot Socks, Merino Wool
Särmä TST L2 Boot Socks, Merino Wool
19.99 USD
Now available. Sold 237 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
26.99 USD
Now available. Sold 222 in the last two weeks.
Kierto product
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
46.99 - 86.99 USD
Now available. Sold 86 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
36.99 USD
Now available. Sold 151 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
29.99 USD
Now available. Sold 219 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
15.99 USD
Now available. Sold 179 in the last two weeks.
Jalas FX2 insoles
Jalas FX2 insoles
22.99 USD
Now available. Sold 116 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
49.99 - 89.99 USD
Now available. Sold 72 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
59.99 USD
Now available. Sold 136 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
69.99 USD
Now available. Sold 167 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
44.99 USD
Now available. Sold 121 in the last two weeks.
Kierto product
Särmä TST Dry Bag, M05 Woodland Camo
Särmä TST Dry Bag
Särmä TST Dry Bag
24.99 - 44.99 USD
Temporarily out of stock. Sold 27 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 Garlic, 150 g Kuivalihakundi Beef Jerky Teriyaki, 150 g
Kuivalihakundi Beef Jerky, 150 g
Kuivalihakundi Beef Jerky, 150 g
14.99 USD
Now available. Sold 68 in the last two weeks.
Särmä TST Name Tag w. Custom Text, Green-Black, 3-Pack (SEPARATE DELIVERY 4-6 WEEKS) Särmä TST Name Tag w. Custom Text, Khaki-Black, 3-Pack (SEPARATE DELIVERY 4-6 WEEKS) Särmä TST Name Tag w. Custom Text, White-Black, 3-Pack (SEPARATE DELIVERY 4-6 WEEKS) Särmä TST Name Tag w. Custom Text, Black-Gold, 3-Pack (SEPARATE DELIVERY 4-6 WEEKS) Särmä TST Name Tag w. Custom Text, Reflector-Black, 3-Pack (SEPARATE DELIVERY 4-6 WEEKS)
Särmä TST M05 Name Tag w. Custom Text, 3-Pack
Särmä TST M05 Name Tag w. Custom Text, 3-Pack
12.99 - 19.99 USD
Now available. Sold 279 in the last two weeks.
Light My Fire FireSteel Bio Army
Light My Fire FireSteel Bio Army
17.99 USD
Temporarily out of stock. Sold 46 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 1093 in the last two weeks.
Särmä TST waterproof notebook
Särmä TST waterproof notebook
9.99 USD
Now available. Sold 71 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 60 in the last two weeks.
Robens Fjell Trekking Towel, Medium Robens Fjell Trekking Towel, Large
Robens Fjell Trekking Towel
Robens Fjell Trekking Towel
14.99 - 17.99 USD
Now available. Sold 8 in the last two weeks.
Särmä TST Waterproof Shooting diary, in Finnish Särmä TST Waterproof Shooting diary, in English
Särmä TST Waterproof Shooting diary
Särmä TST Waterproof Shooting diary
9.99 USD
Now available. Sold 61 in the last two weeks.
Kalakalle Ham Cock, 182 g, canned
Kalakalle Ham Cock, 182 g, canned
5.99 USD
Now available. Sold 41 in the last two weeks.
Casio F-91W-1YEG
Casio F-91W-1YEG
29.99 USD
Temporarily out of stock. Sold 22 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 18 in the last two weeks.
Kalakalle Grain-fed Pork, 235 g, canned
Kalakalle Grain-fed Pork, 235 g, canned
5.99 USD
Now available. Sold 33 in the last two weeks.
Clenzoil Cobra Bore Cleaning System
Clenzoil Cobra Bore Cleaning System
9.99 USD 15.99 USD
Now available. Sold 16 in the last two weeks.
Kierto product
Victorinox SwissTool Military FIN
Victorinox SwissTool Military FIN
229.99 USD
Now available. Sold 1 in the last two weeks.
Princeton Tec Point MPLS, green, white
Princeton Tec Point MPLS
Princeton Tec Point MPLS
49.99 USD
Now available. Sold 1 in the last two weeks.
Kierto product
Särmä TST General Purpose Pouch Zip S, M05 Woodland Camo Särmä TST General Purpose Pouch Zip S, M05 Snow Camo
Särmä TST General Purpose Pouch Zip S
Särmä TST General Purpose Pouch Zip S
27.99 USD 34.99 USD
Now available. Sold 15 in the last two weeks.
Salomon Toundra Forces CSWP
Salomon Toundra Forces CSWP
199.99 USD
Now available. Sold 52 in the last two weeks.
Dutch Dry Sack, Large, Black, Surplus, Unissued
Dutch Dry Sack, Large, Black, Surplus, Unissued
24.99 USD
Temporarily out of stock.
UCO Waterproof Matches, 4-pack
UCO Waterproof Matches, 4-pack
3.99 USD
Now available. Sold 40 in the last two weeks.
Dark Energy, Poseidon Pro, Camo Dark Energy, Poseidon Pro, Black
Dark Energy, Poseidon Pro Power Bank
Dark Energy, Poseidon Pro Power Bank
129.99 USD
Temporarily out of stock.
Princeton Tec Remix Pro MPLS headlamp, Black (Red / Green / IR, and White) Princeton Tec Remix Pro MPLS headlamp, Green (Red and White) Princeton Tec Remix Pro MPLS headlamp, Tan (Red and White) Princeton Tec Remix Pro MPLS headlamp, Black (Red and White)
Princeton Tec Remix Pro MPLS headlamp
Princeton Tec Remix Pro MPLS headlamp
79.99 USD
Now available. Sold 14 in the last two weeks.
Leatherman Bond Multi-Tool
Leatherman Bond Multi-Tool
73.99 USD
Now available. Sold 4 in the last two weeks.
Light My Fire Spork Titanium
Light My Fire Spork Titanium
18.99 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 4 in the last two weeks.
Casio G-Shock DW-5600E-1VER
Casio G-Shock DW-5600E-1VER
129.99 USD
Now available.
Casio W-202-1AVEF
Casio W-202-1AVEF
39.99 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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Joulu-Pati, Bob the Christmas Bullet

Mistletoe
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