Finland aims to expand military reserves and raise age threshold
Finland plans to increase the number of reservists (Photo: Getty Images)
The Finnish government has submitted a proposal to Parliament to raise the maximum age for reservists to 65, according to the Finnish Ministry of Defence.
The new upper age limit will apply to all conscripts born in 1966 or later. Reservists will remain liable for military service until the end of the year in which they turn 65.
The proposal foresees extending the service period by 15 years for enlisted personnel and non-commissioned officers, and by 5 years for officers. For reservists holding the ranks of colonel, captain, or higher, there will be no upper age limit - they will remain in the reserve as long as they are deemed fit for military service.
This will provide the Finnish Defence Forces and Border Guard with a broader range of options for assigning personnel to key positions during emergencies.
It is planned that the number of reservists will increase by 125,000 each year, reaching one million by 2031.
If Parliament approves the changes, the amendments will come into effect on January 1, 2026.
As previously reported by RBC-Ukraine, Germany plans to create the strongest army in Europe by recruiting volunteers and increasing the number of trained reservists each year.
The German government aims to recruit up to 40,000 new reservists annually until 2031. Volunteers who agree to undergo military training will receive €2,000.
France also plans to increase its number of reservists from 40,000 to 100,000 in the near future.
