Recipes for Systemic Change - Helsinki Design Lab

ConscriptionAll men are required to complete military service in Finland by law.Many view conscription as a cultural badge of honour. It is a duty to thestate, to those who sacrificed their lives in World War II, and to those whorebuilt and protected the nation in its aftermath. Young men are draftedat nineteen and must complete their 6-12 month obligation before reachingtwenty-nine. Most elect to complete their service in their early twenties,often before enrolling in higher education. Eighty percent of conscriptselect the military option while less than 10% choose civilian service.Another 10% are declared unfit, based on physical or emotional criteria,and are dismissed from service at the start.In practice, the military offers conscripts thorough physical training,leadership opportunities, and exposure to specialized technical skills. Inaddition, many young men see their successful completion of service, withdischarge report in hand, as an added benefit when applying for work orhigher education degree programs. Deep friendships and a wide socialnetwork of contacts and associates typically form during military service.These bonds often endure long after a conscript’s return to civilian life.168