The Estonian Military Academy ( et, Kaitseväe Akadeemia) is an institution of applied higher education for national defence in

Tartu Tartu is the second largest city in Estonia after the Northern European country's political and financial capital, Tallinn. Tartu has a population of 91,407 (as of 2021). It is southeast of Tallinn and 245 kilometres (152 miles) northeast of ...

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, an ...

. The institutions mission is to train and educate regular officers for the

Estonian Defence Forces The Estonian Defence Forces ( et, Eesti Kaitsevägi) are the unified military forces of the Republic of Estonia. The Estonian Defence Forces consist of the Estonian Land Forces, the Estonian Navy, the Estonian Air Force, and the paramilitary E ...

and Estonian Defence League, as well as for other military institutions. It has established a national reputation for expertise in military research and development. The academic program of EMA provides a balanced education in military and civilian subjects. The academic staff members of the EMA are supported by members of the academic community from universities throughout Estonia.

History

1919 - 1940

The school was established on April 3, 1919, by the decree of the commander-in-chief of Estonian Defence Forces, General Major

Johan Laidoner Johan Laidoner ( – 13 March 1953) was an Estonian general and statesman. He served as Commander‑in‑Chief of the Estonian Armed Forces during the 1918–1920 Estonian War of Independence and was among the most influential people in the Eston ...

. During the

Estonian War of Independence The Estonian War of Independence ( et, Vabadussõda, literally "Freedom War"), also known as the Estonian Liberation War, was a defensive campaign of the Estonian Army and its allies, most notably the United Kingdom, against the Bolshevik westw ...

, preparation of non-commissioned officers was limited because men and resources were needed on the front line. However, after the war, there was a growing need for officers, who could train and teach soldiers. Thus a school for non-commissioned officers was formed. Cadets were taught tactics, topography, administration, fortification, machine-gun employment, military law, health care, Estonian, artillery science and gymnastics. The first courses lasted 4 months. After completion of the course, cadets were promoted to the rank of

ensign An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...

. Infantry school was founded on May 20, 1920. In 1921, studies were lengthened to three years and divided into three classes: general class, I special class, and II special class. Young men with six-grade education were admitted to the general class, where they were taught gymnasium subjects alongside military subjects. Men with secondary education were admitted to the I special class, and II special class was for reserve officers. During that same year, infantry-, artillery- and cavalry schools were merged into the non-commissioned officer school. On 29 August 1923, all military schools were merged into the academy, which consisted of the Military School, Higher Military School and the School of Non-Commissioned Officers. In 1927, prior military service became a prerequisite for entering the military school. In 1928, training of conscript NCO's ended in the School for Non-Commissioned Officers. The school itself was moved from Juhkentali to Tondi. Officer training also changed, with a class for

aspirant Aspirant is a rank in the Royal Canadian Navy, Estonian Defence Forces, French military, Brazilian military, Portuguese military, Swiss military, Italian Air Force, Argentinian Armed Forces, Romanian Navy, Polish Policja and Państwowa Stra ...

s, and classes for junior cadets and senior cadets. Aspirant class was for reserve officers and cadet classes were for regular officers. Training of officers changed again in 1935, when all officers began to be trained in aspirant and officer classes. Graduates of the aspirant class received reserve officer training, while in the officer classes, postgraduates of the aspirant class received additional training to become regular officers. In 1936, the School for Non-Commissioned Officers was dissolved and a new school was formed in its place. In 1940, after the Soviets had annexed Estonia, the academy was reorganized into an infantry school for the

Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (Russian language, Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist R ...

1998 - present

The Estonian National Defence College was restored on March 17, 1998. Before that, officers received training in the Defence College of the

Estonian Academy of Security Sciences Estonian Academy of Security Sciences ( et, Eesti Sisekaitseakadeemia) is a public vocational university in Estonia. It provides professional education for Estonian civil servants under the Estonian Ministry of the Interior. Its objective is to e ...

. Since 1998, there were two curriculums - one provided vocational higher education for officers who would mainly become platoon commanders, the other provided diploma studies for future company and battalion commanders. Studies took three and a half years and gave the students basic knowledge of history, politology, social-, behavioral-, and humanitarian sciences, natural- and exact sciences, and native and foreign languages. The academy operated on the premises of Estonian Academy of Security Sciences until 1999, when it moved to

. Between 2001 and 2002, Finland helped organize courses for logistics, engineering, artillery and communication specialties. Finland also helped in organizing logistics, artillery, and air-defence courses between 2003 and 2004. In 2004, the institution adapted its curriculum in line with the

Bologna declaration The Bologna declaration (in full, Joint Declaration of the European Ministers of Education convened in Bologna on 19 June 1999) is the main guiding document of the Bologna process. It was adopted by ministers of education of 29 European countries ...

. In 2005, it became a vocational university, which could also issue a master's degree. The university received its first accreditation from an international commission in 2006. In 2008, the academy opened its curriculum for air force officers, and in 2011, for navy officers. Between 2010 and 2013, the academy offered a course for junior officers. In 2010, the university also started offering external studies for officers who would not be able to partake in regular studies. The Estonian National Defence College received its flag in 2013, from the Estonian Reserve Officers’ Association. In 2019, the university went through a restructuring and was renamed the Estonian Military Academy. To reflect that change, in February 2020, it received a new flag from the Estonian Reserve Officers’ Association, cadet council of the City of Tartu and the Defence Forces.

Officer training

* Basic Officer Training Course is the first level programme with a three-year study period carried out in the Estonian National Defense College. In the course, the cadets acquire the skills of a

platoon leader {{unreferenced, date=February 2013 A platoon leader (NATO) or platoon commander (more common in Commonwealth militaries and the US Marine Corps) is the officer in charge of a platoon. This person is usually a junior officer – a second or first ...

and

company commander A company commander is the commanding officer of a company, a military unit which typically consists of 100 to 250 soldiers, often organized into three or four smaller units called platoons. The exact organization of a company varies by countr ...

. On completion of the course, the cadets will have applied higher education and the rank of a second lieutenant. * Advanced Officer Training Course is the second level of officer training with a two-year study period, whereby the students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the duties of junior staff officers of an infantry

battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of 300 to 1,200 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain). In some countries, battalions ...

brigade A brigade is a major tactical military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute a division. ...

. * Senior Staff Officer Course — the third level of officer training — is a one-year course conducted in cooperation with the

Baltic Defence College The Baltic Defence College (BALTDEFCOL) is a multinational military college, established by the three Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) in 1999. It serves as a centre of strategic and operational research and provides professional mil ...

in the same building with the ENDC (or relevant training in some educational institution abroad). * Higher Staff Officer Course, the fourth level of officer training, is conducted in higher staff officer courses and general staff officer courses in educational institutions abroad. The Estonian National Defence College offers the first level and, since the 2005/2006 study year, the second level of military higher education.

References

External links