Mechanized Company Commander Course combines theory and practice within Arrow 17 -exercise

Arrow 17 -exercise created an excellent frame to complete a three day international course regarding Mechanized Company's structure and use.

The course was directed by lieutenant colonel (Lt.Col) Janne Hakaniemi, the commandant of the Armour School. The 12 participants on the course were coming from Denmark, Estonia, Sweden and Latvia.

Lt.Col Hakaniemi lists the main objectives of the course:

• Finnish terrain and conditions
• Mechanized Company's structure and use
• Mechanized Battalion Battlegroup briefly based on Finnish manuals and instructions
• attack as part of Mechanized Battlegroup with support of branches
• to compare experiences between countries

Learning and changing experiences

- The aim of this course is also to compare experiences between participating countries, Hakaniemi sums up.

Hakaniemi explains that many of the participants have years of experience in their own countries so they have a lot to offer to each other and to Finns too. Lt.Col Hakaniemi enhances the importance of simulators as part of training in an exercise like Arrow 17.

- The simulator-assisted two-way maneuvers offer us an excellent tool for feedback regarding conscripts but also for the instructors.

When the course is coming to its end, the course director seems satisfied. He says that the international participants come from countries where the Armys focus is in international operations. Lt.Col Hakaniemi explains that Finland has a long and internationally known tradition and knowledge in national defense and has a lot to give in this aspect. Also the students are satisfied.

Lessons learned and to be taken home

Danish captain Franz Staerk is an experienced infantry instructor and is impressed by the Finnish conscript training in general.

- I’m very big fan of conscripts. So I’m gaining a lot of good information for my future work. So far I’m very happy, says captain Staerk.

-It made me very happy to see that the tank companies and the infantry companies on the field were not using radios but hand signals. Some younger guys had told me that you can’t command a platoon with hand signals, but you can. I’ve just seen it!

Captain Stefan Andersson from Sweden is satisfied with the course too.

- I find this course very interesting so far to compare different tactics and different systems and how the tactics effect on both company level and battalion level. It very good exchange to me. It is enriching to meet other nationalities also.

Captain Madis Koosa comes from Estonia

- The course is necessary for us because we have just started to build our mechanized force and first company that received CV90 combat vehicles, so we want to see how other neighbors are using the mechanized units and we can learn from them. The exercises are quite the same in Estonia, we have our biggest exercise starting next week, Kevadtorm. We have basically the same pattern and rhythm. I got also very useful information how you are using the UAVs (Unmanned Arial Vehicle) to support the fast moving forces and that’s something to bring back home because we have just bought our UAVs

Cadet Kaspars Lauzinieks from Latvia

- A lot of experience, a lot of information for us, few lessons learned already from other countries which have bigger experience in mechanized infantry and in the battle groups. Basically this gives us a lot of experience and a great opportunity for us to see live movement and the maneuvers.