Riho Terras (born 17 April 1967) is an Estonian politician and a former military officer who is serving as a member of the European Parliament since 1 February 2020. He was the Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces from 2011 to 2018. He was promoted to general in 2017.
He was elected as a Member of the European Parliament in 2019 and took his seat after Brexit.
Early life and career He was born on April 17, 1967, in the city of Kohtla-Jarve in the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic. Terras graduated in 1985 from Kohtla-Järve 5th Middle School. In his youth, Terras was conscripted as a sailor in the Soviet Navy, serving with the Northern Fleet on the frigate Zadornyy. He later studied history at University of Tartu, during which he also became a member of the Estonian Defence League. He joined Johannes Kert in the defence of radio and television buildings in Tallinn during the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt. Due to a lack of personnel in the Defence League, he decided to join a course for reserve officers, where he studied alongside Leo Kunnas. He was soon persuaded by Ants Laaneots to become a member of the Estonian Defence Forces. In 1994, he started studying at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich, where he received a master's degree in Political Science and Sociology. Thus, he picked up where he had left off in his education after his time at the University of Tartu.
Military career His military education includes studies in the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom, the Joint Command and General Staff Course in the Baltic Defence College, the European Security. Policy Course in the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, a Battalion Commander's Course in Switzerland, a Company Commander's course in Germany, a Company Commander's course in Sweden and the Officer's Basic course in Estonia. Terras's civilian education includes history studies in the University of Tartu, and a master's degree in Political Science and Sociology from the University of the Bundeswehr Munich.Official Biography, www.mil.ee
After graduating from the Basic Officer's Course in Estonia, Terras served as a Company Commander and as a Battalion Second in Command of the Kalev Single Infantry Battalion from 1992 to 1993. Between 1993 and 1994 Terras served as the commander of the Põhja Single Infantry Company. After graduating from the University of the Bundeswehr Munich (Germany) he served as the commander of the Guard Battalion from 1998 to 2000. Terras was appointed the Chief of Staff of the Defence League Headquarters in 2000. From 2001 to 2004 he served as the Estonian Defence Attaché in Germany and Poland. Between 2005 and 2008 Terras served as the Chief of the Analysis and Planning Department and as Chief of the Planning Section, Analysis and Planning Department in the Estonian Defence Forces Headquarters. In 2007, Terras served in the NATO Training Mission - Iraq as Deputy Chief of Staff. Riho Terras was confirmed in December 2008 as Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defence. Before taking up the position of the Permanent Secretary, he was Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations in the Estonian Defence Forces. Terras served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the Estonian Defence forces from January 2011 to March 2011 and then continued his service as the Chief of Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces. Terras was appointed the Chief of Defence on 5 December 2011.
Education
1989-1993, University of Tartu, History studies, Tartu, Estonia 1991-1992, Officer's Basic course, Tallinn, Estonia 1993, Company Commander's course, Sweden 1996, Company Commander's course, Germany 1994-1998, University of the Bundeswehr Munich, master's degree in Political Science and Sociology, Munich, Germany 1999, Battalion Commander's Course, Switzerland 2000, Estonian National Defence Course, Tartu, Estonia 2000, Geneva Centre for Security Policy, Policy Course, Geneva, Switzerland 2005, Baltic Defence College, Joint Command and General Staff Course, Tartu, Estonia 2010, Royal College of Defence Studies, London, United Kingdom
Effective dates of promotion + Promotions Insignia Rank DateSecond LieutenantFebruary 1992First Lieutenant23 November 1993Captain20 June 1996Major18 February 2000Lieutenant Colonel20 June 2005Colonel1 December 2008Brigadier General16 June 2011Major General18 February 2013Lieutenant General 5 February 2015General 20 February 2017
