VNG Soldiers train on rescue operation in Finland
260902-Z-A3554-3001.PNG Photo By: Contributed

MIKKELI, Finland - Virginia National Guard Soldiers train alongside approximately 60 members of the Finnish Army and local Finnish fire departments during exercise Karelian Stronghold 2026, held Sept. 1 - 4, 2026, in Mikkeli, Finland. Karelian Stronghold is a four-day bilateral exercise focused on rescue operations, structural collapse response, breaching and the movement of heavy debris. Conducted in and around a former school in Mikkeli, the exercise provided a highly realistic environment for U.S. and Finnish personnel to exchange techniques and operate together under conditions designed to replicate damaged and partially collapsed structures. Training emphasized practical problem-solving, interoperability, and the safe application of rescue and engineering techniques in complex environments.


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