THE yOUTH NATIONAL DEfENCE CURRICULUm THE UNDERpINNING Of SUCCESS

Since the youth members of the Defence League have shown increasing interest in intensified national defence education, Major Rene Toomse developed a curriculum for youth members’ national defence skills that will provide additional motivation for our older youth members.

By: MARKUS SEIN , public relations specialist for the Defence League youth organizations

The main goal of the new course is to reinforce the patriotic and civic sensibilities of the Estonian Defence League (EDL) 16-18-year-old youth members, increase their will to defend and sense of security. Passing the curriculum –abbreviated NROK in Estonian – will give youth members knowledge and skills for entering compulsory military service fully prepared. It will also lay the groundwork for course participants, upon reaching adulthood, to more quickly take up their wartime positions if need be and take part in the subsequent training courses.

Completing the curriculum will also result in savings of time in future. That means that youth members who complete NROK and continue as active members of the Defence League will be able to transfer credit for the subjects taken at the course and later, in basic soldier course, will have to take only individual subjects that were not covered at the youth member course.

Same Assessment Standards As For Everyone Else

The first NROK started in August of last year and was integrated into the basic soldier course organized by the Harju district. Three members of EDL’s boys organization Noored Kotkad started the course and two graduated. During the course, the third one reached an age where he could become a full member of the Defence League.

To confirm the necessary physical aptitude, which was one criteria for eligibility for the course, the boys first had to pass the Defence Forces physical test in the age 17-21 category.

In the ensuing course held over 10 weekends, all of the topics of the basic soldier training were covered: fundamentals of national defence, signals, logistics, weapons, topography, field skills, adversary studies and first aid. Weaponry and the adversary studies were the favourite subjects.

The youth members’ progress in the course was assessed on the same grounds as in all other participants in the basic training, with no handicap provided. But the deputy head of the course, Eric Noormets, said that the youths got along well in all tasks and were a good example for the participants. Noormets mentioned a morning when he was still crawling out of his sleeping bag but one of the youth members, Hendrik Luik, was already up and keeping an eye on the terrain.

“And the same kind of initiative was displayed by the other young participants,” Noormets added.

But there were a few aspects in which the NROK was different from the Defence League basic soldier course. The youth members did not have to take topics directly related to military training, such as combat engineering or practical instruction about weapons of war, hand grenades, machine guns and anti-tank grenade launchers, nor did they have to take the Defence League weapons exam.

However, they could audit these subjects, to make it easier for them to pass

them upon becoming full members.

Moderately Challenging

The course culminated in a final trek of close to 35 kilometres, where all the skills acquired in the course were assessed. At the final formal review, Defence League youth member Sten Kristen Aleksašin said that the hardest part of the entire course was the endurance challenge.

The blisters that had formed on the first day made it especially difficult. Still, Aleksašin finished the trek and said he was very satisfied with the entire course.

The youth members said the course exceeded their expectations significantly. The topics were fascinating and the course was moderately challenging, he said. As mentioned earlier, the most intriguing topics were weaponry and adversary studies.

Hendrik Luik, selected best in course, said the course was pleasantly multifaceted and full of challenges. In addition, all NROK participants praised the friendly and helpful instructors.

Member of the EDL’s boys organization Kaur Mihkel Toomse said his stint in the youth organization gave him a good footing for passing the course. All of the boys plan to continue their path in the Defence League and eagerly await their required period as conscripts.

All youth members who wish to participate in NROK can submit their application and consent from their parent or guardian to their direct superior.