It has been quite chilly over here but I think the worst colds are behind us already.
When we had a two-day shooting camp one week (firing ranges of our garrison we're in use so we drove about 100km to another and spent the night in tents) I really waited for the pauses in the shootings when we ran to the targets to check our scores and patch up the targets. I'm not very fond of running but it was so cold you eagerly waited for the run to warm up!

Btw, those chemical hand warmers were really handy. It was sweet to have them in your mittens (or no-can-do's like we call them) while shooting when you have to fire without a mitten in your trigger hand. It's good I bought those little gloves too, my hands would have surely frozen without them. Fortunately the pistol grip of RK-62 is plactic.

I've been sick for this week. I've had a flu and awfull headaches for some time and I went to the infirmary this Tuesday. The diagnosis was Sinusitis. They put me on antibiotics and also gave me pills for the flu plus some painkillers.
I got "exempt from service exept for lessons" (VPO for short in Finnish) and on day of "exempt from march, combat and physical training" (VMTL in Finnish. This is the most common alleviation in FDF. There's even a song made about VMTL, it's basically a cover version of "YMCA" by Village peolple with new lyrics. )

So, I missed the soldier's camp which included a march, digging a foxhole, alarms in the middle of the night plus defensive and offensive combat shootings. I don't mind missing the march and alarms but the shooting were very cool, or so I've heard. My head was aching so bad on Wednesday I would have rather been in the woods digging a foxhole than lying on my bunk holding my head and waiting for the painkillers to work.

I'm feeling better now, although yesterday I had another major headache. If it weren't the last day before a weekend-off, I would have reported to infirmary right away. No one wants to go complaining about any minor aches just before leave. If you any other alleviation than VMTL, you can't go on a leave. (that's why the doctor gave me VMTL for Saturday)
correspondingly, just guess how many people report for the infirmary just before camps, marches and other exhausting exercises! :-)

I haven't posted any pics yet, but that changes now! Here's roommate of mine, posing behind his hastily folded bedspread.

If I remember correctly, he wanted to test how fast he could fold his bedspread. Well, he was quick, but that's about it. :-)

Next week we'll have ABC Defence School and a longer over-night trek. "Tear gas, napalm and sleepless nights", like our lieutenant said.

Untill next weekend, take care.
Cheers

Hi Eetu!

Soldier stories are universal! When I read your reports, It sounds like you were in the French Army! We did exactely the same stuff... funny! :-)
Take care of yourself

Jean-Luc

There's one word that sums up this week.
Sinusitis.

The first set of antibiotics didn't seem to work very well...
When I got back to the garrison on Monday (we usually have one Saturday-sunday-monday leave per month), I reported to the infirmary. On Tuesday we didn't go to the hospital as normal, because there were over 200 guys sick that day. There was a medic checking if there were any acute cases that needed immediate attention. People with fever for example had the priority. Everyone else got exempt from service for the rest of the day.
I got to the infirmary on Wednesday. I had another ultrasound check. They said there was still something in my maxillary sinus. Then they gave me some more painkillers and said to come back again on Thurday for an X-ray and further examination.
Indeend. Sinusitis was still lurking in me. I was prescribed a different set of antibiotics, more painkillers and nasal spray. I hope I get better with these.
If not, they'll have do to some puncturing...

I'll have to go now but I'll write some more today or tomorrow if I have the time.

Okay, some more of my army-related ramblings coming up!

The basic training is almost over, just one more week to go. The further training selections are announced next Wednesday. I've been living in fear for the last week! :-) The interviews concerning our training were held this week. I just told the lieutenant who did the interviewing that I have no motivation for NCO training (and the one-year service as well, of course...) and feel that I'm much more useful as a normal signaller. That liuetenant said it was a good excuse. I hope it's good enough...
I don't feel like spending my summer in the army, training new privates. And then there's those cool campaigns starting over here at the big A, Iron Maiden's concert coming up in November (C[ ] ) and everything. (btw, ticket sales for the three shows in Finland start at 9am next monday and I've asked my dad to go and get tickets for me and a couple of mates of mine. He'll be facing some standing in line to get them. Tickets to the last two shows last years sold out in two hours. I'm going to ask him nicely to wake up early so we can get good seats. )

But back to the army subject. I'm going to go through next week with painkillers, if necessary. We're having the soldier's basic test and that's something you don't want to miss unless you're severely ill.
Also, we don't have a weekend-off next week. Bummer... We spend the last two days of our basics on the firing range, doing our final shooting test.

