Martin Herem

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Martin Herem
Lisaoppekogunemine Okas 2023 Louna maakaitseringkonnas (52877661629) (cropped).jpg
General Martin Herem in 2023
Born (1973-12-17) 17 December 1973 (age 50)
Tallinn, Estonia
AllegianceFlag of Estonia.svg  Estonia
Service/branch EKV coat of arms.svg Estonian Defence Forces
Years of service1992–2024
Rank General
Commands
Battles/wars Iraq war

Martin Herem (born 17 December 1973) is an Estonian general and retired (30.06.2024) Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces since 2018. [1]

Contents

Herem entered into service in 1992. From 2013 to 2016 he served as the Commandant of the Estonian National Defence College and from 2016 to 2018 Chief of Staff of the Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces. [2] Herem was one of the re-founding members of the paramilitary Estonian Defence League in 1990. [3]

On 24 January 2023, Martin Herem was promoted to the rank of general. [4]

Herem became the Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces in December 2018. His tenure was extended for another two years in October 2022, in the interests of stability in the backdrop of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. [5] On 16 January 2024, Herem announced his plan to step down from the post in the summer of 2024, calling the situation stable enough for the change of leadership, which it might not be in the end of his tenure in two years time. [6]

Military career

Awards, decorations, and recognition

Decorations and badges

Estonian Awards and decorations
EST Order of the Cross of the Eagle 1st Class BAR.png 1st Class of the Order of the Cross of the Eagle 23 February 2024
EST Order of the Cross of the Eagle 2nd Class BAR.png 2nd Class of the Order of the Cross of the Eagle 21 February 2018
EST Cross of Merit of the Ministry of Defence ribbon.svg Cross of Merit of the Ministry of Defence (III class)
EST Distinguished Service Decoration of the EDF.png Distinguished Service Decoration of the EDF16 February 2007
EST Order of Merit of the Estonian Defence Forces.png Order of Merit of the Estonian Defence Forces
EST Defence Forces Commendation Service Cross for outstanding duty.png Cross for the Exemplary Service of the Estonian Defence Forces21 February 2005
EST Gold Cross of the Officer of Land Forces.png Gold Cross of the Officer of Land Forces
EST MoD Medal of Participants in International Military Operations (1 to 3 missions).png MoD Medal of Participants in International Military Operations
EST Merit Medal of the Defence League Special Class.png Merit Medal of the Defence League Special Class
EST Memorial Medal 10 Years of the Re-Established Defence Forces.png Memorial Medal "10 Years of the Re-Established Defence Forces"
EST Ida prefektuuri teenetemark.png Distinguished Service Decoration of the Eastern Prefecture
Silver Cross of the Rescue Board.png Silver Cross of the Rescue Board10 February 2011
EST Kaitseliidu Kooli teeneterist.png Estonian Defence League School Cross of Merit
EST Cross of the Estonian Reserve Officers' Assembly (special).png Cross of the Estonian Reserve Officers’ Assembly (special)17 December 2020
EST Cross of the Estonian Reserve Officers' Assembly (gold).png Cross of the Estonian Reserve Officers’ Assembly (gold)29 November 2019
EST Cross of the Estonian Reserve Officers' Assembly (silver).png Cross of the Estonian Reserve Officers’ Assembly (silver)17 May 2016
EST Former Estonian Forest Brothers Association Service Cross III class.png Former Estonian Forest Brothers Association Service Cross III class
Foreign Awards
LVA Order of Viesturs (swords).png 1st Class of the Order of Viesturs 24 April 2023 (Latvia) [7]
Order of Merit 2nd Class of Ukraine.png Order of Merit (Second Class) 2022 (Ukraine)
Legion Honneur Commandeur ribbon.svg Commandeur of the National Order of the Legion of Honour 11 November 2021 (France) [8]
Bronze Star Medal ribbon.svg Bronze Star Medal (United States)
Badges
Combat Action Badge.svg Combat Action Badge (United States)
Balti Kaitsekolledzi korgema staabikursuse lopetanu rinnamark.png Baltic Defence College Higher Command Studies Course graduate Badge
Balti Kaitsekolledzi uhendtaseme juhtimis- ja staabikursuse lopetanu rinnamark (varasem).png Baltic Defence College Joint Command and General Staff Course graduate Badge
EST Sojakooli keskastme kursuse lopetanu rinnamark.png Estonian National Defence College Advanced Officer Training Course Badge
EST Kuperjanovi jalavaepataljoni rinnamark.png The Order of Merit of Kuperjanov Battalion

Personal life

Martin Herem is married and has a son and two daughters. [9] He is one of the grandchildren of Harri Moora. [10] One of his hobbies is marathon running. He has participated in the organisation of the Järvakandi marathon. [11] He is fluent in English and Russian as foreign languages. He is also one of the re-establishers of the Estonian Defence League in Rapla. [3]

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References

  1. "Gallery: Maj. Gen. Herem takes over command of the Estonian Defence Forces". ERR. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  2. "Brigadier General Martin Herem". Estonian Defence Forces . Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Aasta allohvitser ja ohvitser alustasid sõjaväelist karjääri Kaitseliidu Rapla malevas" (in Estonian). Estonian Defence League . Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  4. Kook, Urmet (24 January 2023). "President andis kaitseväe juhatajale kindrali auastme". err.ee. ERR.
  5. "Riigikogu committee unanimous in call to prolong EDF commander's term". err.ee. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  6. "Estonian Defense Forces' commander announces resignation". ERR. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  7. "1st Class of the Order of Viesturs". Office of the President. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  8. "Commandeur of the National Order of the Legion of Honour". Office of the President. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  9. "Martin Herem CV". www.mil.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  10. "Enne lapsed, siis teaduskarjäär". www.vooremaa.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  11. "Brigaadikindral Martin Herem maratoniradadel". ajakirisport.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 11 January 2018.
Military offices
Preceded by Commandant of the Estonian National Defence College
2013–2016
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of Staff of the Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces
2016–2018
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces
2018–2024
Succeeded by