View source for Utti Jaeger Regiment

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Utti Jaeger Regiment
| image                         = UTJR joukko-osastotunnus.svg
| image_size                    = 
| caption                       = Insignia of the Utti Jaeger Regiment
| dates                         = 1 July 1943 – 30 November 1944: [[Detached Battalion 4]]<br/>1 February 1962 – 31 December 1996: Parachute Jaeger School<br/>1 January 1997 – present: Utti Jaeger Regiment
| country                       = {{FIN}}
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = {{army|Finland}}
| type                          = [[Army aviation]]<br>[[Special forces]]
| role                          = 
| size                          = 400 hired personnel, 220 conscripts (2018)
| command_structure             = Army Command Finland
| garrison                      = Lentoportintie 11, [[Utti]], [[Kouvola]]
| garrison_label                = Garrison
| nickname                      = 
| patron                        = 
| motto                         = Excelsior<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=UtinJR |number=1535621600292257792 |title=Mottomme #Excelsior, korkeammalle, mukaisesti pyrimme tavoitteellisesti kehittämään toimintaamme. #UTJR #suorituskyky perustuu ihmisiin, monialaisten osaajien joukkoon, johon kuuluvat #henkilökunta, #reserviläiset ja #varusmiehet. |trans-title=In accordance with our motto #Excelsior, higher, we aim to develop our operations in a targeted manner. #UTJR's #performance is based on people, a group of multidisciplinary experts that includes #personnel, #reservists and #conscripts. |language=fi}}</ref>
| colors                        = [[File:Utin jääkärirykmentin lippu.svg|160px|]]
| colors_label                  = 
| march                         = 
| mascot                        = 
| equipment                     = [[RK 95 TP]], [[MP5]], [[Sako TRG]], [[FN SCAR]], [[RG-32 Scout]], [[Polaris Sportsman]]
| battles                       = {{plainlist|
*[[Winter War]]
*[[Continuation War]]
*[[Lapland War]]
*[[War in Afghanistan (2001-2021)|War in Afghanistan]]}}
| anniversaries                 = 
| decorations                   = 
| battle_honours                = <!-- Commanders -->
| website                       = {{official website|http://maavoimat.fi/en/utti-jaeger-regiment}}
| commander1                    = 
| commander1_label              = 
| commander2                    = 
| commander2_label              = 
| commander3                    = 
| commander3_label              = 
| notable_commanders            = <!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol         = [[File:Utin Jääkärirykmentin joukko-osastoristi.svg|100px]]
| identification_symbol_label   = Cross of Merit
| identification_symbol_2       = 
| identification_symbol_2_label = 
| identification_symbol_3_label = <!-- Aircraft -->
| aircraft_attack               = 
| aircraft_bomber               = 
| aircraft_electronic           = 
| aircraft_fighter              = 
| aircraft_interceptor          = 
| aircraft_patrol               = 
| aircraft_recon                = 
| aircraft_trainer              = [[MD Helicopters MD 500|MD 500]] (7)
| aircraft_transport            = [[NHIndustries NH90|NH90]] (20)
| native_name                   = Utin jääkärirykmentti
}}
The '''Utti Jaeger Regiment''' ({{langx|fi|Utin jääkärirykmentti}}, ({{lang|fi|UTJR}}) '''Special jaegers''') is the [[Finnish Army]] training and development centre for [[special forces]] and [[helicopter]] operations in charge of the Army Special Forces Unit and the Special Forces Qualification Course.

