Local village women cook for NATO troops in Lapland exercise

Local volunteers in the villages of Juujärvi and Autti in Finnish Lapland are providing meals for around 100 reservists participating in NATO’s Cold Response 26 military exercise, reports Finnish broadcaster Yle.

The initiative, based at Juujärvi’s village hall, serves as both a logistical support effort and a training exercise in civilian-military cooperation for emergency scenarios. Soldiers have praised the home-cooked meals, saying they boost morale and endurance during the demanding drills.

“Food made with love is the best a soldier can get,” said Captain Keijo Matilainen, head trainer at the support centre. “The women not only feed us but also offer a kind of therapy—giving the troops someone to talk to.”

Each day, volunteers prepare breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a late-night snack, with some meals delivered directly to troops in the field. The menu includes hearty Finnish dishes like Hungarian goulash, fried sausage, potato stew, salmon soup, and roast pork, alongside homemade berry juice and fresh bread.

For Marjatta Haavisto, deputy chair of the Juujärvi village association, the effort has been a community-wide commitment. “We got the request a year ago, and everyone agreed immediately,” she said. “We started stocking dry goods right away, and every household stored food in their freezers.” Despite challenges like temperamental kitchen appliances, Haavisto emphasised adaptability: “That’s how it is in wartime too. Working together is what matters—we’re always ready.”

Soldiers echo the praise. “The food is delicious, and there’s plenty of it—even proper spreads for the bread,” said signalman Juuso Repo. “Good meals make a real difference. After the first day, we were exhausted, but the food perked us up.”

While commercial caterers typically handle military exercises, long distances in Lapland’s remote terrain have made local partnerships essential. The Finnish Defence Forces view the collaboration as a vital resource, testing both supply chains and community coordination for potential crises.

Beyond meals, the village halls in Juujärvi, Autti, Tennilä, and Kivitaipale also provide lodging for troops. When field conditions prevent hot meals, soldiers rely on Defence Forces’ combat ration packs, now available in multiple variants to accommodate dietary needs.