Estcoy Commander: Staying Alert Is the Biggest Challenge
The commander of Estonia's infantry company in Afghanistan says the currently improved security situation in their part of the country has brought challenges of its own for the unit.
The Estonian contingent, which is pulling out for good in 2014, was moved from the Pimon patrol base to Camp Bastion in February due to an improvement in the security situation.
Maj. Tõnis Metjer, commander of Estcoy-15, says the current challenge is to stay alert. "We came here with a job to do, and it isn't that important for us whether we're here or in Pimon. It was more interesting there and time went faster. Here we have to include in-service training in our schedule to keep sharp and keep the soldiers' tasks at as automatic a level as possible, with no lag time," he said.
Metjer said it was positive that the company is not currently involved in combat situations.
"It shows that the country and the security forces are coping in large part. We are here on standby if something should go south at some point. Maybe it is a little boring, but I think it is only good, really," he said.
Metjer said the summer would be make or break for the country. "Summer 2013 has been called the Afghans' first summer of the campaign. It will prove much. How independently can the security forces battle and at least continue to keep the areas they have placed in their security bubble. If they can, then it can be said that they will continue to do well," said Metjer.
Junior Warrant Officer Allan Kalju, who has done two tours in Pimon, says the units can acquit themselves well and the insurgents have been driven out of areas controlled by them in the past.
"But they have not gone anywhere. It depends on how much freedom to operate they are granted, and that is how active they will be," he said. "They have to be visible to the locals and be there for them."