Other events in Baltic States

The Teraskilp (Steel Shield) training exercise of Estonia's all-professional Scouts Battalion, which provided members of the battalion with experience in acting both as a specialized platoon as well as a tactical group of a company, ended at the Adazi training area in Latvia on Sunday, informs LETA/BNS.

The commander of Scouts Battalion, Lt. Col. Eero Aija, described the live-fire exercise held as part of the Teraskilp as offering the best proof that soldiers of the Scouts Battalion are strong and tough, as acting on the diverse terrain of the Adazi training grounds requires resilience.

"The combat vehicles and their teams are experienced and tactically clever, the supporting units are on high level and the firepower of the battalion's combined arms is effective and precise. To the soldiers, Teraskilp gave both a genuine understanding of the battalion's firepower as well as experience and skills in how to best apply cooperation between various arms in offensive and defensive activities," the commander said, adding that the soldiers who took part in exercises in Latvia during more than two weeks demonstrated themselves as true professionals.

In addition to members of the Scouts Battalion, an indirect fire team of the British armed forces and a Danish armored infantry unit took part in the exercise, offering a possibility to rehearse international cooperation and exchange experience. Close to 500 military personnel from the  Scouts Battalion and the allied battle group took part in the exercise.

Aija said that the Scouts Battalion and the Danish company stationed at Tapa have a very similar understanding of how to use combat vehicles and how armored infantry engages in combat in general.

"Of course, they have longer experience in the use of the CV90 armored infantry fighting vehicle platform, whereas we have been active longer on the terrain here, which in conclusion made for a very good symbiosis, as we could hand over the experience to each other and discuss it," he said. 

Last Monday, the first day of the Teraskilp exercise, the second stage of the shooting contest of the Scouts Battalion took place. On Tuesday, the units rehearses for the forthcoming live-fire exercise using imitation devices. 

After that, a live-fire exercise of the armored group, the armored infantry platoon and the infantry platoon took place, while the exercise culminated in a live-fire exercise of the tactical group of a company.

The Scouts Battalion, a rapid response infantry battalion with independent combat activity capability, consists wholly of professional personnel and is the spearhead force of the 1st Infantry Brigade.

Held annually since 2005, Teraskilp marks the culmination of the Scouts Battalion's annual training cycle, during which live-fire exercises of the company as well as the battalion level take place.