1555 women apply to voluntary military service

A total of 1555 women applied to the voluntary military service this year said Finnish Defense Forces in a press release on Tuesday.

The application period was ended on January 15 and the number of applicants was the third highest in the history of the Finnish Defense Forces.

For almost thirty years now, competent women have been trained for the reserve of the Finnish Defense Forces.

Over the years, more than 13 000 women have completed the voluntary military service in the Defense Forces and Border Guard.

Counting this year's results, the number of women who have applied for voluntary military service has already exceeded the 1,500 applicant-mark four times. The number of applications increased by 300 from the previous year.

Based on their applications, women who have applied to service will be invited to a selection event organised by their Regional Office.

Apart from providing information about conscript service and liability for military service, the selection event involves interviewing the applicants and having their health examined. At the event, applicants have an opportunity to express their wishes involving training and service.

The Regional Offices of Uusimaa, Häme and Lapland will pilot combining women’s voluntary military service selection events and men’s call-ups in the fall.

In practice, this means that in the spring 2024, specific selection events will not be organized for women applying to voluntary military service in the regions of Uusimaa, Häme and Lapland. Instead, women’s selection events will be held, in your home municipality, in conjunction with men’s call-ups between August 15 and December 15.