Estonian govt announces snap exercise for over 800 reservists

Short-notice exercise Okas. Photo: Meelis Meilbaum

The Estonian government decided on Tuesday to call up over 800 reservists to the Okas (Quill) short-notice exercise.

The government at a phone session on Tuesday decided to call up 823 reservists to the additional reservist training event Okas 2019, which will last from Tuesday until the end of the week, government spokespeople said. The exercise will be of rehearsive nature and there is no immediate security threat to Estonia.

At the proposal of the commander of the defense forces, reservists assigned to the reserve unit of the 61st Combat Service Support Battalion are called up to take part in the additional reservist training event.

Reservists whose unit is subject to the call-up for reservist training must immediately show up at the designated rally point. Reservists can check whether they are subject to the call-up by logging in to the State Portal.

The aim of the reservist training event is to check the functioning of the chain of command in national defense from the making of decisions to the gathering of the reservists of the rapid response structure and check of combat readiness. 

The defense forces regularly call up reservists to larger and smaller training events, like Siil (Hedgehog) and Kevadtorm (Spring Storm), with a long 120-day advance notice.