Jaeger Brigade

Jääkäriprikaati
A barracks building of the Jaeger Brigade at Sodankylä
Active	1919–1921:Käkisalmen rykmentti (Käkisalmi Regiment) 1921–1936: Polkupyöräpataljoona 1 (Bicycle Battallion 1) 1936–1957: Jääkäripataljoona 1 (Jaeger Battallion 1) 1957–1964: Pohjanmaan jääkäripataljoona (Ostrobothnia Jaeger Battallion) 1964–1979: Lapin Jääkäripataljoona (Lapland Jaeger Battallion) 1979–: Jääkäriprikaati Jaeger Brigade[1]
Country	Finland
Branch	Finnish Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Arctic training
Size	900 conscripts, 370 career personnel, of whom 140 military career personnel
Garrison	Sodankylä
Nickname	Jiipeeär, Jipri
March	The Jäger March by Jean Sibelius
Equipment	Sisu Nasu and Bandvagn 206
Commanders
Colonel	Petteri Koskinen

The Jaeger Brigade (Jääkäriprikaati) is a unit of the Finnish Army. The unit is located in Sodankylä in Finnish Lapland, some 130 km north of the Arctic Circle. The brigade trains 1600 conscripts per year.

The Jaeger Brigade specialises in training soldiers for the harsh climate of Lapland. Brigade is also responsible for developing arctic warfare tactics and equipment in cooperation with Swedish and Norwegian arctic forces.

Troops are motorized by all-terrain vehicles Sisu Nasu and Bandvagn 206 due their better movement on arctic conditions compared to heavy armed vehicles.

Organisation

• Lapland Jaeger Battalion (Lapin Jääkäripataljoona)
  • 1st Jaeger Company (1. Jääkärikomppania)
  • Support Company (Tukikomppania)
  • Supply and Transport Company (Huolto- ja kuljetuskomppania)
• Pohja Jaeger Battalion (Pohjan Jääkäripataljoona)
  • Sissi Company (Sissikomppania)
  • 3rd Jaeger Company / NCO School (3. Jääkärikomppania / Aliupseerikoulu)

History

The Brigade follows the traditions of the 27th Preussian Jaeger Battalion, JR 27 (27th Infantry regiment) (which fought during the Winter War) and the 6th Division (which fought during the Continuation War)

The Lapland Jaeger Battalion traces back its roots to the 1st Bicycle Battalion, founded in 1921. That unit later formed the 1st Jaeger Battalion which fought during the Winter War and the Continuation War. The Pohja Jaeger Battalion, on the other hand, was founded in 1998 to replace the Pohja Brigade, which was stationed in Oulu and was disbanded the same year. The Pohja Jaeger Battalion carries on much of the old traditions as the disbanded brigade, such as its flag and its honors march. The name "Pohja" has also been carried on, even though the battalion is stationed nowhere near Pohjanmaa.

External links

• Jääkäriprikaati (Finnish) (Swedish) (English)

References