Defense Minister Andy Hokkanen (Collective) talks about preventing resignations from reserves have caused a spike in resignation applications. During the week, nearly 700 people applied to leave the reserve.
Last year, about 1,650 people left, and in 2022, about 3,800.
Now, the number of resignations does not seem to be too high in the overall picture, said the managing director of Reserviläiitti, who visited Yle in the morning. Minna Nenonen and researcher Mina Karkoski from the National Defense University.
However, Karkoski says the current avalanche of resignations is unprecedented and the number of applications substantial.
– Of course, it is not known whether the growth will continue in this direction or it will slow down. In general, the spikes have leveled off, Karkoski estimates.
Earlier there were spikes in exiting reserves. In 2015, the resignation was caused by a reserved letter sent to the Finns, and in 2022, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and Finland's NATO application for processing.
Resignation from the reserve means that the person is obligated to civil service through continuing education. Therefore, even if the person decides to leave the reserve, the civil service obligation continues.
There is another side to the coin
Minna Nenonen, executive director of the reservation association, points out that there is another side to the phenomenon. After Russia launched its war of aggression in Ukraine, the Reserves Association received many contacts from those who had completed civil service.
Then you cannot switch from civil service to compulsory service, but you can participate in voluntary national security.
– In the last two years, many thousands of such members who have completed civil service come to us and regret their decision. If people have left the archive, on the other hand, those who have completed civil service have applied to join the operations, Nenonen says.
Political opposition was also a reason for the resignation
MPKK's Maina Karkoski has researched and interviewed people who have left the reserve in 2023. According to him, the sense of threat of war makes people think about their own position in a war situation.
For example, many people wonder if the skills acquired in a civilian career are compatible with their wartime assignments.
– For example, the responses highlighted many who felt that the IT skills acquired in a civilian career were not compatible with their own wartime roles. They get the feeling that armed national security should be completely abandoned.
In addition, leaving the reserve is associated with many forms of political opposition, particularly in relation to NATO membership.
– There are those who oppose NATO membership, but that opposition has no alternative but to leave the reserve. Karkoski says there are those who oppose the policies of the previous government or the current government.
Divorce decisions are also associated with various feelings of disappointment. For example, some may be willing to attend refresher training but are not invited.
Still, many who leave the reserve feel patriotic and ready to defend their country, Garkoski says.
Many people who are out of reserve may be afraid to commit to a NATO operation. According to Nenonen, Finland is still figuring out what the NATO obligations are for Finland and what the role of allocators is.
– We must remember that the main task of each NATO country is to take care of its own country's security. It is unlikely that any reservationist will be forced to do anything, he says.
The desire to protect the country is still high
According to experts who visited Yle in the morning, the avalanche of resignations is not a direct sign of waning will to defend the country.
According to MTS' report, Finns are very unanimous on matters related to national security. In that regard, the number of resignation applications is not much of a concern.
– The desire to protect the country is exceptionally high in Finland, says Karkoski.
Minna Nenonen points out that the current resignations are avalanche natural considering the crises in Finland's neighboring regions and the unstable world situation. However, according to him, the matter should be pursued.
Karkoski says that while there is currently no direct military threat to Finland, war is certain for many.
– As war threat perception intensifies, it causes fluctuations in attitudes.
