US Marines learn crisis management skills in Finland

Finns teach "common sense" approach to American soldiers

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By Kristiina Markkanen
     
      Mayor Herman Norlander arrives at the base of a unit of peacekeeping soldiers of the United States Marine Corps for negotiations.
      The soldiers raise their concerns: there has been a complaint that the water is of particularly poor quality in the districts of the city inhabited by the Jutland minority.
      This upsets the mayor, but when the negotiators mention the media and sources of international financial aid, he agrees to cooperate.
      This is one of the role-playing exercises at the UN Training Centre at the Niinisalo garrison in Finland.
      Playing the part of the mayor is Sergeant Jari Huuhtanen, who has experience in peacekeeping missions in missions in Kosovo and Kabul.
      The Marines portray themselves.
     
Soldiers from around the world have received training in Niinisalo, and this is the first time that Americans have participated in such a course.
      Taking part in the exercise is a 15-member Civil and Military Cooperation (CIMIC) group of Marine Corps reservists.
      The guests have more international experience than most soldiers. One has worked in Japan, and another in Niger.
      The group includes lawyers, engineers, and businessmen. There is even a museum curator among the group.
      The reservists have solid military training behind them, and demanding tasks in Iraq, Afghanistan, or Africa ahead of them. Nevertheless, they are looking for something special in Finland.
      "Healthy common sense", says the leader of the course Mikko Kurko, explaining its main purpose.
     
The Americans themselves say that while the books that are read at American military academies include instruction on cultural interaction, the practice is somewhat hit-and-miss out in the field.
      The Marines have come to Finland to learn practical people skills with the help of sketches and role-playing.
      The curriculum includes instruction on seating arrangements for negotiators, what beverages to have available, and other practical matters.
      "The instructors point out any mistakes immediately", says Colonel Jeffrey Acosta.
      After the course, the group will return to their base at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina to evaluate what they learned. After that, the Americans will decide whether or not to send more soldiers in Finland for training.
     
So how did the week go?
      The Americans say that they have experienced the sauna and Finnish rye bread. There was plenty of praise for the course.
      "We even got to try those cow bells", says Lieutenant-Colonel Taryn Gude, one of the two women in the group, who works as a business management consultant in her day job.
      Cow bells?
      They are the traditional weights shaped like cow bells used by Russian soldiers, which Finnish soldiers also use in the gym to keep in shape.
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 28.8.2005  

More on this subject:
 BACKGROUND: Civilian-military cooperation

Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finnish peacekeeping role in Cyprus ends at Midsummer (13.6.2005)
  New legislation would ease restrictions governing peacekeeping operations (11.5.2005)
  Chief of Defence urges quick decision on status of rapid deployment forces (24.2.2005)
  Finland to recruit professional soldiers for rapid deployment special force (10.11.2004)

KRISTIINA MARKKANEN / Helsingin Sanomat
kristiina.markkanen@hs.fi