Photo Of The Day: Finnish Lapland, some 130 kilometers (81 miles) north of the Arctic Circle, and we’re visiting the Sodankylä Garrison, in the middle of winter 2023. Above you see a U.S. Army cavalry scout assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, Virginia Army National Guard. He’s aiming at a target with a Finnish RK62M1 rifle during a foreign weapon familiarization training at Arctic Forge 2023. The red dot is from Aimpoint (dated 2016), and the receiver is stamped with “Valmet” and “1971” – but apparently still going strong! I don’t work for either of those companies, but that seems like a pretty strong sign of quality.

Below: A Finnish winter survival instructor assigned to Jaeger Brigade, teaches a U.S. Army Soldier assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, Virginia Army National Guard, how to build a fire with natural resources during winter survival training at Arctic Forge 2023.

A Finnish winter survival instructor adjusts an RK62M1 rifle’s optic during foreign weapon familiarization training at Arctic Forge 2023 on Sodankylä Garrison, Finland.

Exercise Arctic Forge 23 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa led umbrella exercise that leverages the host nation exercises Defense Exercise North in Finland, and exercise Joint Viking in Norway, taking place Feb. 16 through March 17, 2023, focused on building capabilities and cooperation in support of the U.S. Army’s Arctic Strategy.

After this, you’re surely going to be interested in Vlad’s article on the Finnish RK62M Sako/Valmet Rifle, and its upgrades.

Pictures and captions: U.S. Army, Sgt. Austin Baker. U.S. Army Europe and Africa.