Editing Military service (section)

====Finland====
{{Main|Conscription in Finland}}

[[Finland]] has mandatory military service for men of a minimum duration of five and half months (165 days); depending on the assigned position: those trained as officers or [[Non-commissioned officer|NCOs]] serve for eleven and half months (347 days), specialist troops serve for eight and half (255 days) or eleven and half months, while rank and file serve for the minimum period. Unarmed service is also possible, and lasts eight and half months (270 days) or eleven and half (347 days).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/wcm/424acb8043d3656c9e40df028affb6da/Conscript_2014_web_small.pdf?MOD=AJPERES |title=Conscript 2014: A guide for you who are preparing to carry out your military service |access-date=15 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010055639/http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/wcm/424acb8043d3656c9e40df028affb6da/Conscript_2014_web_small.pdf?MOD=AJPERES |archive-date=10 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> All males are required to participate in the drafting event ({{langx|fi|kutsunnat}}) in their [[Finnish nationality law#Municipal domicile and registration|municipality of domicile]] in the year that they turn 18. The fitness for service and the actual induction to the service then takes place at the time and place decided individually for each conscript during the drafting event. The induction takes place usually at the age of 19 but the allowed age range is 18&ndash;29. The delayed induction is permissible for serious personal reasons, such as studies, but induction cannot be delayed beyond 29. The military strives to accommodate the wishes of the future conscript when determining the time of induction and the duty location, but these are ultimately determined by the needs of service.<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web|url=http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/portal/puolustusvoimat.fi/?urile=wcm:path:/EN+Puolustusvoimat.fi/Puolustusvoimat.fi+en/Defence+Forces/conscript/conscript|title=Conscript}}</ref>

Since 1995, women have been able to volunteer for military service. During the first 45 days, women have an option to quit at will.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/portal/puolustusvoimat.fi/?urile=wcm:path:/EN+Puolustusvoimat.fi/Puolustusvoimat.fi+en/Defence+Forces/conscript/Voluntary+military+service+for+women/Voluntary+military+service+for+women|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907040528/http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/portal/puolustusvoimat.fi/?urile=wcm:path:/EN+Puolustusvoimat.fi/Puolustusvoimat.fi+en/Defence+Forces/conscript/Voluntary+military+service+for+women/Voluntary+military+service+for+women|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-09-07|title=Defence Forces > Conscript > Voluntary military service for women > "Voluntary military service for women"}}</ref> Having served for 45 days, they fall under the same obligation to serve as men except for medical reasons. A pregnancy during service would interrupt the service but not automatically cause a medical discharge.

Belonging in a sexual minority does not result in an exemption.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/portal/puolustusvoimat.fi/?urile=wcm:path:/EN+Puolustusvoimat.fi/Puolustusvoimat.fi+en/Defence+Forces/conscript/Non-discrimination+policies/Non-discrimination+policies|title=Defence Forces > Conscript > Non-discrimination policies > "Non-discrimination policies"}}</ref> Transgender individuals usually get their service postponed until they have undergone sex reassignment surgery.

[[Non-military service]] of twelve months is available for men whose conscience prevents them from serving in the military. Men who refuse to serve at all are sent to prison for six months or half the time of their remaining non-military service at the time of refusal. In theory, male citizens from the demilitarized [[Åland]] region are to serve in customs offices or [[lighthouse]]s, but since this service has not been arranged, they are always exempted in practice. [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]' service is deferred for three years, if they present a written testimony, not older than two months, from the congregation of their status as baptized and active members of the congregation. Jehovah's Witnesses will be exempted from peacetime duty at the beginning of the age 29. Military service has been mandatory for men throughout the history of independent Finland since 1917. Soldiers and civilian servicemen receive a daily allowance of €5 (days 1 – 165), €8.35 (days 165 – 255), or €11.70 (onward from day 255).<ref name=autogenerated2 />

Approximately 20% are trained as NCOs (corporals, sergeants), and 10% are trained as officers-in-reserve (second lieutenant). In wartime, it is expected that the officers-in-reserve fulfill most platoon leader and company commander positions. At the beginning of the service, all men go through same basic training of eight weeks. After this eight-week period it is decided who will be trained as NCOs or officers.

Having completed the initial part of the service as a conscript, the soldier is placed in the [[Reservist|reserve]]. Reservists may be called for mandatory refresher exercises. Rank and file serve a maximum of 40 days, specialists 75 days and officers and NCOs 100 days. Per refresher course day, the reservists receive a taxable salary of about fifty euros. The salary depends slightly on the military rank: officers receive €56, NCOs €53 and rank-and file €51 per day. The service is mandatory; it is not possible to refuse an order to attend the refresher exercise, only to apply for a postponement of the service if personal or employer's urgent and non-avoidable needs require this. The postponement is not always granted. If the reservist experiences a crisis of conscience that prevents him or her from further execution of military service, the reservist can apply for civilian service. The civilian service for reservists takes a form of a five-day course at Lapinjärvi Civilian Service Institution. After the course, the reservist is permanently freed of military service during peace and war.

