Soldiers' Home Association

Soldiers' Home Association (Sotilaskotiliitto, Soldathemsförbundet) is the oldest national defense organization of Finland that has operated continuously since 1921 and is based on volunteering. It is also a member of the National Defence Training Association of Finland. The association maintains the soldiers' homes (sotilaskoti, soldathem), which are recreational centers including often with a café and kiosk within a garrison area. The customers of the soldiers' homes are mainly soldier and their relatives, officers, non-commissioned officers, civilians and reservists participating in refresher trainings.

The operation of the soldiers' homes is maintained by 4,800 volunteers and 170 paid employees. 36 local associations operate under the Soldiers' Home Association. Joining the activity is voluntary, the only conditions are that the applicant must be at least 16 years old and have Finnish citizenship.

History
Finland's first soldiers' home was opened by Helsinki NMKY on 15 April 1918 during the Finnish Civil War. Helsinki NMKY's Soldiers' Home work ended in 2004 in Santahamina. The Salvation Army also belongs to the history of military domestic work. Its first soldiers' home began its operations in 1919 in Terijoki's Border Guard Battalion in Tyrisevä. Women who were with the troops in the Civil War also started military domestic work in the fall of 1918. The Soldiers' Home Association itself was founded in 1921 (initially the name was Suomen Sotilaskotiliitto) and its first president was Katri Bergholm.

Activity
Soldiers' homes are run by military home associations for the most part by volunteers. Thanks to the volunteer "green sisters", the prices of the military homes are affordable. The military homes are famous for their donuts and other pastries. The military homes have a television, computers with internet connections and a library. There is no compulsion to buy the homes, but its purpose is to offer conscripts a home-like environment where they can spend their free time, and where, according to general practice, superiors do not need to be addressed according to military etiquette. The Defence Forces and the Border Guard support the operation by offering the military home properties for the association's use without charging space rent.

In military exercises and field camps, mobile canteens sell coffee, sweets and pastries. The cars are also often present at fairs where the Finnish Defence Forces have a stand. Soldiers' home associations also maintain camp soldiers' homes in large training areas, such as the shooting ranges of Pahkajärvi, Niinisalo and Rovajärvi.

Hymn and march
The Soldiers' Home Association has an official title hymn and march. The title hymn is "Kosketa minua henki" ("Touch Me Spirit"), composed by Ilkka Kuusisto. The title march is "Sotilaspoika" ("Soldier Boy"), composed by Fredrik Pacius, which is listened to standing at parties and sitting at concerts.