Estonian Kosovo Contingent | |
---|---|
Active | 2003-present |
Country | Estonia |
Allegiance | Kosovo Force (KFOR) |
Branch | Estonian Defence Forces |
Type | platoon |
Size | 50 |
Garrison/HQ | Kosovska Mitrovica and Pristina |
The Estonian Kosovo Contingent or (simply Kosovo Contingent) is a joint military force of the Estonian Defence Forces deployed in northern Kosovo, in the area of Kosovska Mitrovica.
Estonia has participated on different Kosovo missions since 1999 when the first unit, ESTPATROL-1, part of the Kosovo Force (KFOR) forces in the region, became operational. From 1999 to 2006 a total of 14 Estonian units served in Kosovo. From 2003 to 2006 a joint Baltic infantry company BALTSQN also rotated in Kosovo. [1] Since February 2007 Estonia is once again rotating on Kosovo mission with a platoon size unit. [2]
This the order of battle of the known units that are operating within the Estonian Kosovo Contingent: [3]
This the order of battle of the known units that have operated within the Estonian Kosovo Contingent: [4]
The Kosovo Force (KFOR) is a NATO-led international peacekeeping force in Kosovo. Its operations are gradually reducing until Kosovo's Security Force, established in 2009, becomes self sufficient.
The Kosovo Police is the national policing law enforcement agency of Kosovo.
The 9th Engineer Battalion is a unit of the United States Army that deploys to designated contingency areas and conducts combat and/or stability operations in support of a brigade combat team. It is a divisional mechanized combat engineer unit, composed of three line companies and a headquarters company. Its mission is to provide assured mobility, counter-mobility, general engineering, and survivability support, with well trained sappers ready to deploy anywhere at any time. The unit's history spans service in 1917 in the US southwest, World War II in France and Germany, multiple deployments to the Balkans, and multiple deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is most famous for the capture of the Ludendorff Bridge across the Rhine River. As of 18 May 2015, the battalion exists as the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion in Fort Stewart, GA under 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.
Polish–Ukrainian Peace Force Battalion (POLUKRBAT) or Ukrainian-Polish Peace Force Battalion (UKRPOLBAT) is a Polish-Ukrainian peacekeeping battalion, formed in the late 1990s expressly "for participation in international peace-keeping and humanitarian operations under the auspices of international organizations".
The Estonian Land Forces, unofficially referred to as the Estonian Army, is the name of the unified ground forces among the Estonian Defense Forces where it has an offensive military formation role. It is currently the largest Estonian military branch with the average size during peacetime of approximately 6,000 soldiers, conscripts, and officers.
Engineer Battalion is a combat engineering battalion of the Estonian Defence Forces, based out of Tapa Army Base. The unit falls under the command of 1st Infantry Brigade of Estonian Land Forces.
The Estonian Defence Forces are the unified military forces of the Republic of Estonia. The Estonian Defence Forces consist of the Estonian Land Forces, the Estonian Navy, the Estonian Air Force, and the paramilitary Estonian Defence League. The national defence policy aims to guarantee the preservation of the independence and sovereignty of the state, the integrity of its land area, territorial waters, airspace and its constitutional order. Its main goals remain the development and maintenance of a credible capability to defend the nation's vital interests and development of the defence forces in a way that ensures their interoperability with the armed forces of NATO and European Union member states to participate in the full range of missions for these military alliances.
The 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division is an airborne infantry brigade combat team (IBCT) of the United States Army. The unit is stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska and is the only airborne brigade combat team in the Pacific Theater. It is also the newest airborne IBCT and one of only five in the United States Army; the others are the three IBCTs of the 82nd Airborne Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade.
The Estonian Special Operations Force is the command charged with overseeing the special operations units of the Estonian Defence Forces. Its primary objective is the development of capabilities for unconventional warfare. It is tasked with planning, preparing and executing special operations. These include special reconnaissance and surveillance, military support and direct action. ESTSOF is under direct command of the Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces.
The Estonian Afghanistan Contingent or was a joint military force of the Estonian Defence Forces deployed mainly in the southern region of Afghanistan, Helmand province in Now Zad area.
The Estonian Iraqi Contingent or was a joint military force of the Estonian Defence Forces deployed mainly in the Baghdad Governorate in Sab-al-Bori area.
Allain Tikko was an Estonian warrant officer (veebel) in charge of a jagu in ESTCOY-8, which had been posted in Afghanistan as a part of United Kingdom's military operations, itself a part of NATO continuing operations in Afghanistan.
The Military Police of the Estonian Defence Forces is the military police unit of the Estonian Defence Forces. The Estonian military police organization was created in 1994 and its structure includes an investigative department, planning department, logistics department, operational service and the office of the military police. Additionally conscript based reserve- MP platoons are trained every year in Guard Battalion, which is subordinate to the military police. The tasks of the military police include: investigation of serious disciplinary cases and some armed service- related crimes, supervision of military discipline within the Forces, military traffic control and various security tasks. Within conflict/crises areas (Afghanistan) the MP may provide close protection of the Estonian national representative and other visiting VIPs.
The Swisscoy is an association of the Swiss Armed Forces in Kosovo. It is provided as part of the KFOR of NATO military mission to promote peace. The association contains a contingent of more than 165 people who are available and funded from Switzerland.
The Georgian Kosovo Contingent was a Georgian military deployment, from 1999 to 2008, as part of the NATO-led international peacekeeping force—Kosovo Force—which was responsible for establishing secure environment in Kosovo. It set the first precedent for Georgian participation in international peacekeeping operations. The day of departure of the first Georgian peacekeeping troops to Kosovo, 31 August, was established by the Defense Ministry of Georgia as the Day of Georgian Peacekeepers in 2016.
Enhanced Forward Presence (EFP) is a NATO-allied forward-deployed defense and deterrence military force in Central and Northern Europe. This posture in Central Europe through Poland and Northern Europe through Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, is in place in order to protect and reassure the security of NATO's Central and Northern European member states on NATO's eastern flank.
Riho Ühtegi is an Estonian brigadier general. He has been the Commander of the Estonian Special Operations Force. Since 2019, he is the commander of the Estonian Defence League.
The Multinational Specialized Unit (MSU), is a unit of the Italian Carabinieri, dedicated to the military missions abroad, including the military and civilian police tasks, peacekeeping operations, crowd and riot control.
The 12th Peacekeeping Brigade is a military unit of the Armed Forces of Armenia. Sometimes referred to as the Blue Berets due to its role, it solely specializes in peacekeeping in foreign countries as part of international initiatives. It is commanded by Major General Artak Tonoyan. In early 2016, Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan said that he considers the brigade to be the "basis for the establishment of a professional army".