Wish me luck mates.
Untill my next weekend-off,
Cheers!

Hi Eetu, sorry for not responding sooner, I have been keeping up with your exploits but I've been busy.
You sound like your having "fun", much like most recruits in any army It's all a blur at first but as you start to understand things it all becomes much easier. As an ex-recruit instructor myself I remember well how blokes arrived as civilians but left to go to their units as soldiers. The transformation is startling, but the recruits don't see it, at the time. They are, generally, a much better person. It might be a little different for a conscript, 'cos I guess that you really don't want to be there. It is good to have these experiences though and it aint forever.
Keep you head down and I'll see you back on IL2, hopefully, I've been honing my skills in preperation
Mal

hi there,
I can't wait for your next post I find myself compelled to see how it is going for you. As anyone who has gone has undergone basic training will know, basic seems to drag on fo ever but when it is over you will soon forget the worse bits and remember the good times.
Interesting to see you fire blank before the live ammo.
Oh and dont forget that once you have finished it gives you the right to say that all future recruits have it easier than when you did it!
Best wishes
Robbo

Okay, I'm finally back online.

The annual flu wave hit the garrison big time last week. Tuesday morning almost half of the conscripts reported to the infirmary. There were also a couple of cases of meningitis and the garrison was quarantined, resulting in leaves being cancelled for many units. No physical training was held in order Many people were pretty pissed because the lost leaves but I couldn't complain. A weekend of free time compared to spending those two days on firing range in freezing cold was a sweet deal.

We heard that we don't have to miss any weekend leaves because of this, we just shoot the shooting skill test next time on the range (27th of April, if I remember correctly).

The basic training ended last week and further training selections were released.

[drum roll]
I got 6 months!!
118 mornings left and counting.
So, I'll be a signaller and I was assigned to the 2nd signal station squad.
I'll be back home 7th of July, just in time to participate in many campaigns, and what do we have in November? Iron Maiden's tour hits Finland and I have a ticket!

The special training period started this week and by now we have been trained in the use of several types of cables, field radios & phones, and messaging machines. As we'll be working with a signal station, we we're trained to start up the electrical systems of a modified Pasi armored troop carrier instead of a normal generator.

This is what we'll be working with:

It's basically a Pasi troop carrier modified into a mobile signal station. The real beauty of it is that we'll ride in it into position. This of course results in a lot less marches than other branches of service. I don't envy the infantry at all!
:-)

Hi Eetu!

Good news! I'm happy for you! Enjoy the 118 days left...

Jean-Luc

Nice one Eetu, I had better make sure my flying skills improve over the next 118 days, plus the Iron Maiden tour
See you soon, looks like you've got a nice number there, are there any female signallers to join you, like in the British army Signal Corps?
Mal

Speaking of female signallers, there's only one in our company at the moment. At the start there were five but three went to the 1st company, 2 to become drivers and one for NCO training. Then one of the remaining two quit, leaving us with only one female signaller.

Hi Eetu!

You forgot the most important! How does she look like? :-)8 I mean, this is of crucial importance for the army! Isn't it?

Jean-Luc

All the girls in our company are pretty, IMO. Too bad there's only one left at the moment.
But then there's that looker over at the MP's...

Oh, it would be so much duller in the army without any members of the opposite sex.

[Mornings left: 111]

I'm having another weekend-off and it's good that spring's just around the corner, as I'm learning to dislike the winter wellingtons we use. They're heavy.
In fact, they're so bulky that if they had been available in the 30's, Al Capone would have used them instead of conrete boots to drown his adversaries! :-)

Okay, they're not that heavy, but hefty anyway when compared to our leather boots.

