Pori Brigade says conscript abuse went undetected for weeks

Four conscript leaders were fined after humiliating subordinates and using offensive language for weeks at the Pori Brigade’s Niinisalo garrison in February and March 2025, Yle reports. The brigade says the conduct came to light only through feedback on training.

The Satakunta District Court found the four guilty of offences including defamation and breach of service duties. The case involved derogatory comments about women and non-commissioned officer cadets, as well as a contract soldier being mocked with racist terms.

Brigade chief of staff Lieutenant Colonel Vesa Kankare said the behaviour took place during conscripts’ free time and evening roll call, when career personnel were not present. The investigation began as soon as the brigade was informed. Feedback on training raised concerns about conscript leaders assigning work unrelated to service and behaving inappropriately.

Kankare said cases involving the misuse of a supervisory position at the brigade come to light fewer than 10 times a year on average, and that the figure has been declining for some time. He said the brigade takes all such cases seriously, despite training and supervision.

The Pori Brigade is one of Finland’s largest military units and trains more than 4,000 conscripts a year. About half serve in Niinisalo, in Kankaanpää, and the rest at Huovinrinne, in Säkylä.