Adventists for Tomorrow

heipauli

Member

Registered: 12-28-08

Posts: 205

Please, not a professional one!

Quote: <BR> <BR>&#34;The next Commander of Finnish Defense Forces, Ari Puheloinen, is not in favour of the introduction of an all-professional in Finland. In an interview with Alma Media, he said that a reservist army is a less expensive and more effective system.  <BR>In Puheloinen&#39;s view the present system of conscription and reserve time is optimal for Finland. He said that he has calculated that Finland could afford to maintain a 40,000 man professional army, if defense spending were to be doubled. However, at current spending levels the country is able to maintain a 350,000 man army reserve. According to Puheloinen, 40,000 soldiers could not defend a country the size of Finland.  <BR>Puheloinen, who takes over as Commander of Finnish Defense Forces in August, also argued that professional armies do not attract the best members of each generation.  <BR>&#34;In those countries that have shifted to a professional army during this decade, there have been difficulties in getting quality recruits to fills the ranks,&#34; said Puheloinen. &#34; <BR> <BR>Source: <BR><a href="http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2009/02/new_commander_rejects_professional_army_563645.html" target=_top>http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2009/02/new_commander_r ejects_professional_army_563645.html</a>