Estonian Special Operations Forces ESTSOF

Eric Sof

Estonian Special Operations Forces ESTSOF operators during the small-unit tactics drill

Estonia, the small country in the Baltic, has an elite Estonian Special Operations Forces known as ESTSOF or EOG. It is also known as Special Operations Group. The unit is highly secretive concerning members’ numbers and structure, it is likely to be among the first units to respond to any kind of action. Their first neighbor to the south in Russia.

In addition to the United States, the Special Operations Forces also actively co-operate with Special Forces from Germany, Poland, and the Baltic States.

History

The Estonian Special Operations Forces are relatively young in the world of Special Forces, like its homeland. Since Estonia only broke free of Russia in 1991, its race to create a credible military force took years, and the ESTSOF existed on nothing more than paper for some seven years starting in 1995, they had been planned, but nothing was invested.

By 2002, a preparation unit from the Estonian military came together to chart out selection and training regimens which proceeded slowly until in 2005, when they announced their intent to create the special unit, with a website briefly appearing online showing what its mission was to be. Yet it was four more years before the first candidates arrived for selection. By this time, the Estonian Special Operations Forces ESTSOF had its own finance department, which helped speed up the process.

Initially, there existed the requirement for having served three years in the military before applying, but before the first selection began this requirement was dropped, which allows many more candidates for testing and filling out teams for training, which was the right move.

Mission

Estonian Special Operations Forces ESTSOF plays a significant role in Estonia’s independent defense capability. The primary objective of the Special Operations Forces, in terms of Estonia’s national defense, is the development of capabilities for unconventional warfare. In addition to that, the tasks of the unit include special reconnaissance and surveillance, military support, and direct action.

Estonian Special Operations Forces ESTSOF
Estonian Special Operations Forces ESTSOF operators during the live-fire exercise (Photo: ESTSOF)

Selection and training

In usual Special Forces fashion, selection and training are taken to the extreme. Estonia needs its men to operate in every terrain and environment imaginable and so tailored its courses in kind.

Selection

The selection phase involves performing 62 pushups and 72 sit-ups in under two minutes. Also, a 2-mile run must be completed in under 13 minutes and 49 seconds. In the water, candidates must be capable of diving 15 feet, where they then must put on a mask. Other water tasks include swimming 75 feet underwater while holding their breath, and a 1,200 foot swims on the clock. Amidst all this are extensive mental tests probing candidates’ abilities to perform complex tasks and control their emotions.

Training

Upon passing selection, the candidates begin training. The exact length and specific types of courses are unknown, but suffice it to say, they go on for several months and are well beyond most of the candidate’s limits. Phases are believed to include land, airborne, and swimming, with ever-present shooting drills and problem-solving tests escalating.

What’s it like? An instructor once described to the media that during one 8-week course, the candidates trained in mountains, forests, and swamps, with only one to four hours of sleep allowed per day. Cursing from instructors is constant and the toll of the experience found one of the candidates talking to trees, no longer able to discern reality.

If the candidates pass training, they receive the unit beret and graduate into the Estonian Special Operations Forces ESTSOF, which comes under the command of the Army intelligence battalion, and as history shows, has been eager to use its most elite force in combat.

The initial training of the special forces operator will take about 3 years. The first year will be spent improving the operator’s personal skills, going through NCO training, and Estonian Special Operations Forces ESTSOF basic training. The second-year involves passing qualification courses and learning special skills. The third-year is spent in team training and cross-training, which is normally capped off with a mission. This is followed by 2–3 years of supplemental training. After that, the operator, together with his team, will specialize in a certain set of tasks. In total, it takes about 8 years to prepare a special forces operator.

Estonia's most elite soldiers from Estonian Special Operations Forces ESTSOF standing in front of the unit's flag
Estonia’s most elite soldiers from Estonian Special Operations Forces ESTSOF standing in front of the unit’s flag (Photo: Estonian Armed Forces)

Weaponry and gear

Like other units of the same purpose in NATO, Estonian Special Operations Forces ESTSOF is armed with the most modern weapons on the Western market. These include modern assault rifles, submachine guns, sniper rifles, and pistols, as well as other specialized weapons. That includes HK MP5, HK MP7, HK G36, and others.

Unit’s insignia

ESTSOF insignia emblem logo
The Estonian Special Operations Forces ESTSOF insignia: the black shield shows a rhombus formed from a single line, standing on its tip and opening heraldically to the right; within the rhombus, there is a diagonally lying sword, with its blade pointing to the right – both are in silver (Photo: ESTSOF)

Silver symbolizes wisdom and loyalty, black is the traditional color of Special Forces, which symbolizes operating in danger and crises arising from life’s darker side. The rhombus opening on one side and the sword symbolize ESTSOF and its readiness to take on tasks relating to national defense. Visually the symbol references the letter “E” and through it the name of the unit and Estonia. The symbol also has a notional and visual resemblance with the center section of the Cross of Liberty.

Operations

Not long after Estonian special operations forces (ESTSOF) saw its first 36-man unit became operational in 2011, ESTSOF received its flag denoting its recognition by the armed forces on October 2, 2012. This day became monumental because, on that same day, an agreement was signed with NATO to send an ESTSOF unit to serve in Afghanistan, and before the year was out one unit was operational in the country conducting combat missions as part of the ISAF. As of 2014, ESTSOF is still there conducting missions alongside its allies.

According to the various reports from the allied forces, and the ISAF command staff, it looks like ESTSOF is doing well and they quickly become a vital part of the ISAF mission.

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