The Finnish Reserve Officers’ Federation
The Finnish Reserve Officers’ Federation (FROF) is a voluntary organisation dedicated to develop the skills and abilities of reserve officers, contribute to national defence and support the national security.
The mission of the FROF is to maintain and improve the military skills, leadership abilities and readiness of the reserve officers. FROF is also acting as a link between its member associations and between all individual reserve officers. The Federation is politically non-aligned.
The first reserve officers’ association, was founded 1925 in Helsinki. The activities of the association soon expanded to other parts of Finland, so the foundation of a central organisation for the national level became necessary a few years later. The Finnish Reserve Officers’ Federation was founded on May 17, 1931 in Helsinki. The first president of the Federation was second lieutenant N. A. Osara. Major Tapio Peltomäki is the tenth president of the Federation. The only honorary president of the Federation was the Marshal of Finland, C. G. E. Mannerheim.
Today the Federation has about 28 000 members. The Federation is comprised of 320 member associations divided into 20 reserve officer districts. The Federation publishes jointly with the Finnish Reservist Association and the Association of Defence Guilds a monthly newspaper called “Reserviläinen” (the Reservist). Reserviläinen’s circulation is about 60 000.
The General Assembly of the Federation is convened every three years. The General Assembly elects the President and the Council of the Federation. The Council, which is convened twice a year, elects the Vice-Presidents and the Board of the Federation. The Board is the executive body of the Federation and it has meetings 4 – 6 times per year.
The main activities of the Federation include military training, military sports and physical education as well as administrative activities and maintenance of the defence will through tradition. Combat readiness is emphasised in sports and physical education by concentrating on all terrain marches and field exercises, shooting and cross-country orienteering.
The Finnish Reserve Officers’ Federation has been actively involved in developing the voluntary defence training with the Defence Forces and other voluntary organisations. The Federation is a member of the National Defence Training Association (MPK ry) , which organises voluntary defence training courses and acts as a link between the Defence Forces and all volunteers. In this co-operation the special area of interest for the Federation is leadership and instructor training. The Federation has developed a comprehensive Military Leadership Training Programme.
The Federation works in close co-operation with the reserve officers’ associations of other Nordic countries. FROF has been a member of the Nordic Reserve Officers’ Coordinating Presidium since 1934. The Presidium organises seminars on defence issues and e.g. a field competition every year. The Federation has had close contacts with the Russian national defence organisation OSTO since 1980′s. The most recent partner is the Estonian Reserve Officers’ Association (ROK). The Federation began this cooperation in 1998.
The Finnish Reserve Officers’ Federation has had a close working relationship with the Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers (CIOR) since 1993. The Federation became an associate member of CIOR in 1996. During the last five years the delegates of the Federation have attended the EC, CIOMR, MILCOMP and YROW.
Executive Group of the Federation 2012
President of the Federation: Captain Mika Hannula
I Vice-President: 1st Lieutenant Mikko Halkilahti
II Vice-President: Lieutenant Aaro Mäkelä
President of the Federation Council: Major Jorma Kallio
FROF Central Office
Address: Döbelninkatu 2, 00260 Helsinki, Finland
Secretary General, Janne Kosonen
Tel. +358 9 4056 2051
e-mail: janne.kosonen at rul.fi
Executive Secretary, Saku Liehu
Tel. +358 9 4056 2053
e-mail: saku.liehu at rul.fi
Office Secretary, Ms. Kirsti Suortti
Tel. +358 9 4056 2054
Fax: +358 9 447 579
e-mail: toimisto at rul.fi
Internet: www.rul.fi