Today, representatives from Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers (CIOR) visited the military exercise Spring Storm. They were briefed on the exercise’s objectives, the tasks of the Estonian division, and reserve service in Estonia, and also met with reservists participating in Spring Storm.
Reserve officers from 12 countries learned about Estonia’s reserve training system, the organization of training assemblies, the objectives of Spring Storm, and the roles of participating reservists. They also discussed the formation, training, and capability development of the division. The international reserve officers met with Estonian reserve officers, non-commissioned officers, and conscripts serving at the headquarters of the 1st Infantry Brigade, with whom they exchanged experiences about reserve service.
“The meeting showed that reserve officers from all countries have much in common — they often perform tasks in staffs that are as complex as those of active duty personnel. They need to quickly navigate today’s international military environment and handle tasks that are very different from their day-to-day jobs,” said Major Andre Lilleleht, the Secretary General of the international reserve officers organization.
For the second consecutive year, the Estonian Association of Reserve Officers presides over the international reserve officers organization. “We have consistently used our presidency to draw attention to reserve service issues at NATO headquarters and among CIOR members. Several countries that abandoned conscription after the Cold War are now reinstating it because, in addition to ensuring the defence units a country needs, it is even more important that citizens understand the necessity of national defence,” said CIOR’s President Lieutenant Colonel Toomas Luman.
The from Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers includes both NATO and partner countries, as well as distant nations like South Africa. Founded in 1948, CIOR is a year older than NATO. The organization aims to represent its members in various NATO staff levels, in relations with employers, and in the overall development and support of reserve service. Each year, the organization holds a week-long international reservists gathering, which includes discussions on defence, a military pentathlon, a civil-military cooperation exercise, and an international language academy, after which participants can take a NATO-recognized English or French language test. This year, the gathering will take place in Tallinn during the last week of July.
