Chief of Defence-designate worried about poor physical condition of conscripts

“Fat is a bad enemy for Finland”

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By Riitta Vainio
     
      Future Chief of Defence Ari Puheloinen runs eight or 12 kilometres three times a week and visits the gym regularly. Some time ago he ran 2990 metres in the Cooper’s Test.
     The President of the Republic named Lieutenant General Puheloinen as Chief of Defence for five years.
     Puheloinen, who works passionately to stay in shape, is concerned about conscripts who are increasingly obese. “Fat is a bad enemy for Finland”, he says.
     “A study was completed last year, which showed that eight per cent of the conscripts who entered service had eaten vegetables daily, five per cent ate berries or fruit, and 26 per cent had a waist circumference that was so large that it constituted a health risk”, Puheloinen laments.
     The Defence Forces cannot increase their physical training so much that the problem would be eliminated, and schools cannot be obligated to take care of exercise for young people on its own. Families are in the key position.
     Puheloinen, who was born in 1951, has studied military science in Finland, the United States, and in the former Soviet Union. He takes command of the Defence Forces in August, when the present Chief of Defence, Admiral Juhani Kaskeala, retires.
     
The new government report on defence and security policy is satisfactory from the point of view of the future commander. The annual two per cent increase in spending, starting from 2011, in addition to inflation increases, will secure the development and materiel acquisitions of the Defence Forces.
     Puheloinen agrees with his predecessors on conscription; compulsory military service, and the people’s army will be kept. “Hopefully as long as possible. That is how Finland works.”
     He expects that conscription “will certainly” be in force when he himself relinquishes the post of Chief of Defence five years from now.
     The defence policy report says that NATO membership would increase Finnish security.
     Puheloinen steadfastly refuses to make any public statements on his personal views on NATO membership. As long as the matter is not on the political agenda, he will not take a stand. Nor will he comment on whether or not NATO membership should be taken into official debate.
     
Closer military cooperation with Sweden and Norway is a part of the upcoming development.
     “We all have a common aim to make it very close. It will not necessarily bring about savings in all respects, but we need to look at the results.”
     Common maritime surveillance will be followed by common air surveillance. Development of forces and equipment will take place in close cooperation. A common submarine in training for anti-submarine training could be worth thinking of, but it would probably be too expensive, Puheloinen says.
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 24.1.2009


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Ari Puheloinen to be new Chief of Defence (22.1.2008)

RIITTA VAINIO / Helsingin Sanomat
riitta.vainio@hs.fi