Deputy chief of German Army visits, discusses cooperation with Estonian military
On a visit to Estonia this week, Deputy Commander of the German Army Lt. Gen. Carsten Jacobson and Estonia's Deputy Chief of Defence Brig. Gen. Indrek Sirel discussed security-related cooperation at a meeting on Wednesday.
Jacobson also met with German troops stationed at Tapa Army Base, spokespeople for the Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces told BNS. Jacobson noted that he was very pleased with the presence of German units in Estonia. "Furthermore, my officers and soldiers have said that training here has strongly improved their skills," he added.
The German general also met with Commander of the 1st Infantry Brigade, Lt. Col. Veiko-Vello Palm, who provided him with an overview of the unit under his command as well as the army reserve principles.
A company-sized unit of the 231st Mountain Rifle Battalion, 23rd Mountain Rifle Brigade of the Bundeswehr arrived in Estonia at the beginning of July. The nearly 200-strong German contingent will remain in Tapa until the end of September. The Germans troops' three-month rotation has been divided into two cycles of one and a half months each, allowing two different companies of the 231st Mountain Rifle Battalion to take part.
The aim of the German troops' presence in the country is to familiarize themselves with Estonian terrain and training conditions as well as to train with Estonian forces and other allied units currently stationed in Estonia.
Editor: Editor: Aili Sarapik
Source: BNS