18.09.03 Nordic Peace 2003 Ends in December Hannu Syrjäpalo Good planning is half the work. A year and a half of planning preceded the two weeks of Nordic Peace 2003 exercise, and the final report won’t be published until December. » Read more		Lieutenant Colonel Arto-Pekka Nurminen. Säkylä 17.9.2003.
18.09.03 NP 03 Efficient Exercise Nordic Peace 2003 PIC For the Finnish troops NP 03 was a special challenge. Planning the exercise was in itself a training event that lasted two years. There was a lot to learn. » Read more
18.09.03 The Unworried Warrant Officer Pekka Santonen Chief Admin Senior Lieutenant Ari “Paku” Pakarinen is smiling confidently. Operation has once again run smoothly. The man who is everywhere, yet unnoticed behind the scenes and at the same time all over, has done his part for Nordic Peace 03. » Read more		Ari Pakarinen. Säkylä 9.9.2003.
18.09.03 A Chemical Accident Must be Taken Care of by the Book Petteri Hurskainen A chemical spill is difficult to deal with in all circumstances. The situation is specially demanding, if the exact type of chemicals is not known. In one of the NP 03 incidents a truck hits two minibuses on its way to Hundland and a number of fires break out in the accident. The load of the truck consists of various chemicals. » Read more		Chemical truck accident. Säkylä 17.9.2003.
17.09.03 Towards a Fond Farewell Pia Enroos The closing get-together of the Nordic Peace 2003 exercise will take place on Thursday, September 18th, on the Pori Brigade supplies area. The exercise troops will enjoy good barbeque food and a show-dancing performance. » Read more		Blazing Show Girls.
17.09.03 Hostage Situation Resolved Pia Enroos Police and Military Special Forces practiced their hostage rescue skills in the village of Vehka-alho on Tuesday. The events started rolling when Hundland’s paramilitary forces had captured some Realandians they considered war criminals. » Read more		Hostage Situation. Vehka-alho 16.9.2003.
17.09.03 Electric Angels of Mercy Jens Ramhöj / PIC When electricity routing falters, so does normal life. From the cold and dark creep suffering and everyday difficulties. Distribution of water and heat, cooking and the entire production chain of goods are all completely dependent on electricity. » Read more		The Swedish National Power Grid (Svenska Kraftnät). Säkylä 17.9.2003.
16.09.03 Local Police Subdued Confrontations Jari Haapala On Monday, the Säkylä market square was the scene of a crowd control exercise. An election rally attracted a number of local factions to the place, and difficulties were expected. » Read more		The parliamentary candidate Einari Hepuli-Korhonen and the Chairman of Center Party of Realand, Mr. Jari Ukkonen, greeting their avid supporters. Säkylä 15.9.2003.
16.09.03 Finnish Red Cross Famous for Its Crisis Readiness Juho Pekka Mikola - In any crisis area, the refugees will primarily need clean water and toilet facilities to avoid epidemic diseases, tells Leena-Kaisa Åberg, role-playing the chief of Finnish Red Cross (FRC) refugee camp in Nordic Peace 2003. » Read more		Nurse Raija Andersen was in charge of arranging the evacuation of a pregnant woman by helicopter to a hospital. Säkylä 15.9.2003.
15.09.03 Face to Face Juho Pekka Mikola Sometimes in an exercise tension builds up until it’s tangible. The following situation happened already on Sunday. A Hundlandian soldier wearing a red band stands by a ditch, holding an assault rifle in one hand, a cigarette in the other and blowing smoke on the face of a peacekeeper Lieutenant. » Read more		UNMIHAR troops interrogating the Hundlandian intruder. Säkylä 14.9.2003.
14.09.03 It’s Livex Time Minna Ruolanto and Pia Enroos Realand and Hundland negotiated a cease-fire agreement on December 14th, 2001. According to the treaty, both parties agreed to withdraw their armed forces from the specified Zone of Separation by a specific deadline. » Read more		Major Jari Vuorela. Säkylä 14.9.2003.
14.09.03 How have the TV-celebrities spent their free time? Jari Haapala Quite a few of the Finnish participants in Nordic Peace exercise are famous from Finnish television. We took few of them aside and asked about their free time at the Säkylä garrison area. » Read more		Ville Klinga. Säkylä 13.9.2003.
