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USEUCOM senior leader visits Finland
U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. James R. Kriesel, U.S. European Command's director of exercises and assessments and Finnish Army Brig. Gen. Manu Tuominen, Finnish Defense Forces' assistant chief of staff for training meet with Finnish conscripts during an official visit to Finland July 9-11, 2024.
Photo by: Lt. Col. Shasta McDowell
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USEUCOM senior leader visits Finland
U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. James R. Kriesel (center), U.S. European Command's director of exercises and assessments, joins Finnish Defense Forces' Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Lieutenant General Kari Nisula (left) and Brig. Gen. Manu Tuominen (right), Finnish Defense Forces' assistant chief of staff for training during an official visit to Finland July 9-11, 2024.
Photo by: Finnish Defense Forces
Photo 3 of 3
USEUCOM senior leader visits Finland
U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. James R. Kriesel, U.S. European Command's director of exercises and assessments, conducted an official visit to Finland July 9-11, 2024, to learn more about the Finnish military conscription system along with the exercise and training programs of the Finnish Army and Air
Forces.
The bilateral military visit was hosted by Finnish Army Brig. Gen. Manu Tuominen, Finnish Defense Forces' assistant chief of staff for training.
Photo by: Lt. Col. Shasta McDowell
(Editor's Note: This article was translated from its original Finnish.)
U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. James R. Kriesel, U.S. European Command's (USEUCOM) director of exercises and assessments, conducted an official visit to Finland July 9-11, 2024, to learn more about the Finnish military conscription system along with the exercise and training programs of the Finnish Army and Air Forces. The bilateral military visit was hosted by Finnish Army Brig. Gen. Manu Tuominen, Finnish Defense Forces' assistant chief of staff for training.
The USEUCOM and Finnish Defense Command senior military officials also discussed development of bilateral cooperation between the U.S. and Finland, practical implementation of the Defense cooperation Agreement and the role of NATO as a part of Finland’s national defense.
During the trip's stopover at the nation's Air Force Academy, located in Jyväskylä, Finland – central Finland's regional capital city – discussions covered the effects of the new F-35 fifth-generation fighter pilot training.
Kriesel, who also serves as USEUCOM's reserve component advisor, expressed how impressed he was by the skills and determination of the Finnish soldiers to defend their country as he observed a training session of the Karelia Brigade's high-level readiness unit and Reserve Officer School students’ live-fire training in Pahkajärvi training area. Kriesel was also briefed about the education and training in the Utti Jaeger Regiment as well as in the Air Force Academy.
When speaking with military conscripts conducting volunteer military service, Kriesel expressed his sincerest thanks for their efforts to enhance Finland's security.
