The 10th Mountain Division was created to operate in Arctic environments. Historically, some of those wintry European countries, including Sweden and Finland, have stayed relatively neutral during conflict.
However, that all changed in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine. Now, both have joined NATO hoping to strengthen partnerships, increase trust and build success.
“You can look at any conflict in the world right now or in history, the US has always fought together with our allies and partners,” Col. Jennifer Mykins said.
It was a historic moment for Finland — nearly three years ago — joining NATO in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It was a move that gave the United States another military partner. They’ve been working together ever since.
“The Finnish Defense Forces stand ready, every day, to take the blow and defend on home country and also defend the alliance in the north,” Brig. Gen. Matti Honko said.
Finnish General Matti Honko has 30 years of military experience. He served as the brigade commander responsible for the safety of Helsinki. Now, he’s a special adviser to the 10th Mountain Division and deputy commanding general of interoperability. He’s helping lead the charge with the partnership.
The division is leveraging this interoperability to increase our war-fighting readiness, embedding the interoperability into our culture, into our planning, training and modernization,” Honko added.
“If you look at the chief of staff in the Army, the secretary of the Army right now, they’re focused on transforming this army. It’s the biggest transformation we’ve done as a military, as an Army, since the Cold War,” Mykins added.
Honko will not only serve as advisor, he’ll be stationed at Fort Drum for two years as a part of the leadership team.
“I think the exchange of personnel, especially at the leadership level, is the ultimate act of trust. That’s the most effective way to forge the necessary common understanding, which is the basis of true interoperability,” Honko said.
It’s a move the Army truly believes will benefit both countries and all of NATO.
“So, if the 10th Mountain is called to deploy there or we’re doing an exercise, Matti and the Fins know how to operate there. They understand the environment. While we’ve deployed there, no one knows the environment better than them,” Brig. Gen. Adam Cobb said.
If it works the way the Army believes it will, this could be the first of a regular rotation.
Adding other countries to the assignment is being talked about, Spectrum News 1 is told, but there are no firm plans to do that right now.