TALLINN, Oct 13, BNS - Visiting a reserve exercise today, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves underlined the importance of systematic follow-up training of reservists to the Estonian national defense system.
Ilves visited Siil 2008, the largest reservists' training since Estonia regained independence, held in the southwestern city of Parnu, and the location of battalion formation at Audru near Parnu, the president's office said.
The commander of the defense forces, Lt. Gen. Ants Laaneots, and chief of staff Col. Urmas Roosimagi gave the head of state an overview of the general concept of the exercise.
"I am very pleased that such an exercise has been organized. Constant and systematic follow-up training is essential in a national defense system based on compulsory military service," the president said.
He acknowledged the reservists who responded to the call for the exercise and arrived on time.
Around one thousand reservists, 80 percent of whom finished service in the defense forces in 2004, were called to the training.
Tallinn newsroom, +372 610 8814, sise@bns.ee
