# Scouts Battalion

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{{Short description|Estonian military unit}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Scouts Battalion
| native_name = Scoutspataljon
| image = Scouts Battalion emblem.png
| image_size = 
| caption = Insignia of the Scouts Battalion
| dates = 1918–1940<br/>2001–present
| country = {{EST}}
| allegiance = 
| branch = {{army|Estonia}}
| type = [Mechanized infantry](/source/Mechanized_infantry)
| role = 
| size = [Battalion](/source/Battalion)
| command_structure = {{nowrap|24px [1st Infantry Brigade](/source/1st_Infantry_Brigade_(Estonia))}}
| website = https://scoutspataljon.ee/
| current_commander = [Lieutenant colonel](/source/Lieutenant_colonel) Madis Koosa
| garrison = [Tapa Army Base](/source/Tapa_Army_Base)
| nickname = 
| patron = 
| motto = ''[E Pluribus Unum](/source/E_Pluribus_Unum)''
| colors = 
| march = 
| also known as = 
| mascot = 
| battles = {{nobreak|[Estonian War of Independence](/source/Estonian_War_of_Independence)}}<br/>[Iraq War](/source/Iraq_War)<br/>[War in Afghanistan](/source/War_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%93present))<br/>[Mali War](/source/Mali_War)
* <small>[Operation Barkhane](/source/Operation_Barkhane)</small>
* <small>[Operation Inherent Resolve](/source/Operation_Inherent_Resolve)</small>
| notable_commanders = Friedrich-Karl Pinka<br />[Andrus Merilo](/source/Andrus_Merilo)
| anniversaries = Formed: 21 December 1918<br/>Restored: 29 March 2001
<!-- Insignia -->| identification_symbol = 
| identification_symbol_label = 
}}
The '''Scouts Battalion''' ({{langx|et|Scoutspataljon}}) is a [battalion](/source/battalion) of the [Estonian Land Forces](/source/Estonian_Land_Forces). It is a part of the [1st Infantry Brigade](/source/1st_Infantry_Brigade_(Estonia)) and acts as its rapid response unit. The battalion is currently based at [Tapa](/source/Tapa%2C_Estonia).

==History==
===Estonian War of Independence===
In November 1918, [Estonian American](/source/Estonian_American) entrepreneur and [scouting](/source/scouting) enthusiast Henry Reissar returned to Estonia and turned to the [Ministry of Defence](/source/Minister_of_Defence_(Estonia)) (then Ministry of War) with a proposition of forming a voluntary military unit, financed by himself, in order to help defend Estonia. Having received such permission, the unit was formed on 21 December 1918 in [Viljandi](/source/Viljandi), where the first volunteers took their oaths in the ruins of [Viljandi Castle](/source/Viljandi_Castle), and Friedrich-Karl Pinka was appointed commander of the newly formed unit.<ref name="Scouts">{{cite web|title=Scoutspataljon|date=12 April 2024 |language=Estonian|publisher=Estonian Defence Forces|url=http://www.mil.ee/et/kaitsevagi/maavagi/1-jalavaebrigaad/scoutspataljon}}</ref> On 3 January 1919, the company-sized unit was sent to the front against the [Red Army](/source/Red_Army). On 23 January 1919, a 43-man unit of Scouts captured the Pikksaare Train Station, defended by 524 Red Army troops.<ref>{{cite web|title=Scoutspataljon tähistas Pikksaare lahingu aastapäeva|language=Estonian|publisher=|date=23 January 2014|url=http://www.postimees.ee/2672202/scoutspataljon-tahistas-pikksaare-lahingu-aastapaeva}}</ref> The Scouts fought mostly alongside [armoured train](/source/armoured_train) units and acquitted themselves well in combat, manifesting greater morale than the regular conscript units. The Scouts took part in several major battles including the attack against the [Krasnaya Gorka fort](/source/Krasnaya_Gorka_fort) in October 1919 and the [Battle of Krivasoo](/source/Battle_of_Krivasoo) in November – December 1919. On 1 December 1919, the Scouts Regiment (''Scoutspolk'') was formed as a part of the Armoured Train Division.<ref name="Scouts"/>

===1920–1940===
After the signing of the [Peace Treaty of Tartu](/source/Treaty_of_Tartu_(Russian%E2%80%93Estonian)), many servicemen were demobilized and returned to civilian life. From 1921-28, the Scouts unit was reduced in size and continued to serve as a part of the 2nd, 5th, 6th and 10th Infantry Regiment. On 1 October 1928, the unit was renamed Scouts Single Infantry Battalion. The battalion was based at [Tallinn](/source/Tallinn), from where it was moved to [Uuemõisa](/source/Uuem%C3%B5isa_(borough)) in 1932. After the [Soviet occupation](/source/Soviet_occupation_of_the_Baltic_states_(1940)) in 1940, the battalion was disbanded.<ref>Õun, Mati. 2001. Eesti sõjavägi 1920-40. Tallinn: Tammiskilp, page 29-30</ref>

===2001–present===
The Scouts Battalion was restored on 29 March 2001, as a fully professional unit. The Scouts Battalion has actively participated in international operations together with other [NATO](/source/NATO), [European Union](/source/European_Union) and [United Nations](/source/United_Nations) member states, including the [Iraq War](/source/Iraq_War) and the [War in Afghanistan](/source/War_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%93present)).<ref name="Scouts"/> The battalion is currently equipped with [Combat Vehicle 90](/source/Combat_Vehicle_90) infantry fighting vehicles and [Patria Pasi](/source/Patria_Pasi) armoured personnel carriers. In 2018, fifty soldiers of the battalion were sent to contribute to the Operation Barkhane in Mali. In 2019, an additional forty-five soldiers were sent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Fergus |date=2019-11-08 |title=Estonia parliament approves Mali troop increase for Operation Barkhane |url=https://thedefensepost.com/2019/11/08/estonia-troops-mali-operation-barkhane/ |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=The Defense Post |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Current structure==
Scouts Battalion:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/109082013003|title=Scoutspataljoni põhimäärus|language=Estonian|publisher=Riigi Teataja}}</ref>

* Battalion Headquarters
** A Infantry Company
** B Infantry Company
** C Infantry Company
** Combat Support Company
** Staff and Support Company

==List of commanders==
*[Artur Tiganik](/source/Artur_Tiganik) 2001–2004
*[Indrek Sirel](/source/Indrek_Sirel) 2005–2006
*[Aivar Kokka](/source/Aivar_Kokka) 2006–2009
*[Vahur Karus](/source/Vahur_Karus) 2009–2013
*[Andrus Merilo](/source/Andrus_Merilo) 2013–2016
*Tarmo Kundla 2016–2019
*Eero Aija 2019-2022
*Ranno Raudsik 2022–2025
*Madis Koosa 2025–present

==See also==
*[1st Infantry Brigade](/source/1st_Infantry_Brigade_(Estonia))

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commonscat|Scouts Battalion}}

*[http://scouts.mil.ee Official website]

{{Estonian Military}}
{{Battalions of Estonia}}

Category:Military history of Estonia
Category:Estonian War of Independence
Category:Battalions of Estonia
Category:Military units and formations established in 1918
Category:1918 establishments in Estonia
Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1940
Category:Military units and formations established in 2001

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Scouts Battalion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scouts_Battalion) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scouts_Battalion?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.