14.09.03 From Rock Club to Headquarters Minna Ruolanto Lallintalo (Lalli’s House) in Köyliö is a well-known place to Finnish rock bands. This time it acts as a stage for a very different kind of show. A poster on the wall advertises a gig of a Finnish rock band Yö, but this time it’s Lieutenant Colonel Jari Vaara, the Chief of the Multinational Battalion Headquarters, who is waving the stick. » Read more		Lallintalo (Lalli’s House) in Köyliö. 12.9.2003.
14.09.03 Press Conference Ended in an Argument Juho Pekka Mikola Pre-planned confrontations give the exercise a flavour of reality. The role players are there to annoy and provoke the troops when needed. For example, the press conference arranged in the cinema hall of the Soldier’s Home ended in chaos, as planne » Read more		The representatives of the media were not satisfied with the arrangement. Säkylä 14.9.2003.
14.09.03 Getting Social Pia Enroos An informal service and recreation day was arranged on Saturday, September 13, between the training and live phases. The program of the day included an equipment presentation, sports events, shooting and common free time. » Read more		The intense rallying of Norwegians spurred their fellow countryman to victory in the Pasi pulling competition. Säkylä 13.9.2003.
14.09.03 Real-life Horoscopes 15.9.-19.9. Jari Vaara We don’t make empty promises. » Read more
13.09.03 Ranger UAVs as Reconnaissance Tools Juha Vähäkoski - Rangers are high-quality and technologically reliable reconnaissance tools that provide good range and quick intelligence information, says Major Markku Haapasalo of the Reconnaissance Artillery Battalion of the Artillery Brigade. » Read more		Ranger Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and lieutenant Rauno Väisänen. Pori Airport. 12.9.2003.
13.09.03 Free Time In the Fitness Centre and Soldier’s Home Jari Haapala Even though Nordic Peace is a hectic exercise, the participants will have some free time as well. Swedes Oskar Brandin and Marcus Hammar are happy with the possibilities for spending their free time in Säkylä garrison area. » Read more
13.09.03 Swedes Invade the Radio Minna Ruolanto There was tangible excitement in the air in Radio Nordic Peace’s studio on Friday afternoon, when Swedish sergeants Oscar Nilsson, Kristoffer Eckerström and Erik Hultsberg tried for the first time what it’s like to make a radio program in field conditions, and in Finland to top it all. » Read more		Oscar Nilsson, Kristoffer Eckerström and Erik Hultsberg. Säkylä 12.9.2003.
13.09.03 NP03 Cleans Up After Itself Esa-Pekka Avela The environmental team of Nordic Peace 2003 has a challenging goal: after the exercise, the terrain must look like the exercise never happened. - The goal is to have no litter on the ground, or any other signs of the exercise for that matter, says Lieutenant Jari Ruski. » Read more		The Jari Squad, Lieutenant Jari Ruski and Navy Lieutenant Jari Alanen, examining terrain damage. The garrison’s conscripts are about to get a shovel assignment. Säkylä 12.9.2003.
13.09.03 Nordic Peace Exercise Interferes With the Brigade’s Daily Routines Miikka Tarkia Nordic Peace 2003 is an annoyance to conscripts serving in the Pori Brigade. Almost all of them have been evicted from the four barracks of the garrison and accommodated in tents outside. Another nuisance is eating in the field arranged by conscript cooks still in training. » Read more
13.09.03 An Interesting Helicopter Ride Esa-Pekka Avela Tero Tuominen, editor-in-chief of the Finnish Aviation-magazine, has flown a glider, made hundreds of parachute jumps and been a passenger aboard different kinds of aircrafts. Nordic Peace 2003 exercise offered him a new experience at the end of the training week; he got to be a passenger aboard the Finnish MD500 training helicopter, a.k.a Hughes McDonnell Douglas 500, made in the US. » Read more		Tero Tuominen, editor-in-chief of the Finnish Aviation magazine, got a new aviation experience when he got aboard the Hughes McDonnell Douglas 500 training helicopter. Säkylä 12.9.2003.
13.09.03 The Finnish Cuisine Suits Baltic Tastes Jari Haapala For most Finns, the first thing that comes to mind when we think about Baltic food is huge portions and lots of fat. » Read more		The Latvians stayed clear of the legendary pea soup. From left to right, Rihards Lauris, Talis Blumfelds, Leva Jansone and Raimonds Abele have mostly been satisfied with the food served at the garrison dining hall. Säkylä 12.9.2003.
