Utti Jaeger Regiment
INTRODUCTION
Utti Jaeger Regiment is subordinate to the Commander
of the Eastern Command. Such tasks of the regiment
as R&D, unit production, operation of the wartime
unit and helicopter activity are directly supervised
by the Defence Staff.
In the Government's Defence White Paper of 1997,
the role of Utti Jaeger Regiment is stated as the
Defence Forces training and development centre for
special forces and helicopter operations.
The regiment was established the 1st January 1997,
including the Parachute School, the Helicopter Flight
transferred from the Air Force and the Military Police
School tranferred from the Armoured Brigade.
The regiment cherises the traditions of the long-range
patrol units of the Second World War General Headquarters
and of the Finnish military helicopter activity.
The anniversary of the regiment is celebrated on
25 August.
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UTTI GARRISON AREA AND ITS HISTORY
The military history of Utti dates back to the18th
century. Utti is located on the Salpausselkä ridge,
along the road to Lappeenranta and Vyborg, and became
thus of strategic importance. Due to Utti's geographical
location on the Haukkasuo and Haukkajärvi Isthmus,
the road could easily be blocked there.
In 1789, the battle of Utti was fought between the
Swedish and Russian troops west of the present-day
garrison. About a hundred Russians as well as a hundred
Swedish-Finnish soldiers were killed in the battle.
After the fight, the Russians had to withdraw in the
direction of Taavetti.
As a consequence of the war, the Russians secured
the border zone, and the defence of St. Petersburg,
by building Utti fortification in 1792. No fighting
took place there, and it was of no importance after
1809, the end of the Russo-Swedish War.
As the Russians had built a new garrison in Kouvola
in the 1910's, Utti heath was established as an important
exercise area. As Finland became independent, exercises
held in the area increased and in the 1930's the number
of troops in training in Utti could even number 10000
men.
Today Utti is above all known for its airfield and
special units. In 1918, General Mannerheim decided
that the first Air Force base be established in Utti.
Thus Utti became the most central Air Force base before
the Second World War. Of special significance could
be regarded the influence of troops and commanders
from Utti in creating the true pilot spirit and developing
orthodox fighter tactics. During the Second World
War, several fighter and bomber units operated from
Utti. The place was bombed 23 times during the Winter
War.
After the Second World War, Karelia Wing was stationed
at the base until 1958, and the Transport Squadron
operated in Utti from 1961 to 1996.
The training of Army special troops in Utti has also
its origins in the Second World War. During the Continuation
War in spring 1944, three parachute jump courses were
arranged in Utti for the special troops of the time,
the long-range reconnaissance units subordinate to
the wartime General Headquarters. The present form
of the training was established in the early 1960's,
when the Parachute School was founded.
The garrison buidlings and training ranges and tracks
offer an excellent opportunity to arrange basic training
connected with all special units and flying training
within the area or in the near airspace. The vicinity
of the garrison area is quite sparsely populated which
does not limit the activity hardly at all.
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TASKS OF UTTI JAEGER REGIMENT
The tasks given to Utti Jaeger Regiment are divided
into training and operational tasks.
Besides the normal unit tasks, the regiment is
resposible for the following training among personnell:
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ORGANISATION
The Utti Jaeger Regiment consists of the Headquarters,
the Parachute School, the Military Police School,
the Helicopter Flight and the Logistics Centre. The
total strength of the regiment is about 400, so that
there are about 200 of both personnel and conscripts.
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ARMY SPECIAL UNITS
The traditions of Army special units date back to
the period of the Continuation War. At the time there
were four long-range patrol companies. In 1943, during
the War, the companies were united into the 4th Detached
Battalion. The companies completed a total of 275
reconnaissance and demolition patrol missions in the
rear of Russian and German troops. The longest patrol
missions lasted more than 50 days, reaching the Archangel
railroad. Of the long-range scouts, totally nine have
been awarded the Mannerheim Cross of the Order of
the Cross of Liberty.
The training of scouts was started in the early 1960's,
after a quiet period following the Second War War.
The Parachute School was established in Utti - close
to the transport aircraft - in 1962. Ever since the
beginning, about one hundred paratroopers have received
their training annually.
Even today, scouts are trained for reconnaissance
and demolition tasks that are carried out in demanding
circumstances and that require physical endurance.
The signal specialists - signal rangers - needed by
these reconnaissance units also receive their training
in Utti.
From 1997, units for special operations, special
jaegers, have been trained in the Parachute School.
They are trained and equipped to encounter enemy special
forces. Besides normal forest terrain, the area of
operation also includes an inhabited and a maritime
environment. The specialists receive more versatile
weapons and firing training. They must be able to
use different vehicles and helicopters while carrying
out their duties. This special training is aggressive
by character - it consists of attacks in all terrain,
lightning and weather conditions.
Each year 500 to 600 young men apply for admission
to the Parachute School. Of the applicants, 150 to
170 are admitted to the 362-day course.
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MILITARY POLICE TRAINING
In early 1997, the Military Police School was transferred
from Parola to Utti. Within a few years, this special
know-how has become established in Utti. Annually,
MP basic and advanced courses are held for about one
hundred persons of FDF personnel. Approx. 60 officer
candidates to be assigned MP platoon leaders are trained
in the basics needed for their wartime duties at two
platoon leader courses each year. Furthermore, different
MP special courses and negotiations are arranged by
which the MP School co-ordinates the MP activity on
a national basis and bears, for its part, responsibility
for its quality and standard.
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HELICOPTER OPERATIONS
Officially the Finnish helicopter operations were
started in the early 1960's as the Air Force decided
to procure helicopters. The first helicopters were
acquired in 1961 and they were first stationed in
Pori. Very soon it was decided to deploy them in Utti,
and the transfer took place in 1962.
In 1962-1996 the helicopters served in the Air Force,
and it was their main task to secure quick materiel
transports and transfers of the Air Force in peacetime
and in a threat of war. They were also used to support
Army forces in training. In the course of the years,
the Helicopter Flight has also been engaged in rescue
services on a national level.
The greatest challenge of the last years has been
the integration of the helicopter operations into
the Army and preparations to procure the new transport
helicopter and also creating a new helicopter system
in the FDF.
