Drill Commands - Common Drill Commands - Finland

Finland

In Finnish military drill, commands are twin parted: valmistava (precautionary/readying) and käskevä (executive). When ordering a formation, the commanding soldier (officer or assigned drill supervisor) gives a precautionary command so the soldiers know what formation they need to fall into. At the executive order they fall in the specified formation. An example being Kahteen riviin... (into two lines) JÄRJESTY (form). A command can be terminated by calling LEPO (At ease). At järjesty the soldiers align themselves in the specified number of rows, with the kulmamies (cornerman) at an arms length from the one who gave the order. When a formation is formed they ojentaa (extend), so as to make sure the lines and rows are in perfect order: Soldiers are an arms length apart from each other, as the first row extends their left arm onto the right shoulder of the one next to them and turn their heads to the cornerman. The men behind the cornerman extend their left arm forward to the shoulderblade of the man in front of them. The cornerman checks the straightness of the lines/rows, lowering his arm and turning his head forward when ready. At this the soldiers turn their heads forward and lower their arm when the one next to them has done so, forming a wave. When an extension is order e.g. OJENNUS (extension) the cornerman keeps his head forward while the rest of the formation extends. At the command katse eteen - PÄIN (eyes - FRONT) the formation lowers theirs arms and turns their heads forward simultaneously. A variant of järjesty used is ryhmity (group), at which the unit ordered runs into formation. When ordering from one formation to another, mars (march) is used as the executive order (mars mars would mean "double time!", an order to run). To have the attention of a unit, the commanding officer shouts e.g. yksikkö! (unit). At this the unit in question stands in attention, facing towards the one who has their attention.

• ASENTO - Stand in attention. Often called as STOO.
• LEPO - At ease
• OJENNUS - Extension. The kulmamies keeps his head forward while the rest of the formation extends.
• Katse eteen/oikeaan - PÄIN - Dress ranks, Eyes forward/right. Order to turn the heads of the formation front/left/right. Katse oikeaan - PÄIN (eyes - RIGHT) is also used in parades to instruct marching soldiers to salute (and look at) the receiving officer of the parade, even if he/she was on the left side.
• Käännös vasempaan/oikeaan - PÄIN - Left/right turn. order to turn 90 degrees left/right.
• Täyskäännös vasempaan - PÄIN - About turn. Order to turn 180 degrees (the soldiers always turn left at this command, as the one giving orders can NEVER be behind them).
• (Kahteen/kolmeen/neljään/etc) riviin - JÄRJESTY - Fall in. Order to form a rank (row). The first section contains the number of ranks: riviin (into a single rank), kahteen riviin or paririviin (into two ranks), kolmeen riviin (into three rank). JÄRJESTY is often called as STY.
• (Kahteen/kolmeen/neljään/etc) jonoon - JÄRJESTY - Fall in. Order to form a file (line). The first command contains the number of files: jonoon (into a single file), kahteen jonoon (into two files), kolmeen jonoon (into three files).
• Opetusavoneliöön - MARS - Open Square March. Order to form an open square where the trainees face inside the square. Usually used in exercises, so the trained unit could better see what the trainer wishes to show and teach them.
• Opetusavoriviin - MARS - Open Order March. Order for the ranks of the formation to space apart. This command is preceded by instructions on how far apart the ranks are (e.g. Rivien väliset etäisyydet 10 askelta. Ensimmäinen rivi ottaa 20 askelta, toinen rivi 10. ). This formation is used in training, when the training officer has subtrainers at his disposal, who teach each row individually.
• Taakse - POISTU - Dismiss. Order to run (not walk) ten paces back at the best possible speed. Can be ordered for other directions. The length of the run can be controlled by stating the destination or the amount of paces. The soldiers must run to their destination. The POISTU is often called as STU. Unlike the American and British commands of dismiss, the soldiers ordered to dismiss are always to run, never walk.
• Tahdissa - MARS - Forward March. Order to march in pace.
• Tahditta (or Ilman tahtia) - MARS - Order to march out of pace. This command is usually given when crossing a bridge or if the marching unit is for some reason incapable of marching in pace.
• Tahtiin - Mars - Unit marching out of pace begins marching in pace.
• Juoksuun - Mars - Order to run in formation.
• Käyntiin - Mars - Order to return to walking speed.
• Paikallaan - MARS - Mark Time. Order to march at place without advancing.
• Kaarto oikeaan/vasempaan (tahdissa/) - MARS - Order to wheel either to right or left. The kulmamies stays put and the unit begins to pivot around him until the command Eteen - PÄIN is given. Tahdissa or Ilman tahtia is given if the unit is standing still before the command is issued.
• Eteen - PÄIN - Order to halt wheeling and to continue marching to the direction where the unit is heading. The kulmamies will start to march forward and the others will follow him.
• Mars - MARS - Double march. The soldiers will run. Used when soldiers are not in formation.
• Oikeaan - MARS - Right incline. The soldiers march inclining 45 deg to right. Called while marching.
• Tielle - MARS - Left incline. The soldiers march incliing 45 deg to left. Called while marching.
• Osasto - SEIS - Halt. The unit will halt their move, taking two steps and ending in attention.
• Eteen - VIE - Present arms. Soldiers bring rifles to the rifle salute.
• Olalle - VIE - Shoulder arms. Soldiers bring rifles back to their shoulders.
• Jalalle - VIE - Stand arms. Soldiers bring rifles to their side with the rifle butt on ground. Not used with RK62.
• Selkään - VIE - Carry arms. Soldiers bring their rifles to their back with strap diagonally from left shoulder to right hip.
• Lakki - PÄÄSTÄ - Off Caps. Soldiers take their headgear off and present them at their belt buckle.
• Lakki - PÄÄHÄN - On Caps. Soldiers put their headgear back to their heads.