"We will carry out battles in attack and defense, integrate with the armored units of the light infantry and will receive extensive experience in carrying out landing operations," Commander of the 2nd Infantry Brigade Col. Eero Rebo was quoted by military spokespeople as saying. "The 2nd Infantry Brigade will be training themselves and practicing cooperation with allies."

The units who have reached the location are to begin with a seven-day skill and cooperation training on Wednesday, the aim of which is to familiarize conscripts, reservists and allied troops with each other to prepare for the performing of battle tasks in the second phase of training. This year, in troops from Germany, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, the Netherlands and the U.S. will join usual units of the 2nd Infantry Brigade.

In the second phase of training, the 2nd Infantry Brigade and allied troops will be tasked with counteraction to the 1st Infantry Brigade to create battle situations as difficult as possible, as well as opportunities to develop cooperation between headquarters and units.

On Tuesday, the 2nd Infantry Brigade will be joined by the logistics battalion when moving from Ämari to Rutja. The Kalev Battalion of the 1st Infantry Brigade coming from Paldiski reached Tapa on Monday. U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters also reached Estonia on Tuesday.

Allied forces participating in the Spring Storm exercise this week also include German, Dutch, Polish, Latvian and Lithuanian troops, and next Monday the troops will be joined by the Scouts Battalion and the Finnish pioneer group and staff officers.

With nearly 9,000 participants from Estonia, allied and partner nations taking part, the 15th edition of the Spring Storm exercise, which kicked off on Monday and will take place mostly in Northern and Northeastern Estonia, is the biggest edition of the exercise held yet.