Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces

The first headquarters of the Estonian military was initially formed on 6 December 1917, as the Staff of the Estonian Division. The formation of the headquarters was conducted by Andres Larka and Jaan Soots. The Staff of the Estonian Armies was officially established on 26 November 1918, with Andres Larka becoming the Chief of Staff. In 1926, the Staff of the Estonian Armies was abolished and its functions were transferred to the General Staff, which was subordinate to the Minister of War. In 1929, the General Staff and the Administrative Agency were joined into the Staff of the Defence Forces. On 1 April 1937, it was renamed the Staff of the Armies. The headquarters was abolished in 1940, after the Soviets occupied Estonia.[4]

The headquarters was re-established on 31 October 1991, as the General Staff of the Defence Forces, with Ants Laaneots becoming the Chief of Staff. In 1995, based on the Navy and Air Force Departments of the General Staff, the Navy Staff and the Air Force Staff became independent units. In 2001, the Army Staff also became independent. In 2009, the General Staff was renamed the Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces.[5]

The Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces is mainly tasked with counseling and supporting the activities of the Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces, planning the activities of the Defence Forces, organizing the training of the Defence Forces, planning and coordinating military operations, and preparing and organizing mobilization. It is headed by the Chief of Staff of the Headquarters, who commands the staff and corresponding subordinate units.[6] The headquarters consists of various departments: the General Department, Strategic Communication Department, Personnel Department (J1), Operations Department (J3), Logistics Department (J4), Analysis and Planning Department (J5), Signals Department (J6), Training Department (J7), and Budget and Finance Department (J8).[5]

Chief of Staff

The Chief of Staff is responsible for providing information and analysis to the Commander of the Defence Forces, preparing and executing national defence, developing and managing command structures, administrating the Headquarters of the Defence Forces, managing of the Defence Forces resources and investments, planning military operations, organizing international cooperation and mobilization. The Chief of Staff is supported in his/her activities by the Deputy Chief of Staff, who can also stand in for the Chief of Staff in his/her absence.[6]

List of Chiefs of Staff:[5]

No.	Portrait	Chief of Staff	Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Soots, JaanMajor General Jaan Soots (1880–1942)	1917	1920	2–3 years
2		Rink, JaanColonel Jaan Rink (1886–1927)	28 March 1920	October 1920	0 years
3		Lill, PaulMajor General Paul Lill (1882–1942)	1920	1925	4–5 years
4		Tõrvand, JuhanMajor General Juhan Tõrvand (1883–1942)	1925	1934	8–9 years
5		Reek, NikolaiMajor General Nikolai Reek (1890–1942)	1937	1939	1–2 years
6		Jaakson, AleksanderMajor General Aleksander Jaakson (1892–1942)	1939	1940	0–1 years
Vacant Soviet rule
7		Laaneots, AntsMajor General Ants Laaneots (born 1948)	1991	1999	7–8 years
8		Ermus, AarneLieutenant Colonel Aarne Ermus (born 1966)	1999	2002	2–3 years
9		Laneman, AlarBrigadier General Alar Laneman (born 1962)	2002	2006	3–4 years
10		Väli, NeemeBrigadier General Neeme Väli (born 1965)	2007	2011	3–4 years
11		Terras, RihoBrigadier General Riho Terras (born 1967)	March 2011	5 December 2011	0 years
12		Hoppe, PeeterBrigadier General Peeter Hoppe (born 1960)	15 December 2011	8 July 2013	1 years
13		Schvede, IgorCommodore Igor Schvede (born 1970)	2013	2016	2–3 years
14		Herem, MartinMajor General Martin Herem (born 1973)	15 July 2016	4 December 2018	2 years
15		Palm, Veiko-VelloMajor General Veiko-Vello Palm (born 1971)	5 December 2018	14 June 2021	2 years
16		Mõts, EnnoMajor General Enno Mõts (born 1974)	19 June 2021	Incumbent	2 years

The Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces received its flag on 29 October 2010. The flags blue field contains the emblem of the headquarters, with "KAITSEVÄE PEASTAAP" written in silver at the top, and two silver datums at the bottom - one marking the formation date and the other marking the restoration date of the headquarters. There is a small coat of arms of Estonia in the centre, which is supported by a crossed sword and staff in silver. The coat of arms is surrounded by a golden North Star, a wreath made of oak leaves, and a ribbon with the motto "VIRIBUS UNITIS". The crossed sword and staff symbolize the higher command level, the coat of arms and North Star symbolize the national level and international cooperation. The motto 'With United Forces' refers to the unity of the forces. The flag was designed by Margus Haavamägi.[7]

• Kaitseväe Peastaabi põhimäärus (in Estonian)