VORU, Estonia – Airmen from the 718th Intelligence Squadron (IS) recently traveled to Estonia to participate in the Baltic Sea region’s largest military exercise helping lay the groundwork for future intelligence training partnerships between the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) and the U.S. Air Force Reserve (USAFR).
In May, Senior Master Sgt. Joshua Moody, Master Sgt. Gregory Sharpe, and Staff Sgt. Samuel Griffith participated in Exercise Spring Storm. The annual national-level event is the largest military exercise in the Baltic Sea Region, involving more than 12,000 active-duty, reserve and EDF personnel across the country’s defense structure while incorporating NATO partner forces.
Estonia relies on a conscription-based military model where eligible citizens complete military training before transitioning into the reserve force. Exercise Spring Storm serves as the capstone exercise to test how well large numbers of forces can operate together in realistic scenarios.
During the exercise, the 718 IS team met with intelligence personnel assigned to brigade and division level organizations, including ISR companies, the Joint Air-Ground Integration Center (JAGIC) and the Analysis and Control Element (ACE). Airmen observed simulated combat scenarios, reconnaissance operations, micro-unmanned aerial systems employment and intelligence integration processes designed to support large-scale combat operations.
This engagement also provided opportunities to collaborate with United Kingdom military personnel from the 4th Brigade, which deployed to Estonia for Spring Storm to practice integration with the Estonian Division.
“Exercises like Spring Storm allow us to build relationships, understand partner capabilities and identify opportunities to strengthen intelligence cooperation through future training,” said Moody.
Based on observations and discussions with Estonian and U.K. intelligence leaders, the team identified future training opportunities focused on synthetic aperture radar (SAR) analysis, targeting, initial-phase analysis and standardized intelligence product development, laying the foundation for a recurring partnership aligned with Estonia’s training cycle.
Maj. Andre Lilleleht, Estonian Division G1, noted how the partnership aligns with Estonia’s national defense philosophy, which emphasizes cooperation between active-duty, reserve and allied forces.
“In Estonia, we believe that effective national defense in today’s security environment depends on the involvement of the entire society and allies,” Lilleleht said. “Reservists who have trained and practiced together are crucial to victory. As a small country, we can quickly adapt to changes in warfare and demonstrate best practices that larger countries are still working to implement.”
The proposed partnership would strengthen interoperability between the EDF and USAFR while preparing allied reserve forces to operate more effectively in future multinational operations.