Voluntary national defence and the coordination of voluntary national defence measures in various administrative sectors fall within the purview of the Ministry of Defence. It is the Ministry’s duty to manage, supervise and develop voluntary military training.
Voluntary activities in support of security are an important part of civic activity and the maintenance of civil society’s comprehensive security. For its part, voluntary activities facilitate the transmission of skills and information to broad citizen groups and strengthen the authorities’ capacity to function. Voluntary activities support a number of administrative sectors.
The goal of voluntary activities is to develop the capability of citizens and the authorities to participate in aiding society at large in cases of serious incidents and emergencies. In line with legislation, the goal of voluntary national defence is to promote national defence capacity and will. The needs of voluntary organisations and those of the Defence Forces in particular provide the basis for developing voluntary national defence.
Voluntary national defence provides an effective resource to Finland’s defence capacity and brings together all citizen groups and boosts national defence will. Finland is not defended only by weapons but in cooperation, using the entire society’s resources. Military and non-military voluntary organisations have their own important tasks that are needed to secure the functions vital to society in different crisis situations. Cooperation between voluntary organisations especially at the local level can bring significant security benefits both regionally and nationally.
Legislation
Provisions on voluntary national defence is laid down in the Act on Voluntary National Defence (556/2007). The Act contains provisions on the content, organisation and supervision of voluntary national defence training and other national defence activities, and the organisation and public administrative duties of the National Defence Training Association.
The Act on Voluntary National Defence, which was reviewed in early 2020, contributes to the systematic planning, preparation and implementation of refresher training. In order to support the Defence Forces’ military training and its needs, the training that is organised by the National Defence Training Association of Finland (MPK) and its member organisations will be developed to provide training of increasing intensity. Through this reform, cooperation between the MPK and the Defence Forces can evolve to operational partnership, which will coordinate refresher training, the Defence Forces’ voluntary exercises and voluntary national defence more effectively than before.
National Defence Training Association of Finland
The National Defence Training Association of Finland is an association under public law and the nationwide coordinating body for voluntary national defence.
It provides, at the national level, training in comprehensive defence to all who are interested in maintaining, developing and expanding their military skills or general safety skills.
The purpose of the National Defence Training Association is to promote national defence through training, publicity and education and it may have local and regional units.
In 2008, the National Defence Training Association was given a public-law status, and its tasks are defined in the Act on Voluntary National Defence. Its work is steered and monitored by the Ministry of Defence.
Public administrative duties of the National Defence Training Association include:
- training that contributes to military capabilities, visits, international training, information and education services related to voluntary national defence
- improving the potential for women to participate in voluntary national defence and organise training and visits that contribute to military capabilities
- steering, supporting and coordinating national defence training for its member organisations
- promoting opportunities for young people to familiarise themselves with national defence through visits
The training supports the readiness of the Defence Forces, other authorities and citizens to function in normal conditions and emergencies. Therefore, it aims at increasing overall readiness and functional capacity in incidents affecting Finnish society. Municipalities and authorities order some areas of the training.
The Association plays an important role as a trainer in the Defence Forces’ refresher training. The training provides significant support to the Finnish Defence Forces’ wartime troop training and maintaining capabilities. Highly skilled reservists find opportunities to apply for, train in and commit themselves to more demanding training and leadership tasks.
The MPK’s training for civilians supports society’s readiness to meet broad security threats as well overall readiness and functional capacity in society. Furthermore, it broadens women’s opportunities in participating in the national defence.
Its activities are developed as the Defence Forces’ strategic partner, in line with Nordic principles. A further goal is to bolster the status of voluntary national defence in local defence and executive assistance to authorities.
Link to National Defence Training Association website
Advisory Board for Voluntary Defence
To coordinate, steer and develop voluntary national defence, the Ministry of Defence is assisted by an Advisory Board for Voluntary Defence, which was appointed by government and which operates in connection with the Ministry. The Advisory Board’s term of office is four years, the term of the Parliament. The current balance of parties in Parliament must be taken into account in the composition of the Advisory Board.
The Advisory Board may invite permanent expert members to join it and appoint regional or sector-specific advisory boards for the same period of time. The duties, composition and organisation of activities of the Advisory Board and of the regional and sector-specific advisory boards are laid down in a Government Decree (960/2007).
Tasks of the Advisory Board for Voluntary Defence
- Coordinate and steer the organisation of voluntary national defence;
- Strengthen the status of voluntary national defence in society;
- Monitor and assess the functioning and effectiveness of the voluntary national defence related arrangements and submit initiatives and make proposals to develop voluntary national defence;
- Issue statements on plans and propositions that are important for voluntary national defence;
- Continue the discussion on national defence and make citizens more aware of national defence issues;
- Promote the citizens’ voluntary national defence activities and defence readiness;
- Steer and supervise the activities of regional and sector-specific advisory boards.
