Offices & Departments
Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) Programs Overview
• Foreign Military Financing
• International Military Education and Training Program
• Humanitarian Demining
• Humanitarian Assistance
These programs range in objectives from improving the interoperability of Estonian Defense Forces with NATO partners to improving quality of life- whether it be by making a safer environment by upgrading Estonia’s demining efforts or a more efficient society by providing for the special needs of Estonia’s citizens by improving and renovating infrastructure at schools, hospitals, clinics, and other institutions. All of the programs have a common overarching goal to improve the strategic relationship between the United States and Estonia.
Foreign Military Financing
This program is an annual grant of U.S. taxpayer dollars to support the development of the Estonian Defense Forces. It is used in a number of ways varying from the procurement of modern equipment with a focus on interoperability and the improvement of key infrastructure, such as the Regional Air Surveillance Coordination Center (RASCC), to supporting a U.S. Army Officer serving as an instructor at the Baltic Defense College in Tartu.
These initiatives are important for several reasons. They allow Estonia to mature into a capable force that is able, at a moment’s notice, to stand shoulder to shoulder with NATO partners or as U.S. partners in coalitions of the willing. Estonia is currently demonstrating this as it is involved in real world combat operations as a partner of the United Kingdom in Afghanistan and by contributing forces in Kosovo. Recently, Estonia ended its mission in Iraq after operating for five years with U.S. forces in Baghdad.
Estonia will continue to purchase equipment that provides its defense forces comparable capabilities to U.S. troops. These will include night-vision devices, global positioning systems, and more secure communication assets.
International Military Education Training (IMET)
This key program focuses on the professional development of, not only those in uniform, but just as importantly civil servants in key ministries, such as the Estonian Ministry of Defense. Synergy between this program and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) is key.m Once the force equips itself (via procurements from FMF), the International Military Education Training (IMET) allows for the professional education of key personnel; the utility of FMF procurements, in theory, will be put into practice by individuals who, because of their training, will use the same doctrine. Thus, there is interoperability not just of equipment, but even more importantly of individuals whether through employed tactics, strategy, leadership, or other relevant principles.
The United States has sponsored the attendance of Estonian Armed Force Personnel to our military academies and our higher level institutions, such as the U.S. War College. These courses focus on the development of officers and non-commissioned officers through leadership courses, as well as through physically challenging courses, such as Ranger School, SEAL courses, and Airborne courses- including basic, as well as advanced, military free fall. To date, Estonia has several graduates from the U.S. War College, National Defense University, and Sergeant Major’s Academy. Several Estonian graduates from U.S. military academies have since transitioned to influential positions within the Ministry of Defense. IMET also focuses on mid-career personnel allowing them to attend U.S. staff colleges, such as the Command and General Staff College, as well as the Air Force Staff College. The IMET has and will continue to pay huge dividends as the current and next generation of future Estonian leaders benefit from the opportunities it provides.
Humanitarian Demining Program
Estonia has participated in the USG Humanitarian Demining Program (HDP) for over ten years and the program continues to support the establishment of a sustainable mine action capacity. Unexploded ordnances (UXO) from World War II - including both sea mines and land ordnances- continue to pose a threat to not only Estonian citizens, but international maritime traffic as well. The Baltic Sea was heavily mined during both world wars and to this day it is not uncommon that deep-sea fishing nets pull up live mines. Combine the presence of this UXO with increasing maritime traffic, such as ferries, cargo ships and fishing vessels and the probability of future incidents remains a real threat.
Whether from UXO as a result of conflict between Russian and German forces in WWII or mortar, rockets, and artillery shells expended by Soviet troops during the occupation, the result is the same- areas highly contaminated with UXO that pose a hazard and are still a threat to Estonian citizens. Recent donations to the demining program have funded and supported the establishment of a National Demining Office and the purchase of state-of-the-art demining equipment, such as robots and other training aids and resources. This program has and will continue to make Estonia a safer place to live and provide for safe waterways, which will benefit the international community as well.
