North Karelia Brigade (Finnish Pohjois-Karjalan prikaati) is a Finnish Army unit situated in Kontioranta, Kontiolahti, about 19 kilometres North from the city of Joensuu. Annually 1500 recruits star their military service in Kontioranta. The brigade is the infantry centre of Eastern Finland: it trains soldiers to work in the roadless circumstanses in North Karelia, Southern Savonia and Northern Savonia. The majority of conscripts are from that area. There are about 300 career personnel. The commander of the Brigade is Colonel Jari Kytölä.