The Finnish government has submitted a draft law to the parliament, which provides for raising the maximum age for reservists from 60 to 65 years. This is reported on the website of the Ministry of Defense of the country.
The changes will apply to all conscripts born in 1966 and later. Thus, reservists will remain on the register until the end of the year, when they turn 65, while the current age limit is 60.
The document proposes to increase the term of military service by 15 years for private and non-commissioned officers and by 5 years for officers. At the same time, there will be no restrictions for officers in the rank of colonel, captain or higher: they will continue to remain in the reserve as long as they are fit for service.
In the Ministry of Defense, it was emphasized that this will provide the Armed Forces and the Border Guard Service of Finland “a wider range of opportunities” to attract people to key positions during “emergency situations” regardless of their rank.
It is expected that the number of reservists will grow by 125 thousand people every year and will reach one million by 2031. The amendments will enter into force on January 1, 2026, subject to their approval by the parliament.
