sotilasjoukot

Sotilasjoukot is a Finnish term meaning "military forces" or "armed forces." It refers to the collective personnel, units, and organizations tasked with the defense of a country and, when needed, external operations. In Finnish usage, sotilasjoukot typically denotes the Finnish Defence Forces (Puolustusvoimat) and their three service branches: Maavoimat (Army), Ilmavoimat (Air Force), and Merivoimat (Navy). The concept covers both active-duty personnel and reserve forces, including conscripts who complete their service and may continue as reservists.

Finland maintains a system of universal male conscription and voluntary service for women, with training and readiness focused on territorial defense, modernized equipment, and interoperability with allied forces. The sotilasjoukot are organized into formations, brigades and fleets appropriate to each branch, and are supported by civilian defense structures and logistics. In peacetime, the force conducts training, exercises, and international peacekeeping contributions; in crisis, reserves can be mobilized to reinforce national defense. The term is neutral and widely used in political, historical, and media contexts to refer to the country’s military capabilities, rather than to any particular operation or campaign.