In Parnu, southern Estonia, more than 1,200 Estonian and Latvian volunteer troops, a section of the National Guard, take part in Exercise Hurricane. The annual exercise is to improve troop capability and test them in a realistic war scenario. The Estonian volunteers form part of the Estonian Defense League, a network of fully equipped volunteer soldiers present in each municipality. Their role is to provide immediate response in the event of an attack.
(Teaser) In Parnu, southern Estonia, Estonian troops battle for control of the port and the town, as armored vehicles provide cover support and fighter jets fly overhead. It’s all part of exercise Hurricane, and these are no ordinary soldiers, they’re Estonia’s volunteer army.
SHOTLIST:
1. (00:00) VARIOUS SHOTS – ESTONIAN NATIONAL GUARD VOLUNTEER SOLDIERS PRACTISE ATTACK AND DEFENCE SCENARIOS AT THE PORT IN PARNU, ESTONIA – INCLUDES CAVALRY AND INFANTRY
2. (01:32) VARIOUS SHOTS – MEMBERS OF THE LATVIAN NATIONAL GUARD PREPARE TO DEFEND THEIR POSITION IN THE WOODLAND OUTSIDE PARNU DURING EXERCISE HURRICANE
3. (01:53) VARIOUS SHOTS – A TEAM OF ESTONIAN DEFENCE LEAGUE VOLUNTEERS LAY SIEGE TO A BUILDING BEING PROTECTED BY A RIVAL TEAM IN THE PARNU MUNICIPALITY DURING EXERCISE HURRICANE
4. (02:32) VARIOUS HELMET CAM SHOTS – ESTONIAN SOLDIERS PREPARING, SHOOTING BLANKS AND THROWING SMOKE GRENADES DURING EXERCISE HURRICANE
5. (03:10) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – SECOND LIEUTENANT TOOMAS KASK, ESTONIAN DEFENCE LEAGUE
“1941, my grandfather, with my father and my grandmother and relations went to Siberia and my grandfather was shot down in a prison because he was member of the elite and an Estonian officer. And my father lived 20 years in Siberia, Our history and our memories are too fresh to see what could happen if we do not learn to protect our country. I remember very well what happened to my grandfather, and it does not happen with me.”
6. (03:50) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – BRIGADIER GENERAL MEELIS KIILI, COMMANDER – ESTONIAN DEFENCE LEAGUE
“The enemy has landed the troops in the airport, harbor and municipality. They have occupied it. And our task is to retake these objectives, secure them and return it to the legal officials. We say that if we have a hybrid threat, the best answer to that is a comprehensive approach. The comprehensive approach literally means that everyone has to be involved.”
7. (04:23) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – PRIVATE ERICS ROBERTS KEZBERS, LATVIAN NATIONAL GUARD
“I’m a Maths teacher, and I also study in Pedagogijas Academy. Even if it takes my life, I will serve my country and my people, I will protect my family and I will not ever let someone takes their lives or their homes.”
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