'the imjin magazine' Spring 2021 | Page 7

Estonian Defence Force HQ

COLLECTIVE DEFENCE AND MUTUAL SUPPORT Over the last three years HQ ARRC has engaged in a capacity building project with the Estonian Defence Force ( EDF ) to support the development of their deployable warfighting headquarters . The project began in May 2018 following the deployment of the ARRC Operational Liaison and Reconnaissance Team onto Estonia ’ s largest ever deployment exercise where 15,500 members of the Estonian Defence Force and Defence League ( supported by the UK Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group and Multi- National Corps North East ) exercised under a Crisis Response scenario . The exercise came at a time when HQ ARRC was beginning to reorientate to its planned future role as a Joint Task Force HQ , and it was clear that there were similarities between the two HQs , as Land-centric , Joint thinking organisations . Thus , a mutually beneficial partnership was established whereby HQ ARRC and the EDF HQ would share their experiences of their development process and seek to support the other in evolving their HQ structures , processes and procedures .

February in Estonia

LEVELS OF COMPLEXITY Like most of the NATO Graduated Response Force HQs , HQ ARRC goes through a regular rotation in its role , from Joint Task Force through to Warfighting Corps HQ . The EDF HQ , in contrast , operates at all levels of command simultaneously . Within one building , and with the same staff , they command two manoeuvre brigades at the Tactical level , integrate and coordinate NATO and Joint assets at the Operational and support the Chief of Defence and ministers at the

Strategic . It was clear that whilst HQ ARRC personnel had experience at operating in many HQs at any one of these levels , they had never experienced such a complex and unique organisation as the EDF HQ .

MUTUAL BENEFITS Over a series of visits and conferences both HQs agreed a four-year programme of work that would see HQ ARRC support the EDF HQ through a restructure and redesign plan that would better prepare it for future operations . Through 2018 and 2019 ARRC delivered several courses to the EDF and supported them on their milestone exercises with teams of observer-mentors that helped the Estonians to analyse and critique their own performance and assisted in the development of their programme to maintain their evolution . This was reciprocated with the deployment of EDF staff onto ARRC exercises and internal courses .

REMOTE SUPPORT The COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 lockdowns prevented the usual annual training activity between the two HQs but did present an opportunity for a series of virtual conferences that allowed for reflection on the progress of the project over the previous two years and refinement of the development plan . A training seminar was proposed for early 2021 , conditions allowing , that would focus on aspects of the EDF HQ core process , including refinement and synchronisation of the plan as well as maintaining the situational awareness of the HQ . In February 2021 a team of 11 personnel deployed from HQ ARRC to Tallinn to run the seminar in the newly opened Joint Operations Centre of the EDF HQ .

MUTUAL RESPECT

The ARRC team was led by the Chief of the Joint Fires and Influence Branch , Brigadier John Oldroyd , and the seminar also included meetings with Chief of Staff of the EDF HQ , Brigadier Veiko-Vello Palm , the commander of the UK Enhanced Forward Presence , Col John Clayton , and the Commander of the NATO Force Integration Unit Estonia , Colonel Mart Vendla . The visit was conducted with the now customary high spirits that these events have experienced previously , and a working relationship that is borne out of mutual respect between the two HQs and a desire to address similar challenges .

This fosters an environment of frank and honest exchange and allowed both HQs to discuss and analyse the complex and pertinent issues that NATO and the HQs face .

CLARITY AND FOCUS Although the relationship started as one of mentoring the EDF HQ towards a deployable posture , it is very much becoming one of partnership and mutual training support . The EDF are now firm and regular contributors to populating the ARRC order of battle during exercise and it is clear that both HQs gain considerable benefit from them doing so . In the future , as the relationship develops beyond its original scope , ARRC will seek to reciprocate by not just observing and supporting the EDF exercises , but by placing select ARRC staff into the EDF HQ for annual exercises . As noted by the recently appointed lead in HQ ARRC for mutual training support between the two HQs , Col Richard Smith , “ the Estonians are not preparing to fight a fictitious scenario as we do in many of our exercises , they face a very clear , present and pertinent threat . This provides the EDF with a real focus and gives a clarity of purpose that ( HQ ARRC ) can learn much from .”

TO THE FUTURE Before the pandemic , HQ ARRC as due to support the EDF HQ with observermentors in a joint exercise with MNC-NE , Exercise Griffin Lightning in March ’ 21 which has been canceled , but both HQs continue to derive significant benefit from the ongoing relationship . However , future engagements will now move beyond this support on to more practical tabletop exercises and simulated wargames . This will allow both sides to dig into the conceptual aspects of the roles and interactions of NATO HQs in modern conflict , as well as testing and developing tactics and doctrine . The relationship between HQ ARRC and the EDF HQ is an ongoing example of what the Supreme Allied Commander Europe set out in his Concept of Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic Area , that the conduct of deliberate and continuous capacity building is central to achieving NATO ’ s Operational Aims and is essential in making sure we are ready for tomorrow .

Training with the EDF