Commander of the Army inspected exercise Saber Strike 26 in Kainuu

Commander of the Finnish Army, Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki inspected the light infantry exercise Saber Strike 26 on 19-20 May. In the current phase of the exercise, Rock Sisu, units from Allied countries train in the Vuosanka training area independently.

First, Commander of the Army followed the training of Kainuu Jaeger Battalion and a British 3 Rifles infantry battalion in the Hoikankangas garrison area. The British units have been training in Kainuu all May with Finnish units, and the current training is preparing them for field training exercise Northern Star 26. 

The inspection continued in the Vuosanka training area where units from the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland, Italy and Hungary train together in exercise Saber Strike 26. The exercise builds a solid foundation for units’ cooperation and improvement of interoperability. 

– It`s just like a jungle but drier. Same schools and drills work as in jungle. Keep pushing through!, says a company commander of a British 3 PARA, an airborne infantry battalion.

The exercise is also a good opportunity to have repetitive training on section-to-company activities in the surroundings of North-eastern Finland. Commander of the Army was especially satisfied with the general look of the troops and their skills.

– Topics that have been brought up in conversations with our allies include light infantry's small-unit or fireteam tactics, challenging environment and conditions and the ability to adjust one’s operating methods to the Northern conditions and terrain. The exercise theme, Rock Sisu, manifests itself nicely in the attitude of the troops. 

The phase starting on Friday, the field exercise Northern Star 26 led by Kainuu Brigade, is the final field training exercise for some of the participating conscripts, and a good opportunity to improve interoperability. The exercise will end on 30 May.