Defence Chief calls for shorter period of alternative service for pacifists
Admiral Kaskeala speaks at opening of National Defence Course
Juhani Kaskeala
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Finland’s Chief of Defence, Admiral Juhani Kaskeala says that he would be willing to a shorten the period of alternative service for conscientious objectors from the present 13 months to 12 months.
Kaskeala’s proposal would make the period of alternative service as long as the maximum length served by conscripts; the period of military service can vary from six to 12 months. The current length of alternative service is seen as punitively long by Amnesty International, which recognises Finnish men who are imprisoned for refusing all types of national service as prisoners of conscience.
Speaking at the opening of the latest National Defence Course, Kaskeala also said that the work performed by the COs should be such that it supports national security, and that it should not be perceived as a punishment.
Kaskeala defended the conscription system. In his view, Finnish reservists are "soldiers of a very high calibre compared with those recruited by professional armies". He added that in international crisis management forces, the professional skill of Finnish reservists enjoys "widespread international respect".
"We do not want to, and we are not even capable of hiring a sufficient number of professional soldiers for the use and maintenance of all of our systems", Kaskeala said.
"It would not be expedient to professionalise the Defence Forces because of the development of military technology."
Kaskeala also opposes the adoption of a very selective system of conscription. He estimates that the maintenance of a high-quality reservist army requires the involvement of "all fit young men", or between 75 and 80 percent of each age group.
However, he would be willing to relieve those over the age of 40 of the obligation for military duty.
Admiral Kaskeala noted that much of the war materiel acquired by the Defence Forces during the 1990s will become obsolete in the coming decade, at which point he expects the wartime force to be reduced by 100,000 reservists to just 250,000 soldiers.
Kaskeala’s proposal would make the period of alternative service as long as the maximum length served by conscripts; the period of military service can vary from six to 12 months. The current length of alternative service is seen as punitively long by Amnesty International, which recognises Finnish men who are imprisoned for refusing all types of national service as prisoners of conscience.
Speaking at the opening of the latest National Defence Course, Kaskeala also said that the work performed by the COs should be such that it supports national security, and that it should not be perceived as a punishment.
Kaskeala defended the conscription system. In his view, Finnish reservists are "soldiers of a very high calibre compared with those recruited by professional armies". He added that in international crisis management forces, the professional skill of Finnish reservists enjoys "widespread international respect".
"We do not want to, and we are not even capable of hiring a sufficient number of professional soldiers for the use and maintenance of all of our systems", Kaskeala said.
"It would not be expedient to professionalise the Defence Forces because of the development of military technology."
Kaskeala also opposes the adoption of a very selective system of conscription. He estimates that the maintenance of a high-quality reservist army requires the involvement of "all fit young men", or between 75 and 80 percent of each age group.
However, he would be willing to relieve those over the age of 40 of the obligation for military duty.
Admiral Kaskeala noted that much of the war materiel acquired by the Defence Forces during the 1990s will become obsolete in the coming decade, at which point he expects the wartime force to be reduced by 100,000 reservists to just 250,000 soldiers.
Helsingin Sanomat