Assignment History From To Assignments March 1992 November 1992Company Commander, Kalev Infantry Battalion, Estonian Land Forces, Estonia Defence Forces November 1992 November 1993Battalion Second in Command, Kalev Infantry Battalion, Estonian Land Forces, Estonia Defence Forces December 1993 January 1994 Commander, Põhja Single Infantry Company, Estonian Land Forces, Estonia Defence ForcesMay 1998January 2000Commander, Guard Battalion (Estonia), Estonian Land Forces, Estonia Defence ForcesJanuary 2000December 2000Chief of Staff, Estonian Defence LeagueDecember 2000July 2004Estonian Defence Attaché in Germany and PolandAugust 2005January 2006Chief of the Planning Section, Analysis and Planning Department, General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces, Estonia Defence ForcesJanuary 2006January 2007Chief of the Analysis and Planning Department, General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces, Estonia Defence ForcesFebruary 2007September 2007Deputy Chief of Staff, NATO Training Mission – IraqSeptember 2007February 2008Chief of the Analysis and Planning Department, General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces, Estonia Defence ForcesFebruary 2008November 2008Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces, Estonia Defence ForcesDecember 2008December 2010Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence (Estonia)January 2011February 2011Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces, Estonia Defence Forces18 February 20114 December 2011Chief of Staff, General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces, Estonia Defence Forces5 December 20115 December 2018Commander of the Defence Forces, Estonia Defence Forces
Awards, decorations, and recognition
Awards and decorations
Estonian Awards and decorations 1st Class of the Order of the Cross of the Eagle 5 February 2018 4th Class of the Order of the Cross of the Eagle 23 February 2005 White Cross of the Estonian Defence League (III class) The First Class of the Cross of Merit of the Estonian Ministry of Defence 28 November 2018 Ministry of Defence Cross of Merit 2nd Class Distinguished Service Decoration of the EDF 22 February 1999 Navy decoration " Belief and the Will " Class III " Bronze Anchor " Distinguished Service Decoration of the Estonian Defence League Estonian Defence Forces General Staff Cross of Merit MoD Medal of Participants in International Military Operations Merit Medal of the Defence League III Class Memorial Medal "10 Years of the Re-Established Defence Forces" Victory Fire Carrier Medal Distinguished Service Decoration of the Information Board (II class) The Baltic Defence College Medal of Merit (gold) Police Cross of Merit 2nd class 2017 Special Service Cross of Estonian Defence League School Cross of the Estonian Reserve Officers’ Assembly (special) 29 November 2019 Cross of the Estonian Reserve Officers’ Assembly (gold) 4 December 2018 Cross of the Estonian Reserve Officers’ Assembly (silver) 12 June 2001Foreign Awards Commander Degree of the Legion of Merit 13 November 2018 (USA) Commander with Star of the Norwegian Order of Merit 10 September 2015 (Norway) Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland 13 May 2014 (Finland) Commandery of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland 18 March 2014 (Poland) Officier of the National Order of the Legion of Honour 4 September 2013 (France) Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany 9 July 2013 (Germany) 1st Class of the Order of Viesturs 5 June 2012 (Latvia) Gold Cross of Honour of the Bundeswehr 20 April 2011 (Germany) NATO Medal for the NATO Training Mission in Iraq Merit Medal of the Finnish Reserve Officers' Federation OSMTH Grand Priory of Scandinavia Pro Merito medal
Badges BaltDefCol Joint Command and General Staff Course Badge Baltic Defence College Joint Command and General Staff Course graduate Badge Basic Officer’s Course graduate Badge The Order of Merit of Guard Battalion The Order of Merit of the Intelligence Center 10 year service badge of Defense League unit in Tallinn
Personal
In addition to the Estonian language Terras is fluent in English, German and Russian. He is married with two sons. His wife Kaili is an Ambassador-at-large in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Education. His eldest son, politician Hendrik Johannes Terras, was named in honor of Johannes Kert and his younger offspring is named after the Estonian god of weather and harvest Uku. His hobbies include opera, medieval history and hunting.
References
External links