11.09.03 A Poolful of Milk and a Mountain of Potatoes Jari Vaara The exercise means busy times for the cookery centre at Säkylä garrison. For example, the amount of raw material to be processed is doubled compared to normal situation. The exercise forces do enjoy a bit of special treatment. » Read more
11.09.03 Helicopter Training for the Troops Pia Enroos Helicopter training for ground forces started on Wednesday morning on the garrison sports field. The training went on until Friday. The properties and differences of each helicopter type were covered in the training. » Read more		Stefan Olsson (left), Erik Huldsberg and Christoffer Eckerström with Finnish light trainer MD500E. Säkylä 11.9.2003.
11.09.03 Better Quality with New Field Kitchens Jari Vaara There’s no need for matches when you’re using the modern field kitchen of the Finnish Defence Forces. Heat is produced by oil burners, which also reduces the cooking time. Those who know about making food say that cooking times are very important to the nutritional value of the food. » Read more		The field kitchen can be used to make food for 300 men. Jaeger Samuli Saarinen in command of the main weapon of nourishment. Säkylä 10.9.2003
11.09.03 Exchange on many levels Stine W. Skjæret/PIC Kimmo Stenberg, Antti Mäkinen and Riku Ranhala are serving as fighting engineers at the Pori Brigade, the garrison hosting the Nordic Peace 03 exercise. The soldiers in the barracks have moved out from the barracks to make way for the Norwegian and other guests. » Read more		Grenadier Erik Grytnes from the Telemark battalion shows his MP-5 to Kimmo Stenberg (left) and Riku Ranhala. Säkylä 9.9.2003.
11.09.03 Engineer stashing weapons Minna Ruolanto Engineer Lari Sinisalo has an interesting role to play in the Nordic Peace 03 exercise. He acts as the master of the cowshed of the Värivuori farm. With assistance from his underlings, the master has hidden large amounts of illegal weapons and gadgets in his cowshed, and the mission of the practice troops is to find and confiscate them. » Read more		In the exercise you can be assigned to various duties, for example to hide weapons. 10.9.2003
10.09.03 Searching for Weapons and Sweeping the Area Jari Haapala The training of the Multinational Company continued yesterday with search training in the Värivuori farm, located in the village of Vehka-Alho. The Finnish Defence Forces have recently bought the place, and it provides an excellent location for weapons search and immediate area reconnaissance training. Training the Swedish troops in the Värivuori area is Norwegian Lieutenant *Jorgen Bull*, who has real-life experience of conducting weapons searches in Kosovo 2000-2001. » Read more		Swedish troops searching for hidden weapons in a cowshed during a training session led by Norwegian Lieutenant Jorgen Bull. 10.9.2003
10.09.03 Crowd control and mine awareness started the exercise week Jari Haapala The sweat was flowing freely in the crowd control training area where the Norwegian troops were practicing. Lieutenants Reijo Kortteus and Kristian Sorano reinforced with Vesa Järvensivu from the Finnish police were leading the exercise starting with various techniques for capturing and restraining dangerous persons. » Read more		Crowd control started the exercise week. Säkylä 9.9.2003
09.09.03 Cease Fire! Oskari Ojala The training week has begun and the troops are busy practicing their jobs. A Norwegian platoon practiced fire-fighting techniques. » Read more		Petter Holm from Norway takes care of the fire. Säkylä 9.9.2003.
09.09.03 Preserving the Wildlife at Gunpoint Esa-Pekka Avela Pori Brigade has distinguished itself in protecting the wildlife of the Säkylänharju ridge area that is also the scene for the Nordic Peace 2003 peace support exercise. Thanks to the brigade, the terrain near the ridge has remained open and broken, a necessity for the survival of many rare species of flora and fauna. » Read more		Psophus stridulus grasshopper has been seen flying around the Säkylänharju area in abundance recently. Photo: Erkki Kallio
09.09.03 Troops practiced pacification techniques Juha Vähäkoski A brawl that originated from a fictitious debt collection situation developed into a full fistfight on Tuesday in Säkylä. Finnish UNMIHAR forces were alerted to the scene, and arrived promptly on a Pasi armoured personnel carrier. » Read more		UNMIHAR-troops arrived to cool down a simulated fight. Säkylä 9.9.2003.
