Estonian Ground Force Maavägi
Estonian Ground Force emblem
Active	1918–present
Country	Estonia
Role	Ground defence
Engagements	War of Independence Iraqi war (2003) Afghanistan War (2001)
Commanders
Commander	Colonel Indrek Sirel

The Maavägi, (English: Ground Forces) listen (help·info) is the name of the unified ground forces of the Republic of Estonia. The Ground Forces have an offensive military formation role among the Estonian Defence Forces. The average size of the military formation in peacetime is about 5,000 of whom about 2,200 are conscripts. The Army component of the operational structure consists of an infantry brigade and a homeland security structure. Infantry brigade acts as a training and support frame for deployable units. Homeland security structure units will have the capability to carry out territorial military tasks and support civil structures.

The Army development priorities are the capability to participate in missions outside the national territory and the capability to perform operations to protect the territory of Estonia, also in co-operation with the Allies.

[edit] The Reserve Army

The Estonian Army is structured according to the principle of a reserve force which means that the main part of the defence forces of the state are units in the reserve. For a state with few human and economic resources, a reserve force based on the will of defence of the citizens is the only viable form of national defence.

In peacetime the reservists conduct normal lives and the state takes care of their training and the procurement of equipment and weapons. In wartime the reservists are mobilized into military units. The reserve units are formed on the territorial principle, i.e. conscripts from one area are called up at one time to one unit and after service they are sent to the reserve as one unit. The Estonian Army is always in constant defence readiness in co-operation with the other services.

[edit] Organization

[edit] Infantry

[edit] Artillery

[edit] Armoured formations

[edit] Technical formations

[edit] Aviation

[edit] Structure

Maavägi Structure

1st Infantry Brigade

• Scouts Battalion
• Kalevi Infantry Battalion
• Logistics Battalion

Northeastern Defense District (Tapa)

• Engineer Battalion (Tapa)
• 1st Artillery Battalion (Tapa)
• Air Defence Battalion (Tapa)
• Central Training Area
• Viru Infantry Battalion (Jõhvi)

Northern Defense District (Tallinn)

• Signal and Staff Battalion
• Guard Battalion

Southern Defense District (Tartu)

• Kuperjanov Infantry Battalion

Western Defense District (Pärnu)

[edit] Equipment

Since the restoration of the Estonian Defence Forces on September 3, 1991 the Maavägi has developed with a great deal.^[1] Today the Ground Force operates with modern weapons and weapon-systems on foreign missions and future battlefields. Even though the current logistic support is still based on variety of different and mainly older Western vehicles, also former Soviet, the modernization of the army branch is in the national defence policy agenda. In recent years Estonia has purchased more modern transport vehicles for the armed forces of the republic.

[edit] Operations

Estonian Staff Sgt. Sigmar Zelinski and Cpl. Eiko Oim from the Scouts Battalion, Estonian Defense Forces, Estonian Peacekeeping Center, take aim while patrolling a street in Baghdad, Iraq

Estonian soldiers in Afghanistan

Estonia has participated in international military operations since 1995. The participation in international operations represents an important contribution to co-operation with NATO and other international organizations. In addition to planned operations, the Defence Forces are also participating in the NATO and EU response force that ensure prompt responses to crises emerging in today’s rapid world, including the rapid implementation of collective self-defence.

In 2004, Estonia joined NATO, which had been one of its foremost priorities since the restoration of independence. The United States is among the countries with which Estonia has very close cooperation in the defense and security fields. Estonia utilizes many weapons produced by Israel Military Industries.

[edit] See also

• Estonia
• NATO
• European Union
• Nordic Battle Group
• Estonian Army in 1922
• Estonian Special Operations Force

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Estonian Defence Forces
• Estonian Ministry of Defence

v • d • e Kaitsevägi Estonian Defence Forces Maavägi (Army) • Merevägi (Navy) • Õhuvägi (Air force) • Kaitseliit (National Guard)

v • d • e Maavägi Estonian Ground Force Baltic Battalion • Engineer Battalion • Guard Battalion • Kalevs Battalion • Kuperjanov Battalion • Signal Battalion • Scouts Battalion • Viru Battalion 1st Infantry Brigade Kalevs Battalion • Scouts Battalion • 11th Infantry Battlion • 12th Infantry Battlion • 13th Infantry Battalion 1st Artillery Battalion • 1st Engineering Battalion Garrisons Tallinn Garrison • Jõhvi Garrison • Jägala Garrison • Marja Garrison • Männiku Garrison • Narva-Jõesuu Garrison • Paldiski Garrison • Tapa Garrison • Võru Garrison 1st Territorial Battalion • 2nd Territorial Battalion • 3rd Territorial Battalion • 4th Territorial Battalion • 5th Territorial Battalion • 6th Territorial Battalion