Swiss Mannerheim Fellow visited Finland for three weeks

Swiss Mannerheim Fellow, Major Robin Gubler, visited Finland for three weeks at the turn of May and June. The purpose of the visit was to familiarize himself with Finland and the Finnish Defence Forces. The visit was part of the Mannerheim Fellowship Programme between the Finnish and Swiss Armed Forces. The fellowship programme began in 1949, offering Finnish officers the opportunity to spend about three months in Switzerland, learning about the country and its military, while also developing their language skills. In 1970, the programme was expanded to include a three-week familiarization visit to Finland for Swiss officers.

Major Gubler was already familiar with the Mannerheim Fellowship Programme before applying, as he works at the Swiss Armed Forces International Center, SWISSINT. As part of his duties, he has had the opportunity to host Finnish Mannerheim fellows in Switzerland and thus become acquainted with the programme.

“I was aware of the fellowship programme through my work and decided to try applying myself. To my pleasant surprise, I was accepted,” Gubler says of his path to Finland.

A Tour Across Finland

During his stay in Finland, Gubler was based in Santahamina, but his schedule included visits to several garrisons across the country. Driving from one garrison to another gave him a clear picture of Finland’s vast geography. On Finnish roads, one might drive for an hour without seeing another car, and with some luck, spot a moose. The vastness of Finland and the opportunities it provides for military training appeared as a stark contrast to Switzerland. In Finland, it is possible to find large tracts of land for defence training purposes—something not possible in a smaller country like Switzerland, where all land is already in use.

Gubler did not mind the long drives between garrisons. As a counterbalance to the travel, he was able to spend extended time at each unit he visited.

“The most rewarding part was getting to spend several days in the same unit and seeing what everyday work life is really like there,” Gubler notes.

Meaningful Encounters

During his fellowship, Gubler had many conversations that were relevant and useful for his day-to-day work. He particularly noted the shared interests and perspectives between Finnish and Swiss officers regarding peacekeeping operations. Gubler himself has firsthand experience in crisis management missions in Kosovo.

The visit to Finland provided many new experiences and connections.

“One experience that stood out was patrolling on foot with a dog patrol on the border. Getting to see border security up close was something special,” Gubler says.

He praised how friendly and welcoming people were. Contact details were exchanged with new acquaintances, and plans are already in the works for a return trip to Finland—including a hunting expedition with friends he made during the visit.

Overall, Gubler warmly recommends applying for the fellowship. Hands-on exposure to another country’s operations and colleagues is a rewarding experience.

“The most important thing on a trip like this is to keep an open mind,” Gubler concludes.