I’ve just watched this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCctMvQVLlM) about future recruits who are going to enlist in the US army, at one point the narrator refers to them as “America’s Future Heroes” *(Amerikan tulevat sankarit)* which kind of true as they’re heading off to basic training *(peruskoulutus)* Upon the recruits heading to Fort Jackson the sign reads:
* VICTORY STARTS HERE *(Voitto alkaa tästä)*
* THIS WE’LL DEFEND *(Tätä me suojelemme)*
I know that in regards to RECBN *(vastaanottopataljoona)* which lasts from 4-10 days prior to basic, upon a recruit first stepping onto a army post, he or she is subjected to:
* Buzzcut (Male) – Hair pinned up (Female)
* Physical examination: Blood & Urine test
* Innoculations
* Issuing of uniforms or gear, a duffel bag or mouth guard
* Instruction on basic marching / standing
* General upkeep of the barracks
Regarding army BCT *(Taistelun peruskoulutus)*, it’s seperated into multiple phases:
**Phase 1** ***(Vaihe 1.)*** *-* known as the red phase *(punainen vaihe)* recruits are subjected to total control, being corrected by their drill sergeant, even the slightest infractions, is the time where recruits learn to be attentive at the slightest of details.
Drill and ceremony commences around the first week, recruits learn the correct procedures such as standing at attention, facing (left face / right face), ‘at ease or ‘to the rear’ along others, recruits are issued fake rifles, colloquially known as rubber ducks *(“kumiankka”)* so they’re familairzed with the weight or proper handling of said weapon before using the real thing.
Classroom sessions are provided into 7 army core values *(armeijan arvoja)* which are alltogether coined as LDRSHIP *(‘johtajuus’)*
* Loyality *(lojaliteetti)*
* Duty *(tehtävään)*
* Respect *(arvostus)*
* Selfless service *(omistautunut palvelu)*
* Honor *(kunnia)*
* Intregrity *(koskemattomuus)*
* Personal courage *(yksilöllinen rohkeus)*
These classes also involve day-to-day personal life within the army, tackling on topics such as sexual harassment prevention *(seksuaalisen häirinnän ehkäiseminen)* or racial discrimination *(rotusyrjintä)* so that recruits are aware of maintaing the image of the army either outside base or outside.
**Phase 2** ***(Vaihe 2.)*** \- known as the white phase *(valkoinen vaihe)* is where soldiers begin to be trained on marksmanship, heading on to the range *(ampumarata)* with their service weapon firing at various targets that progressively get further, not forgetting to include grenade launchers *(kranaatinheitin)*, machine guns *(konekivääri)*, or hand grenades *(käsikranaatti).*
There is an obstacle course a soldier has to go through within a time constraint known as the confidence course *(luottamuskurssi),* along that there is continual drill and ceremony training, around the end of this phase a soldier is expected to demonstrate proficiency with the weapons he or she is trained for, using the ‘go’ *(hyväksytty)* or ‘no-go’ *(hylätty)* exercises before being allowed to progress onto phase 3.
**Phase 3** ***(Vaihe 3.)*** \- known as the blue phase *(sininen vaihe)* designated as one of the more difficult part of training, a fitness test commences to prove if recruit adheres to the required standard prior to graduation, the passing mark is 360pts in order to advance further.
Those who passed will end up in nighttime combat operations *(yötaisteluoperaatio)*, Bivouac *(retkeily)* and FTX *(kenttäharjoitukset)* as well as MOUT *(kaupunkisodankäynti).* There’s no mess hall *(ruokalat)* out in the field, instead recruits rely on MRE’s *(taisteluannokset),* around this time the drill seregant culimates in a tactical FTX but will permit recruit squad leaders *(ryhmänjohtaja)* and platoon leaders *(joukkueenjohtaja)* on exercising decicion making, every part of the exercise will be different as being a soldier is of course dangerous, so they assess if he or she can demonstrate extreme aggression and fearlessness, tempered by intelligence along with common sense.
Following the FTX, recruits progress to the final leg of basic, known as recovery week *(toipumisviikko)*, is the period when soldiers must service or repair any items or weapons prior being taken into advanced training, also including bedding, issued equipment: helmet *(kypärä)*, canteen *(vesipullo)*, gas mask *(kaasunaamari)* and etc. This week is allocated for the final fitting of the recruits dress uniform also rehearsing for the graduation ceremony.
The timetable regarding life during basic training recruits go through:
|Time / *aika*|Activity / *toiminta*|Overview / *yleiskatsaus*|*Käännös:*|
|:-|:-|:-|:-|
|0430 *(4:30 aamulla)*|First Call *(ensimmäinen puhelu)*|Wake up to perform personal morning tasks and conduct hygiene. For males, shaving is mandatory every morning.|*Herää henkilökohtaisten aamutoimien ja hygienian suorittamiseksi. Miehillä parranajo on pakollista joka aamu.*|
|0500 *(5:00 aamulla)*|PT *(fyysinen harjoittelu)*|Form up in the company area, perform morning physical training (calisthenics and running).|*Muodostetaan komppanian alueella, suoritetaan aamupäivän fyysinen harjoittelu (voimistelu ja juoksu).*|
|0600 *(6:00 aamulla)*|Breakfast *(aamiainen)*|\-|*-*|
|0630 *(6:30 aamulla)*|Training *(harjoittelu)*|Begin the day’s scheduled training exercises.|*Aloita päivän suunnitellut harjoitukset.*|
|1200 *(klo 12:00)*|Lunch *(lounas)*|\-|*-*|
|1230 *(klo 12:30)*|Training *(harjoittelu)*|Continue the day’s scheduled training exercises.|*Jatka päivän suunniteltuja harjoituksia.*|
|1700 *(klo 5:00)*|Dinner *(illallinen)*|\-|*-*|
|1730 *(klo 5:30)*|Drill sergeant time *(‘kersantti aika’)*|Time for drill sergeants to speak with the recruits about any subject they may think requires attention. Mail call is also performed during this time.|*Kersanttien on aika puhua alokkaiden kanssa kaikista aiheista, jotka heidän mielestään vaativat huomiota. Tänä aikana suoritetaan myös postikutsu.*|
|2000 *(klo 8:00)*|Personal time *(henkilökohtainen aika)*|Time for recruits to engage in personal activities, such as writing letters, laundry, showering, relaxation, or sleep. Recruits may also catch up on platoon duties during this time, such as barracks cleaning or wall locker organization.|*Aika, jonka alokkaat voivat käyttää henkilökohtaisiin toimiin, kuten kirjeiden kirjoittamiseen, pyykinpesuun, suihkussa käyntiin, rentoutumiseen tai nukkumiseen. Alokkaat voivat tänä aikana hoitaa myös joukkueen tehtäviä, kuten parakkien siivousta tai seinäkaappien järjestämistä.*|
|2100 *(klo 9:00)*|Lights out *(‘valon sammuttaminen’)*|\-|\-|
In hindsight, for those who have **voluntarily** served in the Finnish army what is it like?
I have a few questions to ask about the subject:
* What’s the equivalent term for a Drill Sergeant upon heading to the camp for the first time meeting him?
* Do you get vaccinated, what type of uniform or gear are you provided?
* How is boot camp set out in the army for recruits?
* I know that the typical American infantryman starts with having an M16 when heading for weapons training, what are Finnish recruits issued?
* What is day to day life inside boot camp?
* Is the food served at the mess hall *(ruokala)* in Finland that ‘bad’ in comparison to the Western counterpart in terms of the menu?
* If there are classes, what do you learn?
by Old_North8419