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Sickened
2006-02-20 05:27:35
This week's highlight: We were training the advancement of two soldiers and finished the session with an assault (rynnäkkö). We ran to the otherside of the yard with our assault rifles and got to yell "Hakkaa päälle!" and "sarrja!". I bet it must have looked very silly from an observer's point of view, but for a small moment it was a fun "act" to play. Once we got to the end of the yard someone said: "Hey, there's no one here." and we had a small laugh.
I was hoping for a good holiday weekend from the military, as we got the monday off as well, but I got badly sick yesterday and been in bed ever since. I had a pretty high fever which is a bit surprising, as it has been years since I last had a fever that high. Today I'm going back and I'm feeling a little better. At the moment my throat hurts like hell whenever I cough and I can't speak too clearly either. These wouldn't bother so much, but I've been appointed as the supervisor of the buss that goes to the barracks today, so I need to talk a bit and do this and that.
Lately I've been thinking about what the army is teaching us, how it is changing us and what we are becoming capable of. I'll write about it next week or later though. I'm way too weak at the moment to write about philosophical issues and bring forth the moral wrongness behind the training we are receiving. Then there's also the positive side of things you only learn about when actually in the military yourself...
I wonder who reads this journal and my current entries about the finnish military? Not that it matters, as I mostly write for myself in order to slightly process the past week. You don't get much brain exercise in the military, so you might as well write about it, but I do hope that a few individuals reads this every now and then. -
From a recruit to a light infantryman
2006-02-11 11:59:54
Yesterday our arrival batch (01/06) of recruits gave their military oaths and military assurances as we have now developed enough as soldiers, from the army's point of view that is. Both are "ceremonious" events where the military service becomes your duty and obligation. I don't belong to church so I gave the assurance and our batch was promoted from recruits to the next rank. I'm not sure what the best translation is, but I got promoted to jääkäri (light infantryman) and got green shoulder tags. I myself am not too keen on this all, since we all know why the military exists, so I don't need to explain it in great detail, right? Let's just say I lean more on the peaceful methods. Incase you're wondering why I'm in the army in the first place, then check my earlier entries. I believe I mentioned something about it being a law in our country.
I've lasted in the military for 5 weeks now and been promoted to the "basic" rank. I'm not proud of it from an ethical point of view, but I'm only there for this year. Then it ends.
There isn't much else to write here right now. Of course I have all kinds of little stories to tell, but I don't have the time or enthusiasm to write them here. It definately is true that the military gives some good and hilarious memories. All kinds of strange and funny things happen when you put together a large group of men and send them out training for war. Our one-night camp last week was especially hilarious, although everyone did freeze there with -25C and I had a minor breakdown. Finnish guts (sisu) pulled me off there, though and I survived. :p
MY life now revolves around the military. I wish it wasn't so, and that I could write about something else, but for the moment things are the way they are. The military isn't all bad, for example it teaches you to appreciate the simpler things in life, but from a moral stand you can criticize it quite harshly, considering the age and country we live in. -
4 Weeks of Training
2006-02-05 05:37:34
On my second weekend holiday from the military and I've now been there a full month. That's exactly half of my rookie period, but what happens after that is over is a bit unsure. I've volunteered for a driver and they have enlisted me for it. I haven't yet had a chance to ask more specifics about the course, but appearently it's the basic truck line where you drive heavyduty vehicles. I just have to survive these hard rookie weeks and the good downhill should start. My guess is that the hardest times are behind now, at least what I was able to make out from the 2 month training plan they have made for us. The coming 4 weeks seem a lot easier than the ones behind me, but looks can deceive...
So far the hardest things in the military have been the early morning wakeups, the neverending rush, very cold winter and carrying the personal equipment. I'm rather thin and underweight, so the cold and carrying are my main natural weaknesses. The problem isn't my appetite, because I can eat anything and not gain any weight at all. Maybe I should buy some bodymass builder or something. :P
I wish this week will go quickly, because from now on we get the weekends off everytime. Up till now we've always been 2 weeks there at a time untill a weekend holiday, so the next weeks should go in a flash, right?
We shall see. We have a one-night camp right tomorrow, so if I survive that the rest of the week should be easy as making your bed at 6 in the morning. -
Weekend Holiday
2006-01-21 07:32:04
I've been in the military for 2 weeks now and I'm currently on my first weekend holiday from that place. A lot has happened there as well as here at home. Relatively it has been quite hard to define the 2 weeks while I was away, because there is very little connection to the outside world. No news, no e-mail, no letters, no newspapers make it an isolated place.
So far things have gone OK for me in there. The physical training is damn hard at times, but it doesn't feel that bad once you've pulled it off afterwards. Though, I still wish I wouldn't have to be there. I have more important issues to aim for than what the military wants. I can only hope I'll get selected to an easier field once the rookie months are past. So far I've mentioned them about a driver's position and catering.
A lot more could be written here, but I don't have the time right now. -
Finnish Conscription
2006-01-09 02:20:15
This is it then, unknown journal readers. Like many generations before, my country now invites me to abandon my current life situation, in order to receive standard military training for 6, 9 or 12 months. It is now my time to fulfill a conservative law which Finland has managed to preserve to this day and age.
I do not have much clue, as to how the military nowadays goes on with it's duty in training a new generation of youngsters, but it has been said a time and a time again, that nothing there should be instantly overwhelming for us newcommers. Why shouldn't I believe them? They have been there, done it and it is a fact that the methods and standards have become easier as time has marched on, so I should have no major problems in doing what so many have already done. I'm expecting to experience many positive, as well as negative affairs, which should provide good storytelling material for future talks.
I have received several practical tips and tricks from a few individuals, and I thank for sharing them. Some of these will definately proove to be nifty.
For everyone else – see ya. When I come back, I will have many things to do, plans to execute and people to catch up with.
JOURNAL: Esrhan (Jari Perho)
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