The 1st Infantry Brigade of the Estonian Land Forces represents the Estonian Defence Forces in Phase I of Exercise Saber Strike 15, computer-based Command Post Exercise of 5 brigade staffs. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Aron Kalmus, the Brigade is the major military unit in Northern Estonia with its subdivisions stationed in surrounding areas of Paldiski, Tapa and Johvi towns.
This is not the first the Brigade is training in Saber Strike as it is affiliated to the Danish Division, the very organiser of Saber Strike exercises, together with Lithuanian and Estonian units. "Combined training with Baltic countries and Danish and U.S. troops give a chance of improvement to soldiers of my Brigade. I appreciate the experience we gain here, and so does the leadership of the Estonian Defence Forces," Commander of the 1st Infantry Brigade Lieutenant Colonel Aron Kalmus said.
The 1st Infantry Brigade was formed during interwar in 1917 as the Estonian Infantry Regiment. It was a national defence unit fighting for Estonia's independence in 1918-1920 at the time. The modern-day brigade was re-established in 2003 and based in the barracks in Paldijski town, later the unit underwent several reorganisations and its subdivisions were dispersed in different locations across northern Estonia.
The Brigade comprises 7 battalions: Scouts Battalion, Kalev Infantry Battalion, Viru Infantry Battalion, Engineer Battalion, Artillery Battalion, Air Defence Battalion, and the Combat Service Support Battalion.
The Brigade also operates 3 separate companies of personnel support, scouts and an anti-tank one. The main objective of the Brigade is to provide an operative response in case there is action of mechanised enemy forces. As the National Security Concept of the Republic of Estonia is based on reserve, the Brigade is always manned not only by professionals but also by draftees and reservists.
The Brigade's personnel are constantly taking part in international security operations, there are 19 soldiers serving in hotspots worldwide - Mali, Afghanistan, Kosovo - this very moment.
Saber Strike is an annual exercise held by the U.S. Army Europe in the Baltic States. Saber Strike 15 is the fifth iteration of the series held in Lithuania. The part of the exercise in Lithuania will involve roughly 1.6 thousand Lithuanian military and 1.5 thousand troops from 8 NATO countries - Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Portugal, USA, Germany, Slovenia and Canada.
Roughly 1 thousand of Portuguese, US and German military personnel have brought an impressive arsenal of military armament for the FTX in Lithuania: the ABRAMS tanks, the STRYKER, the BOXER, the PANDUR and the FUCHS wheeled armoured personnel carriers and the EAGLE IV and the DINGO II armoured reconnaissance vehicles. Allied troops have been training with this equipment in combined exercises in Lithuania since April.
POC - 1st Lt Andrius Dilda
Cell phone no 00370 640 45380, email: andrius.dilda@mil.lt
