Over the weekend, Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur visited the Southern Territorial Defence District headquarters of the territorial defence training exercise Ussisõnad, which is set to begin in the coming weeks, for an overview of the preparations for the large-scale exercise involving 10,000 reservists.
“Beginning soon across Estonia, Ussisõnad is the largest exercise for reservists in Estonian history. This spring, the Government of the Republic introduced an increase in the wartime structure, largely through the expansion of the territorial defence. It is now necessary to ensure that the territorial defence units are prepared to act to preserve freedom in Estonia, regardless of the threat. The training exercise for the command structure currently underway will create the best basis for the success of the exercise this autumn,” said Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur.
The current training exercise across the Southern Territorial Defence District is aimed at the command structure of those territorial defence units that will be called up for exercise Ussisõnad.
From 28 August through 8 October, the Defence Forces and the Defence League will be organising Ex. Ussisõnad, during which nearly 10,000 reservists assigned to the territorial defence structure will be given further training. Ussisõnad is the largest training exercise focused on the training of reservists, with nearly 10,000 reservists assigned to territorial defence units in 2022 expected to attend.
Increased activity can be expected by region as follows:
1. Area of responsibility of the Northern Territorial Defence Region: 28 August–10 September
2. Area of responsibility of the Northeast Territorial Defence Region: 13–22 September
3. Area of responsibility of the Western Territorial Defence Region: 20–29 September
4. Area of responsibility of the Southern Territorial Defence Region: 15–24 September, and 29 September through 8 October
The reservists are trained by experienced instructors from the territorial defence districts of the Defence League, as well as from the Division’s 1st Infantry brigade, the Estonian Military Academy, and the Special Operations Command.
Additional information: [email protected]
Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kaitseministeerium_mod_estonia/53113213180/