The Jaeger Brigade will hold the local defence exercise Lapland Stronghold in the area of Inari Municipality during 2.–6.9.2024.
The objective of the exercise is to sustain and develop local forces’ readiness for areal combat and protection tasks as well as to reinforce the local forces’, authorities’ and business sector’s co-operating ability and preparedness for disturbance situations. The exercise will also mark the closing exercise, so-called final battle, of the Military Police contingent mustering out from the Jaeger Brigade into the reserve.
From the Finnish Defence Forces, the exercise will be participated by up to c. 550 personnel and 80 vehicles. The Finnish Defence Forces’ personnel will include service personnel, reservists and conscripts. Additionally, the exercise will be participated by personnel from the Lapland Border Guard District, Lapland Police Department, Regional State Administrative Agency for Lapland, Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Lapland, National Emergency Supply Agency, Wellbeing Services County of Lapland, Finavia, and the municipalities of Inari, Utsjoki, Enontekiö, and Muonio.
The exercise will be commanded by Deputy Commander of the Jaeger Brigade, Colonel Ari Mure.
In the area of Inari Municipality, personnel and vehicles of the Finnish Defence Forces and several agencies will be on the move. The training audience forces will use blank drilling ammunition that cause noise but pose no harm. The areas to be used for exercise drilling activity will be cordoned off from any other activity. The military police and training audience forces undertaking training will guide and control traffic.
In the exercise, military operating will be drilled in Inari in the village centre of Ivalo and in Anninkatu area. The community centre Kuulas and the former secondary school building on Rantatie in Ivalo will be used by the Finnish Defence Forces during the exercise, and the facilities will be closed to other activities.
Inter-agency co-operation drilling will be conducted in Ivalo at Rajankangas on 3.9., at Ivalo Airport on 4.9., and at Ivalo municipality building on 5.9.
• At Rajankangas on 3.9., drilling by the Police and Lapland Border Guard District will produce sound of shots fired and smoke.
• At Ivalo Airport on 4.9., the area used for drilling by the Police, Finavia and Jaeger Brigade will be cordoned off.
• At Inari Municipality building in Ivalo on 5.9., the area of the building used for inter-agency co-operation drilling will be cordoned off, and the building’s services will remain unavailable for the duration of the day.
– In situation drills on the agency property of the Lapland Border Guard District and Ivalo Police Station, at Ivalo Airport, and at Inari Municipality building in Ivalo, the main objective of the Police is to improve inter-agency co-operation as in other co-operating exercises. We have planned the drills so that they emphasise particularly joint command of operating as well as common procedures. At the local level, it is crucial for us to know the other authorities and co-operation partners. These exercise drills offer us a good opportunity for this, says Chief Inspector Jukka-Pekka Salmela from Lapland Police Department.
The local defence exercise Lapland Stronghold is part of the Army Command -led entity for local defence exercises.
Follow the exercise on the social media channels of the Jaeger Brigade and Army with hashtags #paikallispuolustus #paikallisturvallisuus #paikallispuolustajat #LaplandStronghold
