Guard Battalion (Estonia)

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Guard Battalion
Vahipataljon
Vahipataljon emblem.svg
Insignia of the Guard Battalion
ActiveJanuary 9, 1919 – June 17, 1940
January 22, 1993 – present
CountryFlag of Estonia.svg  Estonia
Branch Insignia of the Military Police (Estonia).svg Military Police
Type Military police
Size Battalion
Part of Insignia of the Military Police (Estonia).svg Military Police
Garrison/HQ Paldiski, Tallinna mnt 7
Nickname(s)Presidendi Kaardivägi (Presidential Guard)
Motto(s)Eesti kodu kaitseks (For the protection of the Estonian home)
Commanders
Current
commander
Lieutenant colonel Artur Meerits [1]
Notable
commanders
Riho Terras
Insignia
Identification
symbol
Vahipataljoni lipp.jpg

The Guard Battalion (Estonian : Vahipataljon) is specialized unit under the Military Police of the Estonian Defence Forces, which conducts ceremonial duties and prepares military police units. [2] It is based in Paldiski and specialized in urban warfare.

Contents

Being the capital's largest military formation, the Guard Battalion also has the duty of carrying the guard of honour at presidential palace and welcoming foreign diplomats and political guests.

History

1919-1940

The Guard Battalion was first created on 9 January 1919 from a battalion of the Estonian Defense League. It served as an auxiliary law enforcement unit in Tallinn that doubled as a ceremonial unit used at funerals and reception ceremonies for foreign guests. On 25 February, it was officially renamed to the Guard Battalion. On 1 June of the following year it was renamed to the Tallinn Single Guard Battalion. On 20 May 1939, by order of President Konstantin Päts, 11 January 1928 was declared to be the birthday of the unit. On 1 July 1930, the Tallinn Garrison Command and Guard Battalion were formed as an independent institution. On 19 April 1940, the battalion was approved a unit flag donated by the Bank of Estonia. After the Soviet invasion of Estonia, the unit was moved out of its barracks and phased into the 21st Rifle Regiment. [3]

Since 1993

The modern Guard Battalion was reestablished on 22 January 1993 on the basis of the formerly Internal Defense Guard Regiment, which was previously engaged in incarceration services. On 1 May 2003, a battalion known as the Single Guard was renamed the Infantry Training Center before being changed at the outset of 2009 to the Guard Battalion. Since 2014, it has been subordinated to the Sõjaväepolitsei, being part of the Northern Defense District until then. In March 2015, it moved to the Estonian Navy's Mine Harbor base, until sometime in early 2022 when the battalion was moved to Paldiski.

The Battalion consists of 3 primary companies with them being the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Military Police Companies.

1st and 2nd Military Police companies primarily focus on being a reserve Military Police unit, followed by the 3rd Military Police Company which focuses more on Mechanized Infantry tactics. [3]

List of commanders

Unit structure

The Guard Battalion during the Estonia 100 parade Estonian Guard Battalion on parade-902227.jpeg
The Guard Battalion during the Estonia 100 parade

Almost 300 conscripts are serving in the battalion every year.[ citation needed ] It is the only unit with conscripts in a military police role in the Estonian Defense Forces.

Garrison

In 2015, the battalion was moved from its old base to the base of the Estonian Navy. [3] The old premises in suburbs of Tallinn was sold together with the old barracks of Logistics Battalion. Since then, the Guard Battalion has been in excellent living conditions for conscripts in renovated historical barracks. However, the unit has a lack of training facilities because it is far away from shooting ranges and training grounds.

Conscripts of the Estonian Navy live in the same barracks.[ citation needed ]

Notable members

See also

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References

  1. "Sõjaväepolitsei vahipataljoni uueks ülemaks sai kolonelleitnant Artur Meerits". mil.ee. 13 June 2024.
  2. "Vahipataljon". mil.ee.
  3. 1 2 3 "Vahipataljon" [Guard battalion]. www.mil.ee. November 30, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-11-30.
  4. "Vahipataljoni põhimäärus – Riigi Teataja". Riigiteataja.ee. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  5. ""Образцовый офицер" Генштаба Эстонии оказался шпионом ГРУ: видео". 12 February 2019.
  6. "Treason suspects named as father and son Deniss Metsavas and Pjotr Volin". 5 September 2018.