Local defence exercise Kehä 1/22 will once again bring inter-agency cooperation to Uusimaa

Local defence exercise Kehä 1/22 led by the Guard Jaeger Regiment will be organized in the area of Uusimaa from 6 to 11 March 2022. The strength of the training units will be around 740 consisting of conscripts, reservists and regular personnel. The exercise will be directed by the Deputy Commander of the Guard Jaeger Regiment, Colonel Vesa Laitonen.

The exercise will also comprise training of local-level inter-agency cooperation with the goal of enhancing operating capabilities between agencies.  The Eastern Uusimaa Police Department, Helsinki Rescue Department and the Eastern Uusimaa Emergency Services Department and Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority are the agencies involved in the exercise.

In the Kehä 1/22 local defence exercise, the operations of the units will mainly concentrate in the area of Eastern and Central Uusimaa.  The exercise localities include Porvoo, Loviisa, Tuusula, Sipoo, Helsinki, Vantaa and Espoo. The training units will be wearing a fighting load, including an assault rifle. The opposing forces may wear civilian clothing.  The salaried personnel will be wearing yellow high-visibility vests on their combat uniform. There are around 160 vehicles involved in the exercise, including armoured vehicles.  Dummy ammunition will be used in some of the training areas that may cause noise in the surroundings.  The localities and times will be provided in a Noise and Firings Notice.

Representatives of media are welcome to a Media Day held in Porvoo on Wednesday 9 March 2022. The event will give you an opportunity to learn about this inter-agency cooperation exercise.  You may sign up for the Media Day contacting the Public Information Officer for the Exercise (contact information below). Please send your registration by 7.3.

Kehä 1/22 is a part of a continuum of local defence exercises.  Local defence exercises are organized twice a year across  Finland.  In these exercises, focus is placed on developing local forces’ performance and training of cooperation with various authorities. 

You may follow the exercise on social media with hashtags:  #kehä22, #kaartjr, #maavoimat, #paikallisturvallisuus ja #paikallispuolustajat.

Contacts: Lotta Laaksonen, Public Information Officer for the Exercise, +358 299 421 233, [email protected]