YOUR BRIEF CONTINUES AND YOU CAN NOW KNOW MORE ABOUT THE WORKING METHODS AND NATURE OF ESTSOF.
When you are ready, continue reading the briefing.
Nothing is impossible
YOUR BRIEF CONTINUES AND YOU CAN NOW KNOW MORE ABOUT THE WORKING METHODS AND NATURE OF THE OPERATIONS OF ESTSOF.
Your best friends here are the shadows, and sometimes you have to act all alone. When you are ready, continue reading the briefing.
Special operations forces performes tasks unlike conventional forces, either covertly, secretly or discreetly. In general, special operations forces usually are state strategic capability with a short chain of command where tasks are carried out in direct communication with political decision-makers. This is essential because of the high physical and political risks involved in carrying out specific tasks. These special tasks are often carried out in covert in operational areas, where only a small number of personell is needed.
YOU ARE THE TEAM.
Political level must be particularly smart to set targets for special operations. Properly implemented, small, well-trained special forces unit can provide deterrence and military or political influence far greater than the size of a small country’s armed forces would allow. Special operations are military operations carried out by specially designated, organized, trained and equipped forces, using operational techniques and methods not specific to conventional units. However, cooperation between special operations forces and conventional forces has now become an integral part of the irregular battlefield that dominates the war, where special operations units can also operate independently.
08.05.2008 THE COMMANDER OF THE DEFENSE FORCES, GENERAL ANTS LAANEOTS ISSUED DIRECTIVE NO. 136 THE TITLE WAS "FORMATION OF ESTSOF GROUP".
Estonian special operations capability had been prepared for years, but in 2008 CHOD issued an order that stated that Estonian Defense Forces must have a special operations unit. Formed unit remained under the authority of Commander of the Intelligence Battalion, but from May 8th 2008 will be celebrated as the formation of the Estonian Special Operations Forces.
ESTONIAN SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP WAS OPERATING as part of THE INTELLIGENCE BATTALION
With the creation of the Special Operations Forces of Estonian Defense Forces, a new command was formed, one of the parts of which was the EOG – Special Operations Task Group (SOTG). In particular, structural change was needed because special operations, as strategic tool, could not be part of another strategic tool.
October 2nd 2012 was a very important day for the ESTSOF. The flag was donated to the unit, which can be considered as a sign of the unit’s operational capability. On the same day, Estonia and the United States signed a memorandum of cooperation on sending an Estonian ESTSOF unit to the NATO operation in Afghanistan.
THE FIRST SPECIAL OPERATIONS TASK UNIT (SOTU) JOINED ISAF AT 2012
Until the end of 2014, Estonian special forces supported the Afghan security forces. The command was tasked with supporting the training of Afghan security forces in the ISAF operation.
Commanders of ESTSOF
From 2019 – Col Margus Kuul
2012-2019 – Brig Gen Riho Ühtegi
