Admiral Pitka Recon Challenge Opens in Rakvere
The annual military endurance competition was launched on Tuesday, this time in the northern town of Rakvere.
Over four days beginning today, participants will have to cover a course whose straight-line distance is 120 kilometers, staving off a variety of mock opponents and simulated threats.
As in every year, there are many teams from NATO countries and other neighbors, a fact that Brig. Gen. Meelis Kiili, the commander of the volunteer Defense League - the main organizer - mentioned in remarks at the opening ceremony.
Twenty-six teams are taking part, nine of which are from foreign countries: three from Denmark, two from Finland, two from the US, one from Sweden and one from Lithuania.
Several segments are open to spectators: near Rutja airfield on Friday and the final sprint on Saturday through Rakvere.
The head umpire is a Finnish reserve officer, 1st Lieutenant Tomi Haimelin.
The Admiral Pitka Recon Challenge is held in a different location and course each year to neutralize what has been Estonian participants' considerable home-field advantage.