REPORT BY THE DEFENCE MINISTRY'S COMMISSION OF INQUIRY FOR VOLUNTARY DEFENCE WORK

The security climate surrounding Finland has undergone vast changes throughout the last decade. The antagonisms of the Cold War have vanished, and the probability of an armed assault within Europe has diminished. Simultaneously, new factors posing threats to security have gained in strength. Distinguishing internal and external securities has become ever more demanding. Many of the so-called new threats affect individual citizens to a larger extent.

Voluntary defence activity is supported by authorities by law, as well as based on private and organizational voluntarism. The high level of willingness for national defence and voluntary activism are assets, which to a higher degree should be utilized in serving military preparedness, countering new threats and guaranteeing every-day security of citizens. The interdependence among different branches of society concerning vital functions serves to accentuate the necessity of cooperative preparations. Voluntary national defence should be organized so as to enable an effective cooperation between authorities and organizations on all levels.

Issues concerning the voluntary activities that need to be more clearly defined encompass leadership-issues, task- and resource-management, as well as the rights and responsibilities of participants. Systems relating to volunteer reserves, engagement, and incentives should undergo development. Concurrently, overlapping functions need to be eliminated.

The commission supports the proposal put forward by the Defence staff on November 3rd 2003 regarding cross-administrative activity centres. Through these centres, cooperation between different official branches and organizations could be strengthened. Buildings, premises and equipment that could serve the activity centres are for example those of defence units, emergency authorities, communes and different organizations. The network of activity centres would span the country as a whole. The commission suggests a thorough national mapping of the needed sites for activity centres.

The commission regards the planned founding of provincial troops as a good foundation for further development of voluntary national defence. Part of the regional troops would be formed into provincial troops. During this process, the voluntary will for engagement among reservists would be utilized during recruitment, education and training. The main objectives for the provincial troops would be to increase the both the performance of the national defence as well as military the skills among reservists. Also, defence preparedness for executive assistance tasks would be raised. Provincial troops would form a part of the defence organization, and would be governed in accordance with defence management principles. Support units such as National Defence Training Association would give aid during staff recruitment, education and training.

The commission puts forward for consideration the enforcement of the position of National Defence Training Association, by regulating its status to a public judicial organization and the granting of new tasks. The new tasks would cover recruiting, leading and training instructive and support units, administering local activity centres, recruiting training staff with will for engagement, training troops and formations upon official request, as well as maintaining educational activities as a part of the official training system for states of emergency.


The commission draws special attention to the position of women that do not have compulsory military service within the voluntary national defence, and recommends that female participation in educational would be made possible through the organizational activities as well as through the above mentioned instructive and support units. Officials should make an inquiry concerning the needs and possibilities for women’s positions in organizations for states of emergency. The position of women, along with their rights and duties, should be secured by regulation and development of the incentives.

In case the voluntary national defence is expanded on the basis of the recommendations within this report, the commission advises that the composition and working procedures of the board of negotiation for voluntary national defence should be inspected. Practical measures that could be considered include the founding of a cooperative organ in order to adjust the needs of official agents and voluntary organizations. The board of negotiation would, on a yearly basis, manage and coordinate a co-operational procedure with willing organizations. Thus, officials and organization could reach a mutual agreement concerning common operational goals and, if needed, the use of common resources.

In case it is desired that voluntary national defence is to become a permanent activity supporting official activities during both normal circumstances and states of emergency, then it needs a legislative foundation defining its position, duties and responsibilities to stand upon. Of the above-mentioned suggested measures, the primary aim would be making a separate law concerning voluntary national defence. Central general areas are: enabling military training by voluntarism, utilizing provincial troops even for demanding executive assistance tasks, as well as creating personal reserve- and engagement systems. In addition to a separate statute, modifications need to be made to guideline regulations as well as numerous specific regulations. The Associations Act covers the participation of civic organization in voluntary national defence to a sufficient degree.

In conclusion, the commission suggests that the development of voluntary national defence in accordance with the measures described above should be carried out along with the reforms within the defence administration and the defence management and administrative systems, so that the objectives would be reached by January 1st 2008.