Every Finn liable for service in the armed forces will remain part of the reserve until the age of 65, according to the new law signed by Finland’s president, Alexander Stubb, on Monday.
The need to increase the maximum age for reservists was first discussed in Finland following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which led the country to abandon its longstanding neutrality and join NATO the following year.
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The reform is part of a plan to increase the country’s reserve forces to one million by 2031, said Finland’s Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen.
“This and our other measures to bolster our defence signal that Finland ensures its security now and in the future,” he said, adding that a broad reserve force is the foundation of Finnish national defense.
The current upper limit for remaining in the reserve is 50 years for enlisted men and 60 years for non-commissioned officers and officers. It will now be increased to 65, except officers with ranks of colonel, naval captain, or higher, who will remain part of the reserve for as long as they are fit for service.
The reform will go into effect on January 1, 2026, and will apply only to those liable for military service as of that date.
A million in reserve
The law, introduced by the cabinet of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, is meant to increase the pool of reservists available to the armed forces during emergencies, when qualified personnel might otherwise be unavailable.
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It is meant primarily as a transition measure to help build up a reserve force of one million, and is expected to expand the reserves by about 125,000 troops.
Currently, 870,000 out of the total Finnish population of 5.5 million are in reserve, with wartime planning calling for 280,000 active personnel, supplemented by reservists as needed.
Finland is one of the few European countries that retained compulsory national service for men after the Cold War.