Dr. Seppo Kääriäinen, Minister Of Defence Of Finland, International Congress On Soldier’s Physical Performance, Jyväskylä Finland

Ladies and gentlemen, Many European countries have totally or partially abandoned compulsory military service, placing their main emphasis on professional soldiers or on a very limited system of voluntary military service instead.

The Nordic countries, too, seem to be following this trend. However, following the guidelines of the Government’s 2004 Defence White Paper, Finland’s national defence is based, and will continue to be based, on general conscription.

Unlike fully professional armed forces, the Finnish Defence Forces do not have the option of only selecting mentally and physically strong soldiers for wartime troops. General conscription presupposes that the greatest possible number of those liable for military service, as well as female volunteers, successfully complete their conscript and reserve service. Quality and content have been emphasized in all military training fields, including physical education.

The latest research on the physical fitness of our citizens points to challenges in the years ahead. Physical fitness among children, young people and adults seems to be declining. Weight problems, among other things, are on the increase. Conscript service is one of the last opportunities for society to have a positive influence on the physical activeness of young men.

Meaningful and versatile physical education can, therefore, have a significant positive effect on the health and fitness behaviour patterns of these young adults, who then transfer to the reserve. The hope is that they will then pass these routines on to their children. The Defence Forces have an important civic education role in Finnish society.

The population’s physical fitness also has repercussions on the national economy and its competitiveness. People becoming prematurely incapacitated to work or being forced on disability pension for physical or mental health reasons are tremendously expensive for society. Along with that, competence crucial to national competitiveness is lost while health care and medical expenses grow.

Honoured participants,

The speakers at this Soldiers’ Physical Performance Congress represent the top expertise in their respective fields. Therefore, this congress - about to be opened - provides an excellent opportunity for open discourse on issues that can comprehensively influence the entire society. Mind you, the decline of people’s physical fitness and increasing obesity is, after all, a global problem. Only well carried out and multi-field research can get to the heart of the problem. Concrete measures based on this research can generate permanent positive changes both in the structures of society and in people’s lifestyles. Another, global, aspect concerns international peacekeeping and crisis management operations.

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