Andrus Merilo

• Scouts Battalion
• 1st Infantry Brigade

Andrus Merilo
Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 July 2024
Battles/wars	UNIFIL KFOR Iraq War War in Afghanistan
Awards	See: Awards, decorations, and recognition

Andrus Merilo (born 2 June 1973) is an Estonian general, who currently serves as Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces since 2024. ^[3]

In 2005, he was the commander of ESTPLA-10 in Iraq. In 2007, he was the commander of ESTCOY-4 in Afghanistan.

Merilo commanded the Scouts Battalion from 2013 to 2016. Since June 2021, he commanded the 1st Infantry Brigade.

Effective dates of promotion

Promotions

Insignia	Rank	Date
	Ensign	16 July 1999 [4]
	Sub-lieutenant	3 June 2002 [5]
	Lieutenant	12 June 2003 [6]
	Captain	3 October 2006 [7]
	Major	9 February 2010 [8]
	Lieutenant colonel	16 February 2015 [9]
	Colonel	18 February 2020 [10]
	Brigadier General	23 February 2024 [11]
	Major General	19 June 2024 [12]
	Lieutenant General	20 June 2025 [13]

Awards, decorations and recognition

Decorations and badges

Estonian Awards and decorations
	5th Class of the Order of the Cross of the Eagle (with swords)	6 February 2006
	Cross of Merit of the Ministry of Defence (III class)
	Distinguished Service Decoration of the EDF (for battle merit)	6 May 2005
	Cross for the Exemplary Service of the Estonian Defence Forces
	Gold Cross of the Officer of Land Forces
	Silver Cross of the Officer of Land Forces
	Estonian Defence Forces General Staff Cross of Merit
	MoD Medal of Participants in International Military Operations
	Estonian Defence Forces Long Service Medal
	Merit Medal of the Defence League Special Class	20 September 2023 [14]
	Memorial Medal "10 Years of the Re-Established Defence Forces"
	Distinguished Service Decoration of the Peace Operations Centre
Foreign Awards
	National Defence Medal (gold grade) with bar	28 May 2024 (France) [15]
	1st Class Commander of the White Rose of Finland	27 May 2024 (Finland) [16]
	NATO Medal for ISAF
	NATO Medal for KFOR
	United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Medal
	National Service Medal (Army)	(Norway)

Badges
	Badge of the Estonian Scouts Battalion
	Badge of the Estonian 1st Infantry Brigade
	The badge of the Finnish reserve officer course
	United States Army Command and General Staff College International Graduate Badge

References

1. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were occupied and annexed by the former Soviet Union at the time. The US Government, other NATO member states and many international organizations have considered the Soviet occupation of Estonia illegal.
2. See, for instance, the 1983 position expressed by the European Parliament which condemned "the fact that the occupation of these formerly independent and neutral States [Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania] by the Soviet Union occurred in 1940 following the Molotov–Ribbentrop pact, and continues". European Parliament (13 January 1983). "Resolution on the situation in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania". Official Journal of the European Communities. C 42/78.
3. https://mil.ee/uudised/kindralmajor-andrus-merilo-vottis-ule-kaitsevae-juhtimise/
4. "Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine" . Retrieved 30 August 2024.
5. "18. Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine". 3 June 2002. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
6. "59. Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine". 12 June 2003. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
7. "149. Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine". 3 October 2006. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
8. "Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine". Riigi Teataja. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
9. "81. Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine". 16 February 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2024.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
10. "President andis ohvitseridele uued auastmed, Igor Schvedest sai kontradmiral". 18 February 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
11. "Galerii: president andis Andrus Merilole brigaadikindrali auastme". 23 February 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
12. "GALERII ⟩ President Alar Karis andis Andrus Merilole üle kindralmajori auastme". 19 June 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
13. "103. Sõjaväelise auastme andmine". 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
14. "Merit Medal of the Defence League Special Class". 1. jalaväebrigaad 1st Infantry Brigade. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
15. "French National Defence Medal". Estonian Defence Forces. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
16. "1st Class Commander of the White Rose of Finland". Office of the President. Retrieved 1 March 2024.

Military offices
Preceded by Martin Herem	Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces 2024-present	Incumbent