1970s
The 1970s were marked by a period of intense social upheaval that had already begun at the end of the previous decade. After the war and the reconstruction period, the nation had prospered, and foreign contacts increased. The boundaries between the Defence Forces and the surrounding society were lowered, and this was reflected in the soldiers’ home work. The range of leisure activities was diversified.
For most of the 1970s, Brita Reunala chaired the Soldiers’ Home Association. He was given the opportunity to experience the associations’s operations and finances. The public had asked how the voluntary association could handle the canteen services of 40,000 soldiers. The situation was thankfully overcome. because the chairman was able to present accurate statistics and up-to-date facts about the operation of the soldiers’ homes.
Through military attachés, the Chair of the board surveyed the extent of soldiers’ work carried out in different countries. As a result, it was found that Finnish soldiers’ home work was completely unique.
In 1975, the Soldiers’ Home Association had 44 local associations, a total of 7,868 members and 97 soldiers’ homes. At that time, FIM 1.7 million was spent on the comfort of conscripts.
At the annual meeting of the Soldiers’ Home Association in 1976, the new rules of the association were adopted. The powers of the board and the delegation were divided more precisely. In addition, the role of the representative of the Finnish Defence Forces changed from second vice-chairman to an expert member.