09.09.03 Expectations of the exercise are many Hannu Syrjäpalo Our reporter went into the field on Monday morning and asked what kind of expectations the troops participating in Nordic Peace 2003 have of the exercise. The training phase of the exercise takes place during the first week but the thoughts of many were already focused on the “real deal” scheduled for the second week of the exercise. » Read more		Private Kimmo Väisänen. Säkylä 8.9.2003.
09.09.03 Säkylä is used to having sharp looking soldiers around Syrjäpalo Colonel Markku Aherto is the commander of the Nordic Brigade in the Nordic Peace 2003 exercise. He welcomes the troops to the exercise not only as the commander of the NORDBDE, but also as the commander of the Pori Brigade and the Säkylä garrison. » Read more		Nordic Peace is the greatest challenge of the Pori Brigade and Säkylä garrison this year, says Colonel Markku Aherto
09.09.03 Sweaters ROCK Pia Enroos The new clothing depot of the Säkylä garrison that provides clothing for the troops participating in the exercise opened for business only a few weeks ago. A few miscellaneous groups were still expected to drop by on Monday morning, but no real rush was expected any more. » Read more		Conscripts appearing in the opening ceremonies of Nordic Peace 2003 getting their gear. 8.9.2003
08.09.03 Leopard 2A4 - a good tool Esa-Pekka Avela According to Norwegian Second Lieutenant Håvar Kristiansen, Leopard 2A4 main battle tank is a good tool. He says that this tank, also fairly new in Norway, is by far superior to their earlier 2A1 version. » Read more		Second Lieutenant Håvar Kristiansen (left) and Lieutenant Colonel Timo Teräsvalli talking tanks in Turku harbour. In the background Norwegian armours brought to the exercise. 7.9.2003
08.09.03 Municipalities of Realand: Eura, Säkylä and Yläne Jari Vaara Realand is the smaller of the fictional countries but there are three municipal centres with 15 000 inhabitants in the area. More than in Hundland, in other words. Farming and the food production industry play an important role. » Read more		Eura, Säkylä and Yläne are situated around lake Pyhäjärvi. 8.9.2003
08.09.03 Municipalities of Hundland: Lalli`s Köyliö and the fool of Huittinen Jari Vaara In the exercise area there are five real municipalities, with a quite interesting and odd histories according to their websites. Our exercise area is divided into Hundland and Realand. The centres of two municipalities are situated within the area of Hundland and three in Realand. Over 12 000 inhabitants live in the Hundland area. Of the fictional exercise countries Hundland is the larger. » Read more		Statue of Lalli in Köyliö. 8.9.2003
08.09.03 A good first impression of Finland Stine W. Skjæret Very much like home, say grenadiers Kim Arve Midtlyng and Tommy Sjursen of the Mechanized Infantry Company of the Telemark Battalion. Their first impression of the host country of the Nordic Peace 2003 exercise is good. » Read more		Grenadiers Kim Arve Midtlyng (left) and Tommy Sjursen of the Telemark Battalion left a rainy Norway on Sunday morning and landed in Finland in brilliant sunlight. – Hopefully the good weather will continue throughout the exercise. 7.9.2003
08.09.03 Mysteries of Finland Pekka Santonen Now that you have arrived in the far North and are going to spend a fortnight or so in this country, I would like to guide you through some of the mysteries of Finland. » Read more		Pekka Santonen is the Stockholm correspondent for several Finnish radio stations. He is probably the oldest participant in the exercise at the age of 60 years. He studies languages at the University of Stockholm. His favourite hobbies include long distance walking and travelling.
08.09.03 Helitroops from three nations Pia Enroos Helicopter teams from Sweden, Norway and Finland will take part in Nordic Peace 2003. There will be 17 helicopters operating in the exercise. The base of the helitroops is located in Piikajärvi. Approximately 220 persons will be working there for the next two weeks. During the first week of the exercise the emphasis will be on training the other troops to use the helicopters, getting to know the operational area and creating the operational models for the live exercise phase. During the second week helicopters will carry out assigned missions. Since the helicopter base is situated in a first grade groundwater area the environmental factors are seriously taken into consideration. » Read more		Lieutenant Colonel Ville Mantere leads the multinational helicopter team during the Nordic Peace 2003 exercise. 7.9.2003