# Two Estonian conscripts take part in Finland's reserve officer training

- Source: Nordic Defence Sector (https://nordicdefencesector.com)
- Canonical URL: https://nordicdefencesector.com/en/article/new-reserve-officer-course-started-in-fredrikshamn-finland
- Published: 2026-11-11
- Type: News brief · Section: Land · Country: finland
- Language: en — machine translation from sv; the sv version is authoritative: https://nordicdefencesector.com/sv/article/new-reserve-officer-course-started-in-fredrikshamn-finland.md
- Also available in: de (https://nordicdefencesector.com/de/article/new-reserve-officer-course-started-in-fredrikshamn-finland.md), dk (https://nordicdefencesector.com/dk/article/new-reserve-officer-course-started-in-fredrikshamn-finland.md), es (https://nordicdefencesector.com/es/article/new-reserve-officer-course-started-in-fredrikshamn-finland.md), fi (https://nordicdefencesector.com/fi/article/new-reserve-officer-course-started-in-fredrikshamn-finland.md), fr (https://nordicdefencesector.com/fr/article/new-reserve-officer-course-started-in-fredrikshamn-finland.md), it (https://nordicdefencesector.com/it/article/new-reserve-officer-course-started-in-fredrikshamn-finland.md), no (https://nordicdefencesector.com/no/article/new-reserve-officer-course-started-in-fredrikshamn-finland.md), pl (https://nordicdefencesector.com/pl/article/new-reserve-officer-course-started-in-fredrikshamn-finland.md)
- Primary source: https://puolustusvoimat.fi/-/1950813/reserviupseerikurssi-269-alkoi-haminassa
- Tags: estonia, finland, finnish defence force, reserve officer training, hamina, border guard finland

> 635 soldiers from the Finnish army, navy and border guard, together with two Estonian conscripts, began the reserve officer course at the Army Academy in Hamina on 8 November 2026.

Two Estonian conscripts are taking part in the reserve officer course that began in Hamina (Fredrikshamn), Finland, on 8 November. This is the first time since 2004 that Estonian conscripts have been trained as reserve officers in Finland.

[According to](https://puolustusvoimat.fi/-/1950813/reserviupseerikurssi-269-alkoi-haminassa) the Finnish Defence Forces (Puolustusvoimat), course 269 comprises a total of 635 participants from the army, navy and the Finnish Border Guard (Rajavartiolaitos).

The training lasts 14 weeks and prepares participants to lead military units in war. After the course, they return to their respective units for continued training.

The training also incorporates lessons from the war in Ukraine, including combat technique and leadership.

## FAQ

**When and where did the new reserve officer course begin in Finland?**

The reserve officer course began on 8 November 2026 in Hamina in south-eastern Finland. Colonel Jari Kielenniva, Commander of the Reserve Officer School, appointed the participants as officer cadets at a ceremony, and the course is led by Lieutenant Colonel Tino Savolainen. Last fact-checked: 2026-11-11.

**How many soldiers are taking part in the reserve officer course and how long does it last?**

The course began with 635 soldiers from the Army, the Navy and the Border Guard, and lasts 14 weeks. The training is provided at five basic units: the spearhead company, the reconnaissance company, the engineer company, the staff company and the signals company, as well as the fire battery. After the course, the officer cadets return to their original units. Last fact-checked: 2026-11-11.

**Which Estonian participants are part of the course, and what is historically significant about this?**

Two Estonian conscripts are taking part in the course, which is the first time since course 224 in 2004 that Estonian soldiers have been trained as reserve officers in Finland. This marks a break in a long-standing pause in Finnish-Estonian military training cooperation. Last fact-checked: 2026-11-11.

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