NATO MUltimedia

US Marines brought their amphibious logistics skills to Finland for a three-month deployment – the longest yet for these US troops.

Logistics is the art of moving supplies and people to where they need to be. Without logistics, armies wouldn’t have fuel for trucks, parts to repair them, or soldiers to drive them. It’s a military fundamental, and that’s why NATO forces regularly practise this crucial discipline with their Allies and partners.
Recently, the US Marine Corps teamed up with the Finnish Navy to practise this crucial discipline – but with a twist. The icy, island-studded waters of the Finnish archipelago are uniquely challenging to supply lines. Working with the Finnish troops, the US Marines learned how to move supplies using helicopters, transport aircraft and small, stealthy boats, as well as the burly transport trucks they brought from the United States in cold weather conditions.
The US Marines deployed to Finland for three months last fall – the longest stint the US military’s amphibious branch has spent in Finland to date. It signals a deepening relationship with Finland, a long-time NATO partner that applied for membership of the Alliance in 2022, together with Sweden. Deployments like this help Finland to continue familiarising itself with Allied tactics and techniques as the country prepares to join the Alliance as a full member.

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WHAT KEEPS ARMIES ON THE MOVE?

LOGISTICS

BUT IN THE NORTH

COLD WEATHER MAKES IT HARDER

TO KEEP NATO AND PARTNER FORCES SUPPLIED

Captain Michael Roeske
US Marine Corps

“A lot of the equipment we have isn’t used to working in the cold. So we’ve had to adapt to make sure the trucks stay up and running in a cold environment. Additionally, a lot of the electronics we use naturally run off of batteries, and the cold siphons the batteries really quick.”

THE US MARINES TRAINED WITH THE FINNISH NAVY

PRACTISING HOW TO KEEP AN ARMY MOVING

NO MATTER THE CLIMATE

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Captain Michael Roeske
US Marine Corps

“One of the big things we’ve taken away from the Finns is how do we work in a cold weather environment that’s also surrounded by water, as well as islands.”

Captain Juha Kilpi
Finnish Navy

“The conditions are really, really demanding. It’s the darkness. It’s the short daylight. And we need to operate. We need to exist there.”

—SOUNDBITES IN ENGLISH —

Captain Juha Kilpi
Finnish Navy

“For us, the US Marine Corps is a big entity. We’ve learned from each other, our cultures, our language, so that we understand each other when we plan together and do things together.

I’ve been very, very satisfied with the cooperation that we’ve had.”