Active service means service in the Defence Forces and this is divided into active service and service in the Defence Forces reserves. Active service is comprised of mandatory compulsory military service and contractual active service.

Professional military personnel serve in the Defence Forces operational, training and administrative structural units, and as soldiers, specialists, instructors, commanders and in other positions in the Defence Forces.


Education and Training

The profession of a member of the Defence Forces is like any other specialty which can be acquired in vocational school and studying for Bachelors and Master’s degrees in institutions of professional higher education. In order to serve in a position of military rank, you must complete compulsory military service, during the course of which you will receive theoretical as well as practical foundations in national defence. During the course of compulsory military service it is possible to earn the rank of soldier or junior non-commissioned officer.

The Battle School of the Defence Forces in Võru is a vocational school within the concept of civil education, where after the acquisition of a secondary education and the completion of compulsory military service it is possible to study to be a senior non-commissioned officer. Studies last for 44 weeks. During future service it is possible to supplement one's knowledge and skills with Senior Master Sergeant and Staff Sergeant courses.

It is possible to study to be an officer at the Estonian National Defence College (ENDC) located in Tartu. Here it is possible to acquire a professional higher education in military leadership as well as a Master’s degree in social sciences. The study period in the ENDC in the area of ground forces lasts for three years and it is possible to specialise in the following areas: infantry, logistics, communications, engineering, air defence, and artillery.

As of the 2008 fall semester, it is possible to study in the direction of the Air Force in the ENDC. The training course allows for specialisation in the specialities of airport officer, and radar and communications officer. Training takes place in cooperation with the Estonian Aviation Academy and lasts for 3.5 years.

Following master's studies it is possible to continue with studies by taking senior staff officer and higher ranking staff officer courses at the Baltic Defence College (BALTDEFCOL), also located in Tartu. BALTDEFCOL is a joint project between the Baltic States, and the in-service training courses taking place here for senior staff officers as well as higher officials meet NATO standards. In addition to senior officers from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the officers of our allies and partner countries also study at the college. During the course of studies it is not possible to acquire an academic degree; however, the level of training has on numerous occasions been recognised positively by NATO as well as senior representatives from other countries.

Even though doctoral studies in the field of military education are not organised in Estonia, the member of the Defence Forces has the opportunity to continue with their doctoral work in a military academy of a foreign state. The profession of a member of the Defence Forces includes the continuous polishing of knowledge and skills in specialty courses. In this way, the member of the Defence Forces has the opportunity throughout their entire career to participate in various international trainings, for example, the NATO school in Oberammergaus or in the NATO Defence College located in Rome, and at the Marshall Center in Germany.