Guard Jaeger Regiment will train local defence in Uusimaa

Guard Jaeger Regiment
Publication date 20.8.2026 16.54 | Published in English on 21.8.2026 at 16.47
Type:Press release
Conscripts train in combat gear in a built-in area indoors.

The local defence exercise Lively Stronghold 26 led by the Guard Jaeger Regiment, concentrating in the Uusimaa region, will bring together a training audience of around 550 soldiers from 30 August to 4 September 2026. In addition to the Guard Jaeger Regiment, units from the Coastal Brigade, Naval and Army Academies, authorities and other actors in the area, and the cities of Vantaa and Kerava will take part in the exercise.

Updated: 31.8.2026 and 28.8.2026: Added links to noise bulletins, 27.8.2026: The location of the Kerava civic event has been specified.

The strength of the training audience will be approx. 550, most of them conscripts and reservists. The objective of the exercise is to provide training to conscripts and reservists and enhance professional military personnel’s know-how in local defence tasks, such as infrastructure protection, territorial surveillance and provision of assistance to other authorities. The exercise will contribute to the ability to defend Uusimaa and the capital region together with other authorities and actors.  One of the themes of the exercise is inter-agency cooperation in the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport area.  The exercise will be led by Deputy Commander of the Guard Jaeger Regiment, Colonel Jussi Annala.

Exercise activity will be visible, in particular, in the area of Vantaa and Kerava.  Activities related to the exercise can take place 24/7 both in the field and urban areas in buildings reserved for the exercise.   The training units consist of soldiers and other authorities moving in combat gear at or near the exercise locations on foot or by vehicles.  Individuals taking part in target activity can be wearing civilian clothing.  Practice ammunition will be used in the exercise, mainly inside the buildings reserved for the exercise, but this may cause noise outside as well. 

The Lively Stronghold 2026 local defence exercise is a part of a series of national local defence exercises organised twice a year across Finland.  Local defence exercises enhance the local authorities’ and local forces’ joint readiness at the local level as part of the society’s comprehensive security. You can read more about this autumn’s local defence exercises in this Army press release: Syksyn paikallispuolustusharjoitukset kehittävät viranomaisten reagointikykyä paikalliselta tasolta lähtien.

Public event at the Kerava City Square on Tuesday 1 September  - Welcome!

In connection with the exercise, on Tuesday, 1 September the authorities will hold a joint public event at the Kerava City Square (Keravanaukio, Kauppakaari 6) 1-3 p.m. At the City Square event, the public will have an opportunity to get acquainted with Defence Forces and other authorities. The Soldiers’ Home will also be there with a cafeteria sales point. 

This event will be open and free to the public.  Welcome to find out more about local defence! 

Lively Stronghold 26

  • Time: 30 August - 04 September 2026
  • Exercise area: Uusimaa
  • Number of troops c. 550
  • Number of vehicles c. 90
  • Participating agencies: Eastern Uusimaa Police Department, Rescue Department of Central Uusimaa, Finnish Border Guard, Customs, Finavia, Fintraffic, Gulf of Finland Coast Guard District, and the Cities of Kerava and Vantaa
  • Exercise Director: Colonel Jussi Annala
  • You can follow the exercise on Army and Guard Jaeger Regiment social media channels: #LivelyStronghold26, #paikallispuolustus ja #kaartjr.
     

Training schedules and places:


More information can be found in the noise information via the link.
 

Helsinki:

Vantaa:

Tuusula:

Sipoo

Järvenpää:

Kerava

Espoo:
Uusimaa