A NASTy ADVERSARy ON THE OppOSING SIDE

In most contexts, the Defence League is an open organization that is not covert in its goals and activities, but there is one unit within the organization that most people don’t have much idea about, and whose members do not self-promote.

By: SANDER SILM , volunteer author

It’s the Defence League’s battle group, VGr, which works closely with the Defence Forces special ops command. The Defence League’s battle groups are found in each district. Their training is largely focused on small unit tactics and marksman and combat engineer training. Battle groups are mainly trained for fighting behind the enemy’s back. In short, they are units whose members have received special training and are capable of carrying out complex operations.

The requirements for VGr members are thus more rigorous than for rank-andfile members. The fighters in the VGr must be mentally and physically tough, ready for putting more time into training. The minimum standard for a VGr member is 6–8 training events a year but as said, that’s only the minimum. It’s no wonder, then, that VGr basic training is something more than the basic course for Defence League soldiers.

The basic course devotes major attention to developing individual skills and adversary studies; they learn how to execute mine ambushes and, above all, guerrilla wisdom. In January, the final rehearsal of the basic training for the VGr took place in Tartu County, organized by the Southern territorial defence district, after which the newly minted members of the VGr returned to their home districts.

FINAL REHEARSAL – CHALLENGE FOR THE BODY AND SPIRIT

The senior NCO of the final rehearsal Marko Kerna said it was a fitting challenge for the students. Over 36 hours, the participants had to prepare caches, orienteer, establish a secured position for resting, disengage from countermeasures and also carry out their mission – reconnaissance and mine ambush. The rehearsal culminated with an attack on a column, where they had to disengage from countermeasures after a mine ambush. The rehearsal was multi-layered, as dog handlers from the Police and Border Guard also participated and they sicced the tracking dogs on the course enrolees in the literal sense of the word. Both sides derived benefits: the Police and Border Guard dog handlers got valuable practical experience and the members of the VGr gained experience in eluding the dogs.

“We gave the students free rein to plan their actions, under the operations order, they could take as many “optional comfort equipment” as they wished. Most nevertheless forwent tents and stoves and one group paid the price for their asceticism,” said Kerna, noting that temperatures were solidly sub-freezing that weekend.

That was not all. The course organizers made life harder for the students by moving up the infiltration into the operations area by a couple hours without warning. The consequence was that they forgot some important equipment elements. Kerna said it was a teaching moment for the students about having to be prepared for any eventuality.

The entire rehearsal was filled with as many challenges as possible, due to which some participants felt the effects of sleep deprivation and were asking themselves what they had got themselves into. But the fatigue had been forgotten by the formal review at the end, everyone was smiling and they returned to their home districts with a great big dose of motivation.

“The goal of the final rehearsal was to give the participants experience in getting on in such extreme conditions both individually and with their fellow personnel,” said Kerna.

The Southern territorial defence district VGr basic course was organized by the Sothern Estonian districts’ battle groups and the success of the exercise was aided by members of other districts’ battle groups and the Police and Border Guard. In addition, the Tartu district’s staff and logistical company supported the final rehearsal with logistics and as a counterforce.

HOW TO JOIN A BATTLE GROUP?

Kerna said interest among Defence Leaguers in joining a VGr was great because the groups have a high reputation both in the Defence League and the EDF. “To be honest, we were quite a nasty adversary for the EDF at the exercises, because we did some things differently and thought outside the box, so it was not easy fighting against us.”

But mere interest is not enough for joining a VGr. Before reaching the basic course, prospective participants must pass a basic soldier course in the Defence League or EDF and contact their home district’s VGr. If the “blood type” is a match with the home district’s unit, the fighter is referred to the VGr basic course, and then the main work starts only after the basic course is passed.

Several districts even hold tests for applicants, but in general, a serious desire and readiness to contribute time ensures the opportunity to join because as said the training load in a VGr is higher than usually in the Defence League. “In my opinion, the ideal VGr fighter has to be strong in spirit, and get on in even the harsher conditions,” said Kerna. “The physical side can be improved but mental preparedness is getting harder to change.”

VGr strikes many as a true test, but it isn’t only the men’s domain. There are women among VGr members and in the abovementioned basic course, a woman was chosen as the best student.