Varmistin is the support association (1) for Finnish Defence Forces Häme Regional Command (2) troops.
The Finnish conscription system has more than 900 000 reservists available for wartime duties. 280 000 reservists and professional soldiers belong to various formations. After an initial full time training of approximately 6 to 12 months, reservists participate in refresher exercises, courses and voluntary military training during the following years and decades. Häme Regional Command organizes and supports both mandatory and voluntary training for its troops.
Varmistin supports the troops by:
- raising funds and obtaining resources for the troops’ voluntary training and capability enhancing materiel
- providing shooting opportunities by having a shooting association license, providing training and organizing shooting range access (3)
- raising awareness of voluntary military training and activating regional networks
- supporting voluntary international cooperation between troop members and reservist counterparts in various countries. (4)
Please feel free to contact Varmistin ry. International Affairs Officer Harri Koponen at harri.koponen(at)varmistin.fi, +358 44 500 0020 or jasenasiat(at)varmistin.fi if you have questions or wish to cooperate. Further contact details in Finnish on separate page.
For contacts to Finnish Defence Forces officials, please see FDF Häme Regional Office.
Further information
(1) Varmistin ry. is a registered assiciation (ry., i.e. ”rekisteröity yhdistys”), Finnish association registry number 2261328-9.
(2) Häme Regional Command is the part of Finnish Defence Forces / Army (FDF), which is responsible for local military presence in Päijät-Häme and Kanta-Häme regions, including reservist matters.
(3) Firearm ownership and shooting range operation in Finland are regulated. Varmistin provides all necessary administrative, training and range access support to enable its members and troop members civilian firearm ownership and regular training. Military firearms are kept in FDF premises, and firearms training / shooting with them only takes place during exercises.
(4) Ministry of Defence and FDF decide and manage all troop / formation / HQ participation in international excercises. Voluntary reservists may participate in international training and competition events. Varmistin provides administrative and in some cases financial support for voluntary participants, and may act as a point of contact between reservist parties. Participation in military events outside Finland requires certain permits by FDF, and typically also in hosting country. Varmistin may facilitate obtaining the permits.