Conscripts of the Guard Jaeger Regiment at a military oath ceremony in Kerava. Photo: Roni Rekomaa / Lehtikuva
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The Finnish government has proposed raising the upper age limit for reservists to 65, in a move that would expand the country’s military reserve by 125,000 people.
The proposed reform, announced by the Ministry of Defence, would apply to conscripts born in 1966 or later. It targets especially the rank-and-file soldiers, who under current rules leave the reserve at 50. Non-commissioned officers and commissioned officers currently exit the reserve at 60.
If approved, the change would bring the total number of reservists in Finland to around one million by 2031.
Antti Häkkänen, Minister of Defence and member of the National Coalition Party, said the reform would enhance Finland’s defensive capability by ensuring a larger pool of trained personnel remains available.
“It’s not enough to invest in equipment, major fighter jet procurements and army reforms, we also need Finnish citizens to participate,” Häkkänen told Yle.
The government said the age extension will not apply retroactively to those who have already reached their sixties. The Defence Forces would gain a new segment of personnel who are eligible for refresher training and mobilisation assignments between the ages of 50 and 65.
The ministry expects these older reservists to be deployed primarily in wartime roles. Although the reform would allow training for these individuals, officials do not foresee a substantial rise in the number of refresher exercises conducted.
The government has opened a consultation process on the proposal, with responses due by June. The aim is to submit the legislative proposal to Parliament before its summer recess.
The Ministry of Defence does not expect the reform to trigger mass withdrawals from the reserves. Finnish conscripts are automatically transferred to the reserve upon completing their compulsory service. Under the reform, only those with service-age eligibility and a background in the armed forces would be affected.
The expansion of the reserve comes at a time when Finland is reassessing its military readiness. The country formally joined NATO in 2023 and has increased defence spending in response to regional security developments.
Finland maintains a conscription-based defence model, with approximately 21,000 people completing military service each year. In wartime, the Defence Forces rely heavily on the reserve to reach full operational strength.
By increasing the age limit, the government intends to ensure that individuals with military training remain part of the national security framework for a longer period.
The Finnish Parliament is expected to debate the proposal later this year. If passed, the changes would begin to take effect from 2026.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
