Europe Eyes Finland’s Elite War Preparedness Course
European states are studying Finland’s elite war preparedness course as Poland, Germany and Britain consider similar crisis training programs.
Several European countries are looking at Finland’s long-running system for preparing members of the elite for a possible war and are considering similar programs of their own, Bloomberg reported.
According to the agency, Finland has operated this type of course for 65 years. The program has now drawn attention from other European states. Polish representatives have asked Finnish authorities for advice on setting up a comparable course, while German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier requested a briefing on the subject during his visit to Finland in May.
Britain has also identified the need for its own version of such a program. The proposal was included in the country’s 2025 Strategic Defence Review.
Bloomberg notes that Finland’s course is not open to personal applications. Invitations are sent out four times a year to selected participants, including politicians, academics, senior executives and leaders of major companies.
The program is designed for people in senior positions across business, government and public institutions. Participants often include politicians, researchers, museum directors and military leaders. Its purpose is to train them to think ahead and prepare for the most severe crisis scenarios.
Those selected for the course attend closed briefings and visit strategic sites. They live in barracks, wear military uniforms and take part in elements of army training. In some cases, the program also includes flights on military aircraft escorted by fighter jets.