==Function==

=== Regiment ===
The Utti Jaeger Regiment is responsible for training special forces for the Finnish Army as well as upkeeping high readiness of the Army Special Forces Unit and helicopter operations and performing executive assistance tasks. The [[regiment]] consists of around 400 hired personnel and 220 conscripts according to sources from 2018. Its Special Jaeger Company ({{Langx|fi|erikoisjääkärikomppania}}) served during the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]], training security officials in medical care, firearms, and operational planning, and has been in standby duties as a part of the [[EU Battlegroup|European Union Battlegroups]] and [[NATO Response Force]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://maavoimat.fi/en/utti-jaeger-regiment|title=Utti Jaeger Regiment|website=Finnish Army|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613111715/http://maavoimat.fi/en/utti-jaeger-regiment|archive-date=13 June 2017|url-status=live|access-date=2018-02-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000002806645.html|title=Suomen erikoisjoukot pidetään piilossa julkisuudelta – tällaisia taistelijat ovat|date=2015-03-07|work=Helsingin Sanomat|access-date=2018-02-04|language=fi-FI|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830232001/http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000002806645.html|archive-date=30 August 2017}}</ref> The Finnish special forces trace their history to the four [[long-range reconnaissance patrol]] detachments (''{{langx|fi|kaukopartio-osastot}}'') and [[Detached Battalion 4]] (''{{langx|fi|Erillinen pataljoona 4}}''), which fought in the [[Winter War]], [[Continuation War]] and [[Lapland War]] during 1939–1944.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book|title=Päämajan kaukopartiot jatkosodassa|last=Saressalo|first=Lassi|publisher=WSOY|year=2011|isbn=9789510381564|language=fi|trans-title=Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrols of Defence Command during the Continuation War}}</ref> After the wartime units were demobilized in November 1944, the Army reinitiated organized special forces training in February 1962 by establishing the Parachute Jaeger School ({{Langx|fi|Laskuvarjojääkärikoulu}}, ({{Lang|fi|LjK}})) at [[Utti]], near the city of [[Kouvola]]. On 1 January 1997, the Utti Jaeger Regiment was formed by merging the Parachute Jaeger School, Military Police School and Helicopter Wing.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Laskuvarjojääkärit : Laskuvarjojääkärikoulu (LjK) 1962–1992|last1=Saressalo|first1=Lassi|last2=Vilkuna|first2=Janne|publisher=Laskuvarjojääkärikilta|year=1992|isbn=952-90-4031-8}}</ref> The Parachute Jaeger School was later reformed into the Special Jaeger Battalion and the Helicopter Wing reinforced into the Helicopter Battalion.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ilmakilta.info/ljk.php|title=Laskuvarjojääkärikoulu ja Utin jääkärirykmentti|website=Utin Ilmakilta ry|language=fi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204070838/http://ilmakilta.info/ljk.php|archive-date=4 February 2018|url-status=live|access-date=2018-02-03}}</ref>

=== Special Jaeger ===
According to the newspaper ''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'', a typical special forces soldier has served in the Defence Forces for seven years and is around 28–29-years-old. On average, they run {{Convert|3,180|metre|yard|abbr=on}} in a [[Cooper test]] and [[bench press]] {{Convert|110|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. Before applying for and attending the year-long Special Forces Qualification Course, they often have served as a paratrooper or a combat diver during conscript service. Approximately 12 students are chosen for the course out of a 100 applicants after a four-day exam. All of the course attendees are trained in communications, engineer and medical care, and receive specializations later, such as [[sniper]], vehicle, [[high-altitude military parachuting]], [[military intelligence]] or [[forward air control]] training. Those chosen for career tracts after the basic course serve at either Utti Jaeger Regiment or Special Operations Detachment of the Naval Reconnaissance Battalion of the [[Coastal Brigade]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000002806616.html|title=Tällainen on erikoisjoukon sotilas|date=2015-03-07|work=Helsingin Sanomat|access-date=2018-02-04|language=fi-FI|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205130029/https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000002806616.html|archive-date=5 February 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

== Organisation ==
As of 2018, the Utti Jaeger Regiment is divided into three battalions in addition to the headquarters:<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://maavoimat.fi/en/-/erikoisjoukot-koulutetaan-satavuotiaassa-tukikohdassa | title=Finnish Defence Forces' special operations forces train at their hundred-year-old base - }}</ref>
*Special Jaeger Battalion
**Special Jaeger Company – hosts the special jaeger [[non-commissioned officers]], maintains special forces readiness and capabilities of the Army, and oversees the Special Forces Qualification Course.
**Paratrooper Company – trains conscripts in basic long-range reconnaissance patrol, [[Sissi (Finnish light infantry)|sissi]], [[Urban warfare|urban]] and [[Air Assault|air assault]] operations.
*Helicopter Battalion – equipped with 20 [[NHIndustries NH90|NH90]] tactical transport helicopters and 7 [[MD Helicopters MD 500|MD 500]] light helicopters; responsible for all helicopter operations and training of the Defence Forces.
**1st Helicopter Company – high readiness unit supporting special operations forces and crisis management.
**2nd Helicopter Company – basic flight training and helicopter support for other forces.
**Aircraft Maintenance Company
*Support Battalion
**Support Company – trains conscripts in support tasks and handles logistics in cooperation with the Logistics Centre.
**Logistics Centre
[[File:Utin Jääkärirykmentti.jpg|thumb|right|The traditional colours of the Special Jaeger Battalion, the colours of the former Parachute Jaeger School]]

== See also ==
* [[Finnish Border Guard]]
* [[Finnish Defence Intelligence Agency]]
* [[Jäger (infantry)]]
* [[Lauri Törni]]
* [[Police Rapid Response Unit (Finland)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wiktionary|jaeger|jääkäri}}{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://maavoimat.fi/en/utti-jaeger-regiment}}

{{Finnish Defence Forces units}}

[[Category:Kouvola]]
[[Category:Army regiments of Finland]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1997]]
[[Category:Special forces]]