Military organizations in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway advocate for voluntary NATO assignments

Military organizations in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway seek to maintain NATO assignments as voluntary rather than mandatory, which would prevent the obligation to send officers to work in foreign countries. Currently, it remains unclear what types of roles will be established at the NATO headquarters in Mikkeli, and whether they will be classified as Finnish Armed Forces or NATO positions. The determination of these staffing and position frameworks will affect whether a soldier can be obligated to work in Mikkeli.

At present, officials can be mandated to transition to national tasks within the Armed Forces, but the obligation for NATO command structure roles has not yet been clarified, according to Jyrki Lukkarinen, chairman of the Officers’ Union.

The Finnish Armed Forces and NATO have different pay models, with unions advocating for competitive salaries and family support. In Finland, salaries are aligned with job requirements, while NATO employs a total compensation model that includes additional benefits within the salary. Lukkarinen highlights that this model is not entirely equitable, as NATO roles vary widely, involving duty, operational activities, and office work.

Lukkarinen also points out that support for soldiers’ families is less comprehensive in Finland compared to other Nordic countries. Costs related to relocations, housing, and childcare can be significant, especially considering that the average deployment length in NATO is three years.

Despite this, Lukkarinen believes there will be sufficient interest in positions at the Mikkeli NATO headquarters, at least initially, due to NATO’s novelty. However, adequate support measures for long-term assignments will be essential for attracting professional soldiers into the 2030s. He also suggests that Finland’s location as NATO’s eastern border state will make Mikkeli an appealing job opportunity for foreign nationals, although the level of support will influence their willingness to relocate.