Local Defence companies (Finland)

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Local Defence companies
Maakuntajoukot
Sleeve insignia of the Local Defence companies
Active	14 February 2007–present
Country	Finland
Branch	Finnish Army, Finnish Navy, Finnish Air Force
Type	Infantry
Role	Land (local defence)
Size	5000[1]

Local Defence companies (Finnish: Maakuntajoukot, Swedish: Landskapstrupperna) are regional forces of Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) composed of volunteer reservists who have signed a contract that obliges them to do certain tasks during a crisis. The FDF works with and supervises the National Defence Training Association of Finland in the training of troops. Local Defence companies are part of Local Defence battalions which are under command of the military province of their area (sotilaslääni, four in total, divided into 19 military districts, aluetoimisto), in total there are 28 companies. Sometimes the name is rendered as local defence units or volunteer reserve units.

The most important duties for Local Defence companies are protection, guarding, oversight and defence of certain targets and the area of their respective military district in general. In addition, Local Defence companies are tasked to provide assistance upon request to police and/or fire departments and other officials. During war, Local Defence battalions (of which Local Defence companies are part of-) will fall under the direct command of their respective headquarters of their respective Military province just as they are in peacetime. Members of the Local Defence companies have their personal equipment (excluding combat items such as vests, ballistic protection & helmets and weapons) at home on loan from the FDF, allowing quick mobilisation of troops in case of crisis since they only need to add combat equipment, vehicles, signalling equipment and supplies to be completely ready. These will be provided by garrisons and/or other military installations within or at least near to the military district the company in question is located in. Companies are always composed of reservists from area of certain military district within the military province in question, providing an advantage of knowing the area of operations. Troops are trained regularly and their physical abilities are tested annually with conditions of suitability for troops set higher than basic expectations for professional soldiers of FDF.