Estonian Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General Riho Terras’ introductory visit to BALTDEFCOL Exercise

The ongoing exercise at the Baltic Defence College, Collaborative Effort 2016, hosted a visit by the Chief of Estonian Defence Forces (EST CHOD), Lieutenant General Riho Terras. The leadership and members of BALTDEFCOL faculty with students of the Joint Command and General Staff Course 2015/2016 welcomed LTG Terras as he arrived for his informational visit to the exercise. The CHOD was guided around the area where the components which are crucial for the exercise execution were presented.

LTG Terras expressed his regard for the execution of the exercise and was positively impressed with the way the event has been organized. With this in mind he has offered to expand the exercise related support and cooperation from the Estonian Defence Forces for the college’s exercises in the future. Some of the aspects of possible additional support were discussed and already agreed during the visit.

During the execution phase of the exercise, BALTDEFCOL had the benefit of officers and NCOs from the Estonian and Lithuanian Defence Forces, NATO SOF HQ, Swedish National Defence University and legal officers from the Estonian and Latvian MODs. The Baltic Defence College appreciates all the support given by these partners – we appreciate the great level of cooperation of all participating Allies and Partners, such collaboration will ensure that we meet our set training objectives.

The aim of the Exercise Collaborative Effort is to practice operational planning utilizing the NATO Comprehensive Operational Planning Directive in both staff and student led environments, and to introduce the execution of joint operations in the format of a Command Post exercise.