Martin Herem
General Martin Herem in 2023
Born (1973-12-17) 17 December 1973
Tallinn, Estonia
Allegiance Estonia
Service/branch Estonian Defence Forces
Years of service1992–present
RankGeneral
Commands held
Battles/warsIraq war

Martin Herem (born 17 December 1973) is an Estonian general and the current Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces since 2018.[1]

Herem entered into service in 1992. From 2013 to 2016 he served as the Commandant of the Estonian National Defence College and from 2016 to 2018 Chief of Staff of the Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces.[2] Herem was one of the re-founding members of the paramilitary Estonian Defence League in 1990.[3]

On 24 January 2023, Martin Herem was promoted to the rank of general.[4]

Herem became the Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces in December 2018. His tenure was extended for another two years in October 2022, in the interests of stability in the backdrop of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[5] On 16 January 2024, Herem announced his plan to step down from the post in the summer of 2024, calling the situation stable enough for the change of leadership, which it might not be in the end of his tenure in two years time.[6]

Military career

  • 09.1992–06.1996 Estonian National Defence College, cadet
  • 07.1996–02.1998 Kuperjanov Single Infantry Battalion, Platoon Leader
  • 02.1998–07.1998 Kuperjanov Single Infantry Battalion, Company Executive Officer
  • 07.1998–11.1998 Kuperjanov Single Infantry Battalion, S3 Staff Officer
  • 11.1998–01.2000 Tartu Single Infantry Battalion, S3 Staff Officer
  • 01.2000–07.2000 Tartu Single Infantry Battalion, S3 Staff Commander
  • 07.2000–07.2001 Tartu Single Infantry Battalion, Staff Commander
  • 08.2002–08.2003 Estonian National Defence College, Instructor of the Tactics Department
  • 09.2003–02.2006 Estonian National Defence College, Head of the Tactics Department
  • 02.2006–06.2006 Operation Iraqi Freedom II training mission Senior Staff Officer with US brigade
  • 06.2006–04.2007 Estonian National Defence College, Head of the Tactics Department
  • 04.2007–05.2008 Tapa Training Center, Staff Commander
  • 06.2008–07.2012 North-Eastern Defence Command, Commander
  • 07.2012–08.2013 Estonian National Defence College, Deputy Commander
  • 08.2013–07.2016 Estonian National Defence College, Commandant
  • 07.2016–12.2018 Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces, Chief of Staff
  • 12.2018–06.2024 Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces

Awards, decorations, and recognition

Decorations and badges

Estonian Awards and decorations
2nd Class of the Order of the Cross of the Eagle5 February 2018
Cross of Merit of the Ministry of Defence (III class)
Distinguished Service Decoration of the EDF16 February 2007
Order of Merit of the Estonian Defence Forces
Cross for the Exemplary Service of the Estonian Defence Forces21 February 2005
Gold Cross of the Officer of Land Forces
MoD Medal of Participants in International Military Operations
Merit Medal of the Defence League Special Class
Memorial Medal "10 Years of the Re-Established Defence Forces"
Distinguished Service Decoration of the Eastern Prefecture
Silver Cross of the Rescue Board10 February 2011
Estonian Defence League School Cross of Merit
Cross of the Estonian Reserve Officers’ Assembly (special)17 December 2020
Cross of the Estonian Reserve Officers’ Assembly (gold)29 November 2019
Cross of the Estonian Reserve Officers’ Assembly (silver)17 May 2016
Former Estonian Forest Brothers Association Service Cross III class
Foreign Awards
Bronze Star Medal(United States)
Commandeur of the National Order of the Legion of Honour(France)
Order of Merit (Second Class)(Ukraine)
Badges
Combat Action Badge (United States)
Baltic Defence College Higher Command Studies Course graduate Badge
Baltic Defence College Joint Command and General Staff Course graduate Badge
Estonian National Defence College Advanced Officer Training Course Badge
The Order of Merit of Kuperjanov Battalion

Personal life

Martin Herem is married and has a son and two daughters.[7] He is one of the grandchildren of Harri Moora.[8] One of his hobbies is marathon running. He has participated in the organisation of the Järvakandi marathon.[9] He is fluent in English and Russian as foreign languages. He is also one of the re-establishers of the Estonian Defence League in Rapla.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Gallery: Maj. Gen. Herem takes over command of the Estonian Defence Forces". ERR. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  2. ↑ "Brigadier General Martin Herem". Estonian Defence Forces. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Aasta allohvitser ja ohvitser alustasid sõjaväelist karjääri Kaitseliidu Rapla malevas" (in Estonian). Estonian Defence League. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  4. ↑ Kook, Urmet (24 January 2023). "President andis kaitseväe juhatajale kindrali auastme". err.ee. ERR.
  5. ↑ "Riigikogu committee unanimous in call to prolong EDF commander's term". err.ee. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  6. ↑ "Estonian Defense Forces' commander announces resignation". ERR. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  7. ↑ "Martin Herem CV". www.mil.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  8. ↑ "Enne lapsed, siis teaduskarjäär". www.vooremaa.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  9. ↑ "Brigaadikindral Martin Herem maratoniradadel". ajakirisport.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 11 January 2018.
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