My family is considering emigrating from Canada to Finland in the next 8 years or so. My partner is a citizen by birth and I would work towards achieving Finnish citizenship, a process I believe takes 5 years.
I’m currently in the Canadian military and I would be interested in participating in the mandatory service once I become a citizen. However, when I get citizenship I will be in my mid 40’s at the earliest.
[One source online](https://intti.fi/en/about-to-enter-into-the-military-) states that conscription age is 18-30. Would I be able to enter the reserves and go through basic in my 40’s? *(assuming I’m still in decent shape without serious injuries of course)*
6 comments
No, you would not.
I am happy that you are interested in defense of our country, but source is correct and age limit to completing mandatory service is 30.
There is voluntary defence training: https://mpk.fi/en/
I don’t know how that would work for you.
Canadian military is better structured, funded, equipped and more experienced in conflict.
The only learning experience you’d gain here is to see how it rolls here and maybe learn some finnish. And how to operate an AK based weapon system, but I think you’ve seen those around already.
Besides that you’d spend half a year to a year beating your head against a wall and having some zit faced 18yr old corpral boss you around for what, 5,80€/8,20€ or 12,10€ a day. I wouldn’t do that if I were you, with your experience and being like 40 years old haha.
But you can’t participate, so there’s that.
EDIT: Hey downvoters, quit the hate and let’s discuss.
Just to add: Come and live here with your Finnish partner, and after 4 years you can apply for citizenship (need to pass Finnish / Swedish language exam too). Takes about 6-12 months for them to grant it.
Yeah conscription itself ain’t the option for you. And if it was, I personnally couldn’t handle it if was continously yelled at by barely 20-olds. As it is the age when huge majority serve. There are alot of voluntary defence options as hobby in many NGOs in said field. In your shoes i would look there and ask if they require spesifically service finnish defence forces to join.