On Thursday 26 June 2025, President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb paid an inspection visit to the Reserve Officer School in Hamina.
The visit started with a presentation outlining the school’s curricula and courses. The programme then continued outdoors with the Kirkkojärvi march, which is a military skills competition testing the participating teams’ orienteering, speed and endurance abilities. The President took part in the competition alongside officer students from Reserve Officer Course 266.
The competition began with a series of military tasks along a route, which the President carried out with various teams. In the speed march, President Stubb competed as part of a team from the Reconnaissance Company.
“What a great experience! There was a strong sense of team spirit every step of the way. One for all and all for one. I would like to thank all the competitors and organisers. Thank you for your service,” President Stubb said after reaching the finish line.
The Kirkkojärvi March – a military competition with a long history
The Reserve Officer School in Hamina is renowned for its Kirkkojärvi March, a military skills competition held since 1936. It takes place twice a year, once during each reserve officer course. Teams represent different units at the school and consist of around 30 students each.
The competition comprises two stages: the first involves control points with tasks testing military skills, and the second is a 20–30 kilometre speed march. The route is not revealed in advance, so the teams must use their orienteering skills to find their way from start to finish.
Medals are awarded to the three best teams, and the winning team receives the Kirkkojärven-kilpi Challenge Cup.