There are no general exemptions for the conscription. The law requires employers, landlords etc. to continue any pre-existing contracts after the service. For medical reasons, exemption or postponing is given by the military authority after an examination by a military or military-appointed doctor. If the disability is expected to be cured, the exemption is temporary, and the service is postponed. If the disability continues until the male turns 25, he is exempted. The basic doctrine is that the great majority of each age cohort serve, and the size of the active army can be adjusted by changing the maximum age of reservists to be called up, instead of using selective service.

The option to military service is civilian service (available to females after completing 45 days of military service), where an individual subject to conscript finds a job at some public institution, where they serve for 11 and half months, the same as the longest rank-and-file service (drivers). Before 2008, the law required 13 months, which was criticized for being punitive internationally by the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations, The European Committee of Social Rights, The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe and Amnesty International.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://akl-web.fi/en/discrimination|title=Welcome to Finland – Where Refusing to Kill is Criminal! - AKL|website=akl-web.fi}}</ref>

The national security policy of Finland is based on a credible independent defence of all Finnish territory. The maximum number of military personnel abroad is limited to 2,000 (out of the 900,000 available reserve). Contributions to the UN troops comprise only professional soldiers and trained, paid reservists who have specifically applied to such operations. Therefore, no "[[expeditionary war]]s" argument can be made against conscription.

[[Draft dodging]] is nearly non-existent, as failure to show up to a drafting event immediately leads to an arrest warrant, and the delinquent is brought by the police to either to the drafting event (if still in progress) or to the regional military office for a physical examination and subsequent determination of induction time. Disobeying the induction order also causes the arrest warrant to be issued and is prosecuted as absence without leave, or after five days of absence, as [[desertion]]. Proof of military or civil service is generally required to obtain a 5-year [[passport]] (some exceptions can apply). Without proof, the passport is valid, at the longest, until the applicant's 28th birthday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://poliisi.fi/poliisi/home.nsf/pages/ADF9B1D5D0366555C225780D003A200D?opendocument|title=Passports for persons liable for military service|access-date=12 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105004432/http://www.poliisi.fi/poliisi/home.nsf/pages/ADF9B1D5D0366555C225780D003A200D?opendocument|archive-date=5 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Military rank, either as NCO or reserve officer, is highly valued as a merit in Finland by employers when recruiting a male employee.<ref>[http://www.taloussanomat.fi/tyomarkkinat/2014/11/16/nainko-on-armeija-avaa-ovet-herrahissiin/201415868/12 Näinkö on? Armeija avaa ovet herrahissiin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924132904/http://www.taloussanomat.fi/tyomarkkinat/2014/11/16/nainko-on-armeija-avaa-ovet-herrahissiin/201415868/12 |date=24 September 2015 }}. Taloussanomat 2014-11-16. Retrieved 2015-08-10. {{in lang|fi}}.</ref><ref>[http://www.talouselama.fi/uutiset/tamako+on+rukn+salaisuus+ei+nossoille+tai+tumpeloille/a2232553 Tämäkö on RUK:n salaisuus? "Ei nössöille tai tumpeloille"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924131746/http://www.talouselama.fi/uutiset/tamako+on+rukn+salaisuus+ei+nossoille+tai+tumpeloille/a2232553 |date=24 September 2015 }}. Talouselämä 2014-02-17. Retrieved 2015-08-10.</ref> In general, serving as an NCO or, especially, as a reserve officer, has a clear positive impact on future earnings and achievement of a high career position of the individual.<ref>Alho, K. E; Nikula, N. [https://www.etla.fi/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/dp1269.pdf Asevelvollisuus ja työmarkkinat: Varusmiespalveluksen vaikutus koulutukseen, työllisyyteen ja palkkaan.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304130850/https://www.etla.fi/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/dp1269.pdf |date=4 March 2016 }} The research institute of the Finnish economy. Discussion Papers no 1269. 2012-03-29. pp. 15-16. {{in lang|fi}}.</ref><ref>Marko Elovainio, KM Teija Metsäranta; Mika Kivimäki [https://web.archive.org/web/20210726185904/https://ojs.tsv.fi/index.php/ta/article/download/47846/13721ENNUSTAAKO VARUSMIESKOULUTUKSESSA MENESTYMINEN TYÖELÄMÄÄN SUOITTUMISTA]. Retrieved on 2015-08-10. {{in lang|fi}}.</ref>