The Government of Estonia decided to declare a defence readiness exercise Okas (Quill). 830 members of territorial defence units are expected to participate the snap exercise (snapex).
According to the proposal of the Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces, 658 reservists from territorial defence units of Pärnumaa, Saaremaa and Lääne districts, Territorial Defence Region West, Estonian Defence League, are ordered to participate the exercise. In addition, 172 members of the Defence League are invited to the exercise by commanders of districts.
Reservists whose units are called to the exercise are obligated to immediately report to the designated assembly point.
658 reservists are called to the exercise in two parts: 622 will be participate a traditional snapex from January 26 to 29 and 36 troops will be participating a flexible snapex from January 26 to February 23, 2023. 172 members of the Estonian Defence League, who are invited to the exercise by commanders of districts, will participate the exercise during the period of January 26 to 29.
During this years exercise Okas, in addition to small unit tactics, flexible conducting of snap exercises will be practiced. During the flexible snapex, troops participating the exercise will not be constantly at their location of service and are able to leave the location while sustaining constant readiness to report to duty within a set time limit. Reservists that are in constant readiness away of the location of the exercise area are allowed to manage personal and work matters and will simultaneously be compensated for participation at the exercise.
658 reservists that were called to duty by the Estonian Defence Forces can check their orders from the website www.kaitsevaeteenistus.ee. Members of Estonian Defence League, invited by the district commanders, can check on the invitation from their respective districts. All participants of the exercise can receive additional information about the exercise from their home district.
The main purpose of exercise Okas is to test the chain of command of national defence, from the decision of the Government of Estonia to achieving combat readiness of designated units in the rapid response structure.
In addition, during the exercise, units of the Territorial Defence Region West, Estonian Defence League, will practice performing wartime tasks and maintaining combat readiness for a longer period.
Exercise Okas is of a defencive manner, aimed at practicing national defence activities. There is no immediate security threat to Estonia.
The task of the Estonian Defence Forces and Estonian Defence League is to ensure that the country is constantly ready to defend itself and this needs to be practiced during exercises.
Estonian national defence model, based on Estonian reserve military structures, has proven its vitality and effectiveness. Security does not generate by itself, and that is why Estonia must organize regular exercises in peacetime in order to maintain and increase the ability of the reserve structure to react in a timely matter.
Estonian Defence Forces regularly order reservists to larger and smaller exercises, such as Siil and Kevadtorm, with a long, 120-day notice.
