TheUtti Jaeger Regiment(Finnish:Utin jääkärirykmentti,(UTJR)Special jaegers) is theFinnish Armytraining and development centre forspecial forcesandhelicopteroperations in charge of the Army Special Forces Unit and the Special Forces Qualification Course.
| Utti Jaeger Regiment | |
|---|---|
| Utin jääkärirykmentti | |
 Insignia of the Utti Jaeger Regiment | |
| Active | 1 July 1943 – 30 November 1944:Detached Battalion 4 1 February 1962 – 31 December 1996: Parachute Jaeger School 1 January 1997 – present: Utti Jaeger Regiment |
| Country |  Finland |
| Branch |  Finnish Army |
| Type | Army aviation Special forces |
| Size | 400 hired personnel, 220 conscripts (2018) |
| Part of | Army Command Finland |
| Garrison | Lentoportintie 11,Utti,Kouvola |
| Motto(s) | Excelsior[1] |
| Colors |  |
| Equipment | RK 95 TP,MP5,Sako TRG,FN SCAR,RG-32 Scout,Polaris Sportsman |
| Engagements | |
| Website | Official website |
| Insignia | |
| Cross of Merit |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Trainer | MD 500(7) |
| Transport | NH90(20) |
Function
editRegiment
editThe Utti Jaeger Regiment is responsible for training special forces for the Finnish Army as well as upkeeping high readiness of the Army Special Forces Unit and helicopter operations and performing executive assistance tasks. Theregimentconsists of around 400 hired personnel and 220 conscripts according to sources from 2018. Its Special Jaeger Company (Finnish:erikoisjääkärikomppania) served during theWar in Afghanistan,training security officials in medical care, firearms, and operational planning, and has been in standby duties as a part of theEuropean Union BattlegroupsandNATO Response Force.[2][3]The Finnish special forces trace their history to the fourlong-range reconnaissance patroldetachments (Finnish:kaukopartio-osastot) andDetached Battalion 4(Finnish:Erillinen pataljoona 4), which fought in theWinter War,Continuation WarandLapland Warduring 1939–1944.[4]After the wartime units were demobilized in November 1944, the Army reinitiated organized special forces training in February 1962 by establishing the Parachute Jaeger School (Finnish:Laskuvarjojääkärikoulu,(LjK)) atUtti,near the city ofKouvola.On 1 January 1997, the Utti Jaeger Regiment was formed by merging the Parachute Jaeger School, Military Police School and Helicopter Wing.[5]The Parachute Jaeger School was later reformed into the Special Jaeger Battalion and the Helicopter Wing reinforced into the Helicopter Battalion.[2][6]
Special Jaeger
editAccording to the newspaperHelsingin Sanomat,a typical special forces soldier has served in the Defence Forces for seven years and is around 28–29-years-old. On average, they run 3,180 m (3,480 yd) in aCooper testandbench press110 kg (240 lb). Before applying for and attending the year-long Special Forces Qualification Course, they often have served as a paratrooper or a combat diver during conscript service. Approximately 12 students are chosen for the course out of a 100 applicants after a four-day exam. All of the course attendees are trained in communications, engineer and medical care, and receive specializations later, such assniper,vehicle,high-altitude military parachuting,military intelligenceorforward air controltraining. Those chosen for career tracts after the basic course serve at either Utti Jaeger Regiment or Special Operations Detachment of the Naval Reconnaissance Battalion of theCoastal Brigade.[7]
Organisation
editAs of 2018, the Utti Jaeger Regiment is divided into three battalions in addition to the headquarters:[2][8]
- Special Jaeger Battalion
- Special Jaeger Company – hosts the special jaegernon-commissioned officers,maintains special forces readiness and capabilities of the Army, and oversees the Special Forces Qualification Course.
- Paratrooper Company – trains conscripts in basic long-range reconnaissance patrol,sissi,urbanandair assaultoperations.
- Helicopter Battalion – equipped with 20NH90tactical transport helicopters and 7MD 500light helicopters; responsible for all helicopter operations and training of the Defence Forces.
- 1st Helicopter Company – high readiness unit supporting special operations forces and crisis management.
- 2nd Helicopter Company – basic flight training and helicopter support for other forces.
- Aircraft Maintenance Company
- Support Battalion
- Support Company – trains conscripts in support tasks and handles logistics in cooperation with the Logistics Centre.
- Logistics Centre
See also
editReferences
edit- ^@UtinJR (11 June 2022)."Mottomme #Excelsior, korkeammalle, mukaisesti pyrimme tavoitteellisesti kehittämään toimintaamme. #UTJR #suorituskyky perustuu ihmisiin, monialaisten osaajien joukkoon, johon kuuluvat #henkilökunta, #reserviläiset ja #varusmiehet"[In accordance with our motto #Excelsior, higher, we aim to develop our operations in a targeted manner. #UTJR's #performance is based on people, a group of multidisciplinary experts that includes #personnel, #reservists and #conscripts.] (Tweet) (in Finnish) – viaTwitter.
- ^abc"Utti Jaeger Regiment".Finnish Army.Archivedfrom the original on 13 June 2017.Retrieved3 February2018.
- ^"Suomen erikoisjoukot pidetään piilossa julkisuudelta – tällaisia taistelijat ovat".Helsingin Sanomat(in Finnish). 7 March 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 30 August 2017.Retrieved4 February2018.
- ^Saressalo, Lassi (2011).Päämajan kaukopartiot jatkosodassa[Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrols of Defence Command during the Continuation War] (in Finnish). WSOY.ISBN9789510381564.
- ^Saressalo, Lassi; Vilkuna, Janne (1992).Laskuvarjojääkärit: Laskuvarjojääkärikoulu (LjK) 1962–1992.Laskuvarjojääkärikilta.ISBN952-90-4031-8.
- ^"Laskuvarjojääkärikoulu ja Utin jääkärirykmentti".Utin Ilmakilta ry(in Finnish).Archivedfrom the original on 4 February 2018.Retrieved3 February2018.
- ^"Tällainen on erikoisjoukon sotilas".Helsingin Sanomat(in Finnish). 7 March 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 5 February 2018.Retrieved4 February2018.
- ^"Finnish Defence Forces' special operations forces train at their hundred-year-old base -".
External links
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