I presume you can say that winter is officially over when we hand over our snowsuits, ski bindings and backpack camouflage covers. I hope it happens soon (and before we start using it with our leave uniform) so I can change my beret at the same time, as it's too small. Of course it's possible to change your stuff during the lunch time, but that means eating quickly and running to the storage depot and back.

Last Thursday was perhaps the most glorius day in the army for me so far.
Yes, thats right. You guessed it. I did get a high-score on the "scared stiff" pinball machine in the canteen! :-)
And when I got back to the unit, I found out I had scored highly in a recent exam and awarded an extra leave.

Next week we're having our first signal exercise in the field. It's the longest one so far, Monday to Friday, five days. And on Thursday we get our signaller's badges.

Hi everyone!
It's been some time since my last report and it's about time to write something again.
Guess what? I'm half-way through now! 90 days gone, 90 more to go.
To celebrate this, and my 20th birthday (that was actually 6th of April), I went on a shopping spree in an LHS. (well, to be honest, pretty much all of my LHS visits somehow turn into shopping sprees... :-))

Anyway, I got myself a hasegawa/secter Fiat G.50 (for the 'fighters under the midnight sun' campaign) and dragon's US 29th Infantry Division figure set. The latter looks sweet but has wrong guns in it. When I first looked at it, I thought the two sprues of Brititsh guns was an extra bonus, but then I realized they're the only guns there is. No American guns here. I'll have to go and ask the shopkeeper to exchange the kit next time I visit the same shop.

Next week there's another field exercis. Fortunately it's only 4 days. We get back to the garrison by Thursday and our Easter holiday starts the same evening and we get back next Monday. And if my application is approved, I have Tuesday off-duty as well.

Btw, do you guys still have your weekly IL2 FB sessions? I think I could participate next week.
All I need to do is install FB again as I have FB+AEP+PF installed at the moment.

Hi Eetu!

Happy Birthday!

Nice to hear from you again! As time goes by... you made half the way!
We didn't played IL2 since you left. I had to change my internet provider meanwhile and with my new one I didn't managed to make the server work again Mal never achieved to join in (time out messages). I think I won't be able to do the server anymore. I'm very busy at the moment and probably even more in the future. I think we should find a nice arena and meet all together there...
Anyway, I'm looking forward to share some Campaigns with you!

Jean-Luc

Oh, it's so soothing to have a five-day leave!
We left on Thursday, and I don't go back until tomorrow. Sweet.

I knew it! I couldn't keep away from modeling! I'm building a 1:72 Hawker Hurricane with the intentions of completing it tomorrow, before I return to duty. If you're interested in my speed build, take a look at the thread over at the avation section HERE

There! The special training period is over. Only one third left to go and then I'm a free man! :-)
And to make it even better, the annual Model Expo is held this weekend in Helsinki fair center. Feels like Christmas! I entered two models in the contest and asked my dad to take them to the center on Thursday. I only got two models there this year as I have been unable to do (hardly) any modeling this year so far. Some funky sci-fi stuff would have been cool to bring to the contest, but since I have nothing new in that genre, I entered a Spitfire mk.IX and a small diorama with a stuart tank and a wounded tanker looking up to the sky with a thompson smg.

I tried to control my buying habits and I think I avoided my usual shoppings spree with only three kits purchased. A hasegawa 1:72 B-239 Brewster buffalo was a must-buy, as these are very hard to find, or so I've heard. (thinking about it, it's unbelievable that Revell re-issued an ancient kit from the misty '60's in it's Finnish ww2 fighter series sold in Finland at the moment. Of the three kits, only the Hawker hurricane is a newer mold from 1998, while the Hawk is another piece of modeling history. While revell boxes other hasegawa kits with ease, why cant they use the opportunity and issue Hase's brewster? Beats me). The other two kits that I couldn't help buying were dragon's 'desperate defence' gen2 fig set (gotta test these praised figures) and the older 'German grenadiers, East Prussia 1945' (I just liked the poses)

One kit that looked extremely cool was FineMolds' new 1:72 Millenium Falcon, but even my shopping spree comes to quick momentary when the price tag says 276€! I maybe a star wars fan, but I'm not a fanatic! :-) The shop keeper came over when I was looking at the gargantuan box and said that there are three of those kits in Finland at the moment and ardent fans had already held hours of devotion by the box... According to the shop keeper, one guy looked at the box, reached for his cell phone and called his friend if he'd decided whether he would buy his used car!

