“The Nordic Battle Group has been stimulating for us,” says Juha Vauhkonen.
Photographer: Jesper Tengroth / Försvarsmakten
When one of the soldiers felt that his legs were giving way in the heat, a spectator quickly offered both chocolate and water.
Photographer: Jesper Tengroth / Försvarsmakten
“The Nordic Battle Group has been very stimulating for us,” says Commodore Juha Vauhkonen, Deputy Force Commander for NBG and head of the Nyland Brigade that has been responsible for setting up the Finnish contingent.
Above all, Juha Vauhkonen mentions the lessons learned about training, personnel, equipment and logistics:
“We can use many of the lessons we have learned from the multinational environment in the Nordic Battle Group in our national operations.”
Wednesday's formal as well as festive ceremony took place in the square in Ekenäs in brilliant sunshine and a temperature of almost 30 degrees. Both the head of the Finnish Navy, Vice Admiral Juha Rannikko, and Force Commander Brigadier-General Stefan Andersson made speeches.
“Robustness, professionalism and credibility characterize the Finnish contribution,” said the Force Commander.
The majority of the Finnish soldiers belong to an infantry company as part of the NBG infantry battalion, but Finland has also contributed with a CIMIC team, military police, logistics, intelligence personnel, geographic information capability and staff officers:
“Many of the Finnish soldiers will now move on to new adventures, both at home in Finland as well as international operations,” concludes Juha Vauhkonen.