UXO Findings and Casualties
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
UXOs
1466
1958
4046
1898
10949
2152
2340
Deaths
5
1
10
6
5
7
5
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
UXOs
1437
1347
1669
2875
1952
2066
1751
Deaths
2
3
1
5
5
2
0
2007
2008
UXOs
6413
3409
Deaths
1
0
Humanitarian Assistance Program With grants provided by the U.S. European Command (EUCOM), countries like Estonia are able to renovate key facilities such as hospitals, clinics, and schools that provide social services. In 2008, more than half a million dollars contributed to the renovation of a hospital on the island of Hiiumaa and a women’s drug rehabilitation center in Rakvere. The far-reaching effect of the program, touching areas outside the capital city, promotes U.S. goodwill to traditionally hard-to-reach areas. Several of the projects have been in the northeastern part of Estonia, which has a large ethnic minority population. We are currently considering projects for 2009, and they include a special-needs school, a nursing home, as well as an elementary school.
Humanitarian Assistance Projects for Estonia 2000-2010 (pdf-126kb)
• International Military Education and Training Program
• Humanitarian Demining
• Humanitarian Assistance
These programs range in objectives from improving the interoperability of Estonian Defense Forces with NATO partners to improving quality of life- whether it be by making a safer environment by upgrading Estonia’s demining efforts or a more efficient society by providing for the special needs of Estonia’s citizens by improving and renovating infrastructure at schools, hospitals, clinics, and other institutions. All of the programs have a common overarching goal to improve the strategic relationship between the United States and Estonia.
This key program focuses on the professional development of, not only those in uniform, but just as importantly civil servants in key ministries, such as the Estonian Ministry of Defense. Synergy between this program and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) is key.m Once the force equips itself (via procurements from FMF), the International Military Education Training (IMET) allows for the professional education of key personnel; the utility of FMF procurements, in theory, will be put into practice by individuals who, because of their training, will use the same doctrine. Thus, there is interoperability not just of equipment, but even more importantly of individuals whether through employed tactics, strategy, leadership, or other relevant principles.
Estonia has participated in the USG Humanitarian Demining Program (HDP) for over ten years and the program continues to support the establishment of a sustainable mine action capacity. Unexploded ordnances (UXO) from World War II - including both sea mines and land ordnances- continue to pose a threat to not only Estonian citizens, but international maritime traffic as well. The Baltic Sea was heavily mined during both world wars and to this day it is not uncommon that deep-sea fishing nets pull up live mines. Combine the presence of this UXO with increasing maritime traffic, such as ferries, cargo ships and fishing vessels and the probability of future incidents remains a real threat.
|
|
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
|
UXOs |
1466 |
1958 |
4046 |
1898 |
10949 |
2152 |
2340 |
|
Deaths |
5 |
1 |
10 |
6 |
5 |
7 |
5 |
|
|
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
|
UXOs |
1437 |
1347 |
1669 |
2875 |
1952 |
2066 |
1751 |
|
Deaths |
2 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
|
|
2007 |
2008 |
|
UXOs |
6413 |
3409 |
|
Deaths |
1 |
0 |
With grants provided by the U.S. European Command (EUCOM), countries like Estonia are able to renovate key facilities such as hospitals, clinics, and schools that provide social services. In 2008, more than half a million dollars contributed to the renovation of a hospital on the island of Hiiumaa and a women’s drug rehabilitation center in Rakvere. The far-reaching effect of the program, touching areas outside the capital city, promotes U.S. goodwill to traditionally hard-to-reach areas. Several of the projects have been in the northeastern part of Estonia, which has a large ethnic minority population. We are currently considering projects for 2009, and they include a special-needs school, a nursing home, as well as an elementary school.
Humanitarian Assistance Projects for Estonia 2000-2010 (pdf-126kb)