At the end of September, the Command Senior Enlisted Leader Course (CSELC) 2025 conducted its very first International Study Trip (IST) to Finland, hosted by the Finnish Defence Forces.

The visit aimed to deepen understanding of Finland’s Comprehensive Security concept and strengthen multinational cooperation among senior enlisted leaders.

Participants engaged with Finnish military and civilian stakeholders, gaining insights into Finland’s whole-of-society approach to national defence. Highlights included lectures at Santahamina Island, opportunities to have cultural exchanges with Finnish cadets and conscripts, and witnessing over 300 female volunteers training in search and rescue operations—an embodiment of societal resilience.

The trip also featured strategic briefings at the Naval Academy, visits to the Finnish War Museum, and a wreath-laying ceremony at Hietaniemi Cemetery. The experience reinforced Finland’s evolving role within NATO and its strategic posture in the Baltic-Nordic region.

Collectively, these efforts made the inaugural CSELC IST a resounding success. In just a few days, representatives from 18 nations were able to explore Finland’s National Security Strategy and its integration into the Baltic Sea regional security architecture through an intensive and productive programme.

CSELC 2025 returned with a renewed appreciation for Finland’s defence ethos and the importance of unity in facing shared regional challenges.