Especially, most platoon and company commander positions and junior staff officer duties are filled with reservists.

Those cadets who did not receive reserve officer training during their conscription are usually promoted to the personal rank of vänrikki during their studies.

During the early 21st century, the National Defence College also had a one-year program to commission professional officers with the rank of vänrikki and a fixed service term of five years.

The opisto level ceased to exist in Finland (other schools were redefined as ammattikorkeakoulu) in the end of 1990's.

Simo Häyhä, believed to have the highest number of sniper kills in any major war, was extraordinarily promoted to vänrikki, from alikersantti (Corporal), personally by Marshal Gustaf Mannerheim.