When Finland applied for Nato membership, US Marines soon appeared at the Dragsvik garrison in Tammisaari.
Since then they have been a regular sight at the home of the Nyland Brigade, the Finnish Defence Forces’ (FDF) amphibious infantry unit in the Finnish Navy.
The Marines are from Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. They consist mainly of young enlisted personnel in their twenties and officers who vary a bit more in age. For many of these Marines it is their first time outside of the US.
The unit has been training with their Finnish counterparts and fine-tuning their activities.
For example, soldiers from the most recent rotation took part in the Freezing Winds exercise, where soldiers from several Nato countries practised coastal defence around the Baltic Sea.
This is the seventh rotation of Marines stationed at the garrison since 2022, part of non-permanent, but recurring US presence. Next week, this rotation ends when they will head back to North Carolina.
According to the Nyland Brigade’s Chief of Staff Pekka Snellman, both units can learn a lot from one another.
“It may also have something to do with our geographical location. The Hanko peninsula is a strategically important area, as everyone knows,” said Snellman.
US soldiers have practised amphibious landings at the Hanko peninsula before the current rotations began two years ago. For example, when Russia invaded Crimea from Ukraine, US troops were also training in Finland in 2014.
Life in the barracks
The sight in the Finnish barracks is familiar, though with some notable differences. The camouflage of the FDF has been replaced by Marpat (Marine pattern). Instead of soldiers cleaning their RK assault rifles, the Marines service their US rifles and machine guns. Empty energy drink cans lie around and the Marines scroll through their phones during their free time.
In the garrison’s conscript mess hall, the Americans queue up for their own counter. The Marines’ diets have more protein than Finnish conscripts, so they get separate meals with more meat.
Another telltale sign of the Marines are the trademark mustaches while on deployment. According to regulations, the mustache must be neatly trimmed and not extend above the upper lip.
Often in the evenings, the Marines can also leave the barracks and the garrison.
Even then, there is a code of conduct — disruptive behaviour is prohibited. The Marines allow no more than two alcoholic drinks while in uniform
In Finland, US Marines train and do similar things as at home. There are also elements that are specific to Finland such as training on how to deal with Finns, how to properly layer clothing for cold weather and how sub-Arctic conditions affect medicine.
While Finnish conscripts go home on leave and regular personnel often work only during office hours, the Americans are constantly at the barracks.
US presence in Europe grows
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States has significantly increased its troop presence in Europe.
Current estimates place the number of American troops on the continent at approximately 85,000, engaged in training exercises and rotational deployments.
This represents a sharp rise compared to pre-crisis levels, when around 65,000 troops were stationed in Europe. In recent years, the figure has fluctuated between 80,000 and 100,000.
The primary role of US forces in Europe is to bolster Nato’s eastern flank. According to US European Command, troop deployments are adjusted based on evolving circumstances and in consultation with Nato allies, ensuring an effective deterrence and defense posture.
In Finland alone, about 6,000 foreign soldiers participated in exercises this year. American troops comprised the second-largest group after the Swedes.
Culture of the Corps
The US Marine Corps attracts recruits from diverse backgrounds, each with their own reasons for joining. According to First Lieutenant Joseph Admiral, the most successful Marines are those who enlist with a clear commitment to the Corps’ mission.
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First Lieutenant Joseph Admiral said he feels he is doing the job he has always wanted to do. Deployments outside the US offer life experience, he added. Image: Sasha Silvala / Yle
“They perform exceptionally well in these conditions,” Admiral said. Challenges often arise, however, for those motivated by other factors, such as financial needs or the desire to escape difficult circumstances.
“Those reasons can sometimes lead to difficulties adapting,” he added.
The culture of the US armed forces is distinct from that of Finland, particularly in its rigid hierarchy. Interaction across different ranks is less casual compared to Finnish military practices.
“Officers and non-commissioned officers belong to entirely separate castes,” explained Chief of Staff Snellman. In Finland, the conscription system means that everyone, including top officers, starts out on the lowest rung at the enlisted rank of recruit.
In the US, officers generally have a separate track when they begin their careers outside of the enlisted system and earning a commission as an officer requires at least a bachelor’s degree.
The role of commanding officers and junior leaders is to ensure that service in Finland is both productive and meaningful for their troops. Life on base includes cleaning duties in the mornings, maintenance work, training, and studies. Lieutenant Admiral noted that part of his role is to make the base a place young recruits don’t dread.
“This means finding the right balance between work and free time,” he said.
Adjusting to life abroad
Many soldiers experience occasional homesickness, particularly during quiet periods in training or operations, said Corporal John Leach. Spending every day with the same group of people can also be challenging, but it fosters camaraderie among both American and Finnish soldiers.
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John Leach is a 21-year-old Corporal in the US Marine Corps. Image: Sasha Silvala / Yle
“You develop a bond that’s hard to compare to anything else,” Leach said.
Leach has served as a low-altitude air defence (LAAD) gunner, or an anti-air machine gunner for three years. At 21, his plans remain focused on the short term.
“For now, it’s about going back and continuing the training,” he said.
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Publish date : 2024-12-21 00:59:00
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