Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Finnish Air Force Commander Meets Virginia Guard Leaders By Mike Vrabel,
                Virginia National Guard Public Affairs Office
 HAMPTON, Va. - Maj. Gen. Juha-Pekka Keränen, commander of the Finnish Air Force, met with Virginia National Guard leaders April 8 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the adjutant general of Virginia, Brig. Gen. Catherine M. Jumper, commander of the Virginia Air National Guard, and other senior Virginia Air National Guard leaders hosted the visit. Keränen was joined by Finnish Col. Markus Mecklin, the defense cooperation attache, and Maj. Mikko Kankaisto, Keränen’s military assistant. The trio flew from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to Langley on a UH-60 Black Hawk, flown by VNG aviators assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division. Ring and Jumper greeted the Finnish detachment and introduced them to senior leaders with the 192nd Wing, who provided an overview of the wing’s operations and answered questions from their Finnish partners. The Finnish leaders saw one of the wing’s F-22 Raptors and the 185th Cyberspace Operations Squadron, 192nd Operations Group’s new purpose-built facility. Wing leaders briefed the Finns on their cyber defense and intelligence capabilities. Ring said the visit strengthened the already solid relationship between the Finnish military and the Virginia National Guard. “The Virginia National Guard values our partnership with the Finnish Defence Forces,” said Ring. “We are stronger together training as a multinational joint force across all domains. The Virginia National Guard welcomes the opportunity for continued training opportunities with our Finnish partners, both at home and abroad.” Keränen agreed, saying he looked forward to continued opportunities to strengthen the bond. “It’s always great to see our friends and discuss how to operate together and how to expand our cooperation,” said Keränen. “Hopefully in the future we will cooperate even more than we have now.” The VNG enjoys an enduring relationship with Finland that includes military training exchanges between Finnish Defence Forces and VNG Soldiers and Airmen. Finnish troops served with Virginia’s 29th Infantry Division during the Stabilization Force 10 rotation in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2001-2002, sparking enduring friendships, and VNG personnel have trained shoulder-to-shoulder with their Finnish counterparts for many years, building deep professional and personal bonds. In recent years, Soldiers and Airmen conducted cyber training with their Finnish counterparts, competed in a Finnish sniper competition, and learned from Finland’s expertise in operating and thriving in Arctic conditions, among other exchanges. VNG Army and Air cyber warriors also traveled to Finland to participate in the Elements of Cyber exercise. Finland and the United States have a shared commitment to peace and stability. Their security cooperation has broadened over almost 30 years. National Guard leaders believe they will only be strengthened in the years ahead.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 Read more about the VNG’s partnership with Finland
 Virginia National Guard
 State Partnership Program
 Finland
 
 Virginia Guard Conducts Infantry Tactics Exchange in Tajikistan
 By Mike Vrabel,
  Army National Guard Soldiers Train in Funeral Honors Program
 By A.J. Coyne,
  Finnish Pilots Visit the Virginia Air National Guard
 By Staff Sgt. Kellyann Elish,
  More
 South Carolina National Guard Airmen Return From Deployment4/12/2024Army, Air Force Team up to Load Helicopters at Shaw AFB4/11/2024New York Air Guard Members Recognized for Lifesaving Actions4/11/2024 View more Guard News »
 US, Canadian Special Forces Forge Partnerships in Jamaica4/8/2024
Deployed Pennsylvania Guard Soldiers Earn Their Combat Patch3/27/2024
Pennsylvania Guard Conducts Medical Cold-Load Training in Africa3/20/2024 View more Overseas Operations News »
 Illinois Air Guard Supports Partner Poland4/10/2024

Wisconsin Guard Builds on Papua New Guinea Partnership4/4/2024

Nevada Guard Welcomes Soldiers from Partners Fiji, Tonga4/2/2024 View more State Partnership Program News »
 Back-to-school tools for military families8/11/2015DoD sends blended military retirement proposal to Congress6/16/2015First employment symposium held for National Guard spouses5/11/2015 View more Family Programs News »
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil