Tinja helps improve the information system skills of personnel

Training Engineer, Officer Specialist Tinja Mareen works in the Continuing Training Section of the Defence Forces C5I School in Riihimäki. Mareen is tasked with maintaining and developing the personnel’s information system competence.

Mareen holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree and has previously been employed by industry. She has always been interested in the Defence Forces, and this interest has intensified since she took part in volunteer reservist training exercises.

Customised training

Mareen has now worked for the Defence Forces for a year. Her work involves planning and implementing IT and information system training for Defence Forces personnel. The training maintains and develops the professional skills of the personnel in their own fields. The training is implemented both in the form of contact teaching and online courses.

– The themes of the courses include basic knowledge of information systems, programming and digitalisation. I train personnel and will soon also train reservists. Our school also provides training to conscripts.

Mareen finds it most rewarding when she sees her audience’s interest and that a student has understood something new. She finds maintaining and developing her own competence challenging. It’s also important to consider how training can be made interesting and what creative solutions can be used in training.

Being able to help others through one’s own work

The work community includes professionals from all personnel groups, both soldiers and civilians. Mareen finds the working environment surprisingly similar to that in civilian organisations.

– We have flexible work opportunities and a relaxed atmosphere. The military community and military attitude are perhaps most visible in the work clothes of soldiers.

Mareen has been pleasantly surprised at the amount of space provided by the Defence Forces for learning and competence development. She has been able to participate in exercises and training and also completed pedagogical studies.

– I still want to learn a great deal about telecommunications and information technology. There’s plenty to learn in the field, and it’s a never-ending journey. But it is nice to develop and keep up with development.

Mareen feels her work is meaningful as she can use her own knowledge and competence to help personnel in their work. As professional skills and competence increase, the impact will be visible in throughout the Defence Forces.