Pori Brigade

History

Pori Brigade traditions date back to the 17th century. On 16 February 1626, King Gustav II Adolf of Sweden founded the Royal Pori Regiment during the Thirty Years' War. During the War of Independence in 1918, Pori Regiment fought on the South-western front. Its men took succesfully part in the the Winter War and the Continuation War while serving in a number of regiments. The present name, Pori Brigade, was adopted in 1957.

Finnish Rapid Deployment Forces (FRDF) & Jaeger, Signal and Engineer Battalions

Pori Brigade, which ultimately forms the Readiness Brigade of the Western Command, is the fast developing Training Center for the Army and the Finnish Rapid Deployment Force (FRDF). Since 1963, the unit in Huovinrinne, Säkylä, has trained Finnish conscripts for the infantry, engineer and signal branches.

Since 1996, the voluntary conscripts have been trained for peacekeeping missions. The selection of men and women for international crisis-management and peacekeeping training is based on their ability to operate as a part of a unit consisting of soldiers from a number of countries. The chosen conscripts will serve in the FRDF functions for a year and all of them will be trained to corporal or officer cadet. Finnish conscripts are primaly trained to defend Finland and are assigned accordingly to their wartime unit.

In addition to the 1st Jaeger Company (FRDF), the Jaeger Battalion also consists of Anti-Tank and Mortar Companies. The Anti-Tank Company trains conscripts to operate light and heavy anti-tank missile systems or to use 95 mm recoilless rifles and Apilas anti-tank launchers. Respectively the Mortar Company trains conscripts to use heavy mortars.

The West Finland Signal Battalion consists of four companies: the 3rd Jaeger Company, the Military Police and Reconnaissance Company, the Signal Company and the Headquarter and Logistic Company. The 3rd Jaeger Company trains a wartime jaeger company, while the Military Police and Reconnaissance Company trains a wartime military police platoon and a reconnaissance platoon. In addition to the personnel needed at signal system positions, the Signal Company trains the signal personnel. The main body of the logistic troops are trained by the Brigade as well as some of the AT troops by the Headquarter and Logistics Company.

The third battalion in Pori Brigade, the Satakunta Engineer Battalion comprises of two, totally different companies. Since the 1st of January 2007 there are the 1st Engineer Company and the Anti-tank Company in the battalion. The first ENGCOY produces combat engineer troops and other, specialized engineer troops, like EOD, platoons assigned to water and obstacle crossing, heavy engineer squads and platoons etc. The ATCOY trains conscripts to operate light and heavy anti-tank missile systems or touse 95mm recoiles rifles and Apilas anti-tank launchers. The main focus is to produce anti-tank troops for Jaeger Brigade M05, but other units are also produced every now and then. The battalion can also provide a very good knowledge for different kinds of projects related to for example construction works (horizontal & vertical), mineclearing (incl. EOD & IEDD) and bridge laying.

Pori Brigade also has a NCO School (Non-Commissioned Officer) which trains the wartime NCO leaders as well as the NCOs needed by the Finnish Rapid Deployment Forces.

The Logistics Centre

The Logisctics Center consists of five different places which are, the Repair Shop, the Garrison Hospital, the Provisioning Centre, the Transport Centre and the Storage Section. The Logisctics Centre is responsible for providing support for about 2000 conscripts and reserves and for the equipment needed in training them. It also supplies the wartime material for the troops.

The Repair Shop maintains and repairs the vehicles and weapons used in the Brigade and builds training consctructions. The Garrison Hospital provides health care services for conscripts while the Provisioning Centre caters for up to 2000 persons on a daily basis. The Transport Centre is responsible for over 400 vehicles and it also trains conscripts to drive various vehicles. The Storage Section comprises of storage for engineers materiel, ordnance, personel and signal equipment.