Guard Battalion (Estonia)

Last updated
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)
Commanders
Current
commander		 Lieutenant colonel Margot Künnapuu [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 Tallinn 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]

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

Related Research Articles

Captain lieutenant or captain-lieutenant is a military rank, used in a number of navies worldwide and formerly in the British Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Estonian Navy</span> Maritime warfare branch of Estonias military

The Estonian Navy are the unified naval forces among the Estonian Defence Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Estonian Air Force</span> Air warfare branch of Estonias military

The Estonian Air Force is the aviation branch of the Estonian Defence Forces. The air force traces its history to 1918, and was re-established in its current form in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Estonian Land Forces</span> Ground force of the Estonian army

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 an average size of approximately 6,000 soldiers, conscripts, and officers during peacetime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artillery Battalion, 1st Infantry Brigade (Estonia)</span> Estonian military unit

15th Artillery Battalion of the 1st Infantry Brigade, formerly the Artillery Group, is an artillery battalion of the Estonian Defence Forces, based out of Tapa Army Base. The unit is part of the Estonian Land Forces. It is tasked with supporting combat units with indirect fire during war-time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Engineer Battalion (Estonia)</span> Estonian specialized unit

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Infantry Brigade (Estonia)</span> Estonian military unit

The 1st Infantry Brigade is an infantry brigade of the Estonian Land Forces. It is the primary military unit in Northern Estonia. The brigade headquarters is based at Tapa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Estonian Border Guard</span> Government agency of Estonia

The Estonian Border Guard was the national security agency responsible for the border security of Estonia. It was subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior. The Border Guard also assisted with Search and Rescue missions. In 2010, the organization was superseded by the Police and Border Guard Board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Estonian Defence Forces</span> Armed forces of Estonia

The Estonian Defence Forces is the unified military force of the Republic of Estonia. The Estonian Defence Forces consists 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Estonian Special Operations Force</span> Estonian military unit

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Police (Estonia)</span> Estonian Defence Forces military law enforcement service

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Logistics Battalion (Estonia)</span> Estonian military unit

The Logistics Battalion is the main central unit of the Support Command of the Estonian Defence Forces which provides various logistical support. This battalion has a logistical role in the Estonian Defence Forces along with Combat Service Support Battalions of the Infantry Brigades of Estonian Land Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viru Infantry Battalion</span> Estonian military unit

The Viru Infantry Battalion is a battalion of the Estonian Land Forces. It is a part of the 1st Infantry Brigade and its primary task is to train conscription-based infantry and anti-tank units. The battalion has been previously known as the 4th Infantry Regiment and as the 4th Single Infantry Battalion. The battalion is currently based at Jõhvi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Infantry Brigade (Estonia)</span> Estonian military unit

The 2nd Infantry Brigade is an infantry brigade of the Estonian Land Forces. It is the primary military unit in Southern Estonia. The brigade headquarters is currently based at Sirgu village, Luunja Parish, Tartu County. The brigade is tasked with planning and organizing military operations, planning and organizing mobilization, ensuring the readiness and support of its subordinate units, preparing wartime reserve units and their formation, organizing the training and participation in international military operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riho Terras</span> Estonian politician and military officer

Riho Terras is an Estonian politician and a former military officer who is serving as a member of the European Parliament since 1 February 2020. He was the Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces from 2011 to 2018. He was promoted to general in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">25th Artillery Battalion (Estonia)</span> Estonian military unit

25th Artillery Battalion of the 2nd Infantry Brigade is a reserve artillery battalion of the Estonian Land Forces. During peacetime, the unit is tasked with preparing reserve personnel through training exercises. During wartime, the unit is tasked with providing indirect fire support for combat units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Band of the Estonian Defence Forces</span> Musical unit in the Estonian Defence Forces

The Kaitseväe orkester, known in Anglophone countries as the Band of the Estonian Defence Forces, is the official military band service of the Estonian Defence Forces. The main task of the band is to play music at all national and military ceremonies. The band's repertoire includes mostly classical and marching music. It is currently made up of 40 musicians. From 1996 to 2019, the conductor of the band was Lieutenant Colonel Peeter Saan. Each year, the band takes part in about 220 concerts, festivals, and ceremonial parades of the Defence Forces. It has also performed at venues abroad in countries like Lithuania, France and Germany. Traditionally, the band holds Autumn and Spring concerts in the Estonia Concert Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Defence of Armenia</span> Armenian government ministry

The Ministry of Defence of Armenia often abbreviated to the RA Ministry of Defence is an Armenian governmental agency in charge of overseeing the development of the Armed Forces of Armenia. The Ministry of Defense is also the executive body which implements the policies of the Armenian Government in the defense sector. It particularly oversees the budget of the armed forces and ensures the safety of troops. It is located on 5 Bagrevand Street, Yerevan. The ministry was officially established on 28 January 1992 by decree of the President of Armenia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riho Ühtegi</span> Estonian major general (born 1964)

Riho Ühtegi is an Estonian major general. He has been the Commander of the Estonian Special Operations Force. Since 2019, he is the commander of the Estonian Defence League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Veiko-Vello Palm</span> Estonian military personnel. 2015–2018 (born 1971)

Veiko-Vello Palm is an Estonian Major General of the Estonian Defence Forces. Since 2023, he is the Commander of the Estonian Division.

References

  1. ↑ "Vahipataljoni uus ülem on kolonelleitnant Margot Künnapuu". mil.ee. 5 August 2019.
  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. ↑ https://news.liga.net/world/video/obraztsovyy-ofitser-genshtaba-estonii-okazalsya-shpionom-gru-video
  6. ↑ "Treason suspects named as father and son Deniss Metsavas and Pjotr Volin". 5 September 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.