FACTFILE: Who are they and what do they do?
Questions: 1. What is the purpose of the unit? 2. Do they provide back-up for others? 3. Response readiness? 4. Base? 5. Size of unit? 6. Training? 7. Selection procedure? 8. Salary? 9. Equipment and vehicles? 10. Liaison with other special units? 11. How often do they see action?
Police: Karhu Response Unit
1. Difficult and dangerous police tasks, for example the capture of dangerous criminals; hostage and siege situations from Helsinki to Lapland.
2. In practice, no, except for providing assistance to regular police units nationwide.
3. 24 hours a day.
4. Helsinki. Officially subordinated to the Helsinki Police Department, but with a nationwide role.
5. C. 50-60 men. The Karhu unit also includes within it a terrorist bomb squad ("TEPO"), a canine unit, and forensic specialists.
6. In constant training, with internal courses and outside experts providing assistance.
7. Police officers only. A one-day test and a three-week training programme that weeds out unsuitable candidates, with assessments of physical condition and psychological suitability.
8. Salary dependent on experience and task, EUR 2,400-2,600/month, plus ancillary bonuses/overtime, etc.
9. Prepared for action in conditions of "cold, wet, and darkness"; vehicles as required by specific assignments, e.g. helicopter support can be provided by the Frontier Guard. Can also operate in plain clothes, for example in bodyguard duties. Personal safety of the essence in clothing and equipment. Diverse weaponry from machine pistols to sniper rifles.
10. Exchange of information and of materiel.
11. Regularly, possibly even on a weekly basis.
Finnish Defence Forces: Special Jaegers
1. National defence tasks, including special intelligence/reconnaissance operations and direct action over a broad area of terrain in all weather conditions.
2. Does not provide armed back-up to other units.
3. Still in training. No operational readiness as yet.
4. Utti, nr. Kouvola.
5. "Some dozens of men".
6. For Special Jaeger training, contractual military personnel (persons having completed national service and having stayed on as trainers) are required to have at least NCO-level leadership qualifications. Special forces training lasts 14 months, after which some pass into the Reserves, while others continue as professional soldiers.
7. A five-day induction programme "with little or no rest". Measures physical and psychological attributes in a variety of situations; includes orienteering, groupwork, rapid forced marches, and marksmanship skills.
8. Approx. EUR 2,000/month.
9. It is a principle of the squad that Special Jaeger members are fully familiar with a very broad range of types of transport. Helicopters form the main mode of transport. Utti, which also houses the Parachute School and Helicopter Battalion, is awaiting the arrival of new NH90 transport helicopters. Equipment, e.g. arms and IR night vision equipment, will be upgraded in the next couple of years, after which the Jaegers will be comparable with special forces units in other countries.
10. Related to training, but no tactical liason.
11. Not in action yet.
Frontier Guard: Rapid Response Units
1. Demanding border situations, for instance capture of persons crossing the border illegally, and vessel inspections.
2. May assist police in demanding police operations.
3. Not required to be on full readiness awaiting command 24/7.
4. Six separate units on the borders and coastline.
5. Six units, with 20-30 men in each.
6. Contains tactical, armed response, and team training, e.g. vessel searches, apprehending of suspects.
7. Requires a number of years of experience in normal Frontier Guard duties, commitment, teamwork skills, and good physical condition. Tests include full pack march and swimming test.
8. Salary determined by basic tasks of frontier guardsman; additional imbursements for difficult working conditions, and separate payment of EUR 20-40/month.
9. At sea the unit primarily uses fast rubber boats with outboards; also air support where necessary. Weaponry similar to police. Use of canine units important.
10. Lending of equipment and materiel.
11. Periodically, sometimes as back-up for police.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 22.5.2005
More on this subject:
 Hundreds of Finns in special forces units
Links:
Finnish Police
Utti Jaeger Regiment
Frontier Guard
JUKKA HARJU / Helsingin Sanomat
jukka.harju@hs.fi
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