Finland is in the process of making a substantial revision to its military service act, prompted by the Finnish Border Guard’s request. The proposed revision, as reported by Helsingin Sanomat, would allow reservists to be called up to assist in border supervision in urgent situations where professional border guards are unable to maintain security.
This call-up would involve providing assistance in real-life scenarios, such as dealing with communicable diseases or managing large influxes of migrants due to foreign influence operations. Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen emphasized the importance of defining upholding border security as a reason for calling up reservists.
The revision aims to address challenges posed by non-military activities from Russia that strain border officials. If approved by parliament, the revision would apply to a small percentage of military reserves, specifically those who completed their service with the Border Guard.
Reservists, comprising a significant portion of the Finnish Border Guard, could be called up for a maximum of 30 days for support duties without firearms. Their activation would require government approval and supervision by regular border officials.