Andrus Merilo

{{Short description|Estonian army officer (born 1973)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Andrus Merilo | honorific_suffix = | image = Andrus Merilo 2024 (cropped).jpg | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | nickname = | office = Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces | term_start = 1 July 2024 | term_end = | leader = | president = Alar Karis | predecessor = Martin Herem | successor = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|6|2|df=y}} | birth_place = Tallinn, Estonian SSR, Soviet Union | death_date = | death_place = | placeofburial = | placeofburial_label = | allegiance = {{flag|Estonia}} | branch = {{flagicon image|Kvyldlipp.svg}} Estonian Defence Forces | branch_label = | service_years = 1995–present | service_years_label = | rank = 23px Lieutenant General | rank_label = | servicenumber = | unit = | commands = {{Plainlist| * Scouts Battalion * 1st Infantry Brigade }} | battles = UNIFIL<br/>KFOR<br/>Iraq War<br/>War in Afghanistan | battles_label = | mawards = See: Awards, decorations, and recognition | spouse = | children = | relations = }} '''Andrus Merilo''' (born 2 June 1973) is an Estonian General and current Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces since 2024.<ref>https://mil.ee/uudised/kindralmajor-andrus-merilo-vottis-ule-kaitsevae-juhtimise/</ref>

In 2005 he was the commander of ESTPLA-10 in Iraq. In 2007 he was the commander of ESTCOY-4 in Afghanistan.

Merilo commanded the Scouts Battalion from 2013 to 2016. Since June 2021, he commanded the 1st Infantry Brigade.

==Effective dates of promotion== {| class="wikitable" |+ Promotions ! Insignia !! Rank !! Date |- ||20px||Ensign||16 July 1999<ref>{{cite web|title=Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine|url=https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/91572|access-date=30 August 2024}}</ref> |- ||20px||Sub-lieutenant||3 June 2002<ref>{{cite web|title=18. Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine|url=https://vp2001-2006.president.ee/et/ametitegevus/k2skkirjad.php?gid=17931|access-date=30 August 2024|date=3 June 2002|archive-date=8 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208124016/https://vp2001-2006.president.ee/et/ametitegevus/k2skkirjad.php?gid=17931|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- ||20px||Lieutenant||12 June 2003<ref>{{cite web|title=59. Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine|url=https://vp2001-2006.president.ee/et/ametitegevus/k2skkirjad.php?gid=34916|access-date=30 August 2024|date=12 June 2003|archive-date=8 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208124017/https://vp2001-2006.president.ee/et/ametitegevus/k2skkirjad.php?gid=34916|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- ||20px||Captain||3 October 2006<ref>{{cite web|title=149. Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine|url=https://president.ee/et/ametitegevus/kaskkirjad/48313-149-sojavaeliste-auastmete-andmine|access-date=30 August 2024|date=3 October 2006}}</ref> |- ||20px||Major||9 February 2010<ref>{{cite web|title=Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine|url=https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/13275367|work=Riigi Teataja|access-date=30 August 2024|date=9 February 2010}}</ref> |- ||20px||Lieutenant colonel||16 February 2015<ref>{{cite web|title=81. Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine|url=https://vp2006-2016.president.ee/et/ametitegevus/kaeskkirjad/11088-2015-02-16-10-24-06/index.html|access-date=30 August 2024|date=16 February 2015}}{{Dead link|date=June 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> |-

||20px||Colonel||18 February 2020<ref>{{cite web|title=President andis ohvitseridele uued auastmed, Igor Schvedest sai kontradmiral|url=https://www.postimees.ee/6903117/president-andis-ohvitseridele-uued-auastmed-igor-schvedest-sai-kontradmiral|access-date=30 August 2024|date=18 February 2020}}</ref> |- ||20px||Brigadier General||23 February 2024<ref>{{cite web|title=Galerii: president andis Andrus Merilole brigaadikindrali auastme|url=https://www.err.ee/1609262292/galerii-president-andis-andrus-merilole-brigaadikindrali-auastme|access-date=30 August 2024|date=23 February 2024}}</ref> |- ||20px||Major General||19 June 2024<ref>{{cite web|title=GALERII ⟩ President Alar Karis andis Andrus Merilole üle kindralmajori auastme|url=https://www.postimees.ee/8044165/galerii-president-alar-karis-andis-andrus-merilole-ule-kindralmajori-auastme|access-date=30 August 2024|date=19 June 2024}}</ref> |- ||20px||Lieutenant General||20 June 2025<ref>{{cite web|title=103. Sõjaväelise auastme andmine|url=https://president.ee/et/ametitegevus/kaskkirjad/57334-103-sojavaelise-auastme-andmine|access-date=20 June 2025|date=20 June 2025}}</ref> |}

==Awards, decorations and recognition==

===Decorations and badges===

{| class="wikitable" |- style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;" | colspan=3 |'''Estonian Awards and decorations''' |- |106px || 5th Class of the Order of the Cross of the Eagle (with swords) || 6 February 2006 |- |106px || Cross of Merit of the Ministry of Defence (III class) || |- |106px || Distinguished Service Decoration of the EDF (for battle merit) || 6 May 2005 |- |106px || Cross for the Exemplary Service of the Estonian Defence Forces || |- |106px || Gold Cross of the Officer of Land Forces || |- |106px || Silver Cross of the Officer of Land Forces || |- |106px || Estonian Defence Forces General Staff Cross of Merit || |- |106px || MoD Medal of Participants in International Military Operations || |- |106px || Estonian Defence Forces Long Service Medal || |- |106px || Merit Medal of the Defence League Special Class || 20 September 2023<ref>{{cite web|title=Merit Medal of the Defence League Special Class|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=700231598797695&id=100064325846536&set=a.457215289765995&locale=et_EE|work=1. jalaväebrigaad 1st Infantry Brigade|access-date=29 October 2025}}</ref> |- |106px || Memorial Medal "10 Years of the Re-Established Defence Forces" || |- |106px || Distinguished Service Decoration of the Peace Operations Centre || |- bgcolor = "#ccccff" align=center | colspan=3 |'''Foreign Awards''' |- |106px || National Defence Medal (gold grade) with bar || 28 May 2024 (France)<ref>{{cite web|title=French National Defence Medal|url=https://x.com/Kaitsevagi/status/1796202409905344952|work=Estonian Defence Forces|access-date=31 August 2025}}</ref> |- |106px || 1st Class Commander of the White Rose of Finland || 27 May 2024 (Finland)<ref>{{cite web|title=1st Class Commander of the White Rose of Finland|url=https://president.ee/et/teenetemargid/valisriigi-antud-teenetemargid/56077-andrus-merilooome|work=Office of the President|access-date=1 March 2024}}</ref> |- |106px || NATO Medal for ISAF || |- |106px || NATO Medal for KFOR || |- |106px || United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Medal || |- |106px || National Service Medal (Army) || (Norway) |}

{| class="wikitable" |- bgcolor = "#ccccff" align=center | colspan=2 |'''Badges''' |- |106px || Badge of the Estonian Scouts Battalion |- |106px || Badge of the Estonian 1st Infantry Brigade |- |106px || The badge of the Finnish reserve officer course |- |106px || United States Army Command and General Staff College International Graduate Badge |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} |- {{s-bef|before=Martin Herem}} {{s-ttl|title=Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces|years=2024-present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Merilo, Andrus}} Category:Living people Category:1973 births Category:Estonian major generals Category:Estonian military personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)