But back to the army subject. After this weekend-off we have a two-and-a-half week period of two field exercises and a one-week standby shift in between. The first exercise is combat shooting camp of only three days, but the latter is more major signal exercise lasting eight days. When that's over, we have a longer leave (get off on Wednesday - get back on Sunday). After that we have only one field exercise left, the final war games in mid-June.
The weather's been great for the week, I hope it stays the same for the rest my army days. This week we had the last field exercice of the special training period and it was amazing to just lie down on the ground when you had free time. No more snow, no more need to wear tons of clothes to keep yourself warm.

I can post tomorrow, but after that I'll have to leave for over two weeks. When I get off again, it's almost over.
Until that, take care and wish me luck!

Good luck Eetu! :-)

Jean-Luc

There, our last field exercise is over! 20 days left to go!
A few friends of mine took some photos along the exercise, I'll post some of them here when I my copies.

The sun of the reserve is shining brightly now!
Next week is my last in the army. It's funny how fast six months will go. I hope the other six months will go as fast for those who became corporals for the new batch of trainees that will enter service July the 10th.

As I earlier promised to post some pics when I get something to post, here's some photos. They're all taken by our instructor sergeant who then gave a copy of the photo cd to every squad in the platoon.


This one's from our first field exercise. Our platoon is at a field briefing. My squad is on the left. I'm probably in the back somewhere.


In March it's pretty dark here but at least there the moon.


Here's two of our drivers posing by our mount.


Not much to comment. A radio mast sticking out above the tree line, perhaps?


This is from our last field exercise. Winter pretty much sucks when compared to summer. When there's nothing else to do, it's quite sweet when you can just lay on the ground and listen to some reggae blasting from VIPA's (our signal vehicle) vehicle's on-board stereo (that should be used to listening to the air surveillance channel on the radio), instead of just trying to keep yourself from freezing to death. :-)


And here we are. Our squad posing for the camera. I'm sitting on the log, on the left.


We're back home at last! Our last field exercise is over and we're preparing our vehicle's gear for counting and inspection.


...And at the same the "sun of the reserve" was shining on us!
("Sun of the reserve" is a FDF saying. The more brightly it's shining, the less days you have left)

Hi Eetu....
Great reading mate! brings back memories from my time in Swedish Army as a Ranger....memories, memories....
Never really agreed with the winter tours either, -30C and several feet of snow to dig into to get your tent up. Think that i spent more nights in the tent than in the barracks.... :-) :-)
I hadn't been in even a week before they dragged us out for week long march in the mountains.....would have been a nice wee trek if it hadn't been for all the stuff that you were carrying.
Funny thing though, every single day we had beautiful sunny weather, and every single night it rained....

Oh yes, that I forgot to mention. Clearing the spot for the tent in the dark in lantern light wasn't too fun! :-)
Without snow it was just picking the right spot and setting up the tent. And it wasn't nearly always dark, like at winter time.



We were very lucky then. There was no pouring rain at any of our field exercises, only some very brief showers and that couple of days of drizzle. (That didn't actually wet you, but it was quite cold at night in early June and I had to sit on watch under a fir. I wore a quilted winter jacket and still it was cold because I had to sit still & unnoticed for that two hour's watch.

By the way, guess what? it's over! It's finally over!
I'm a reservist now. This morning we put on our sivilian clothes for the first time (in the garrison, of course) for nearly six months. Today we returned the last of our stuff, recieved our testimonials and military passports and were sent home.

It was surely an experience! There were both good and bad moments but in the end it was definitely a positive one.
Here's one more photo of me, posing for the camera at out last exercise.