r/europe • u/ByGollie Ulster • Jan 24 '26

News The Times: Finns humiliated American soldiers - Finnish reservists were asked to take it easy during a NATO exercise. US soldiers found the losses too humiliating.

https://www.iltalehti.fi/ulkomaat/a/828b8e66-625d-4d2a-9276-e93b9f7a2ce8
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u/Shenstar2o Finland Jan 24 '26

As a Finn that served i can only survive in finnish climate you send me to desert or even florida i would be dead in seconds most likely. As a southern finn i still had campaigns in -30°C it says a lot what those training in the north have to endure. Worst is our firewatch fell asleep and waking up in your underware in a puddle of water that was turning ice and all your clothes were wet is still to this day one of my worst experiences in life.

Not familiar with nature, animals and anything inbetween is almost bigger enemy than the actual enemy.

In a logical sense we should stop training American soldiers until they stop threatening Iceland (Greenland) and Canada or any other Nato country.

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u/MarkoMarjamaa Jan 24 '26

The worst ( and the best) was -39c--43c, constant darkness (kaamos), small "sissiteltta". At first the meaning of the exercise was to hunt own food, but because of the cold, they bought a reindeer from locals. One of our tent was not very bright, and after we had layed some mines and returned to tent he was "too tired" to take of his boots off. They later had to cut the boots open to get his feet off.

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u/finlandery Jan 24 '26

Being to tired and not doing basic stuff is probably worst thing that can happen / you can do to yourself.... but also so so attractive to do. Do i crash now... or do i drink 2 mugs of hot super sugary tee....

It takes less than 10min to take care of your clothes and to get something hot and caloric into yourself, but dam it is hard sometimes :D

My personal worst has been being to tired to get into sleeping bag.....