Martin Herem (born 17 December 1973) is an Estonian General and currently serves as Minister of Defence. He was the Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces from 2018 to 2024.
Herem entered into service in 1992. From 2013 to 2016 he served as the Commandant of the Estonian National Defence College and from 2016 to 2018 Chief of Staff of the Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces. Herem was one of the re-founding members of the paramilitary Estonian Defence League in 1990.
On 24 January 2023, Martin Herem was promoted to the rank of general.
Herem became the Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces in December 2018. His tenure was extended for another two years in October 2022, in the interests of stability in the backdrop of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On 16 January 2024, Herem announced his plan to step down from the post in the summer of 2024, calling the situation stable enough for the change of leadership, which it might not be in the end of his tenure in two years time.
Military career 09.1992–06.1996 Estonian National Defence College, cadet 07.1996–02.1998 Kuperjanov Single Infantry Battalion, Platoon Leader 02.1998–07.1998 Kuperjanov Single Infantry Battalion, Company Executive Officer 07.1998–11.1998 Kuperjanov Single Infantry Battalion, S3 Staff Officer 11.1998–01.2000 Tartu Single Infantry Battalion, S3 Staff Officer 01.2000–07.2000 Tartu Single Infantry Battalion, S3 Staff Commander 07.2000–07.2001 Tartu Single Infantry Battalion, Staff Commander 08.2002–08.2003 Estonian National Defence College, Instructor of the Tactics Department 09.2003–02.2006 Estonian National Defence College, Head of the Tactics Department 02.2006–06.2006 Operation Iraqi Freedom II training mission Senior Staff Officer with US brigade 06.2006–04.2007 Estonian National Defence College, Head of the Tactics Department 04.2007–05.2008 Tapa Training Center, Staff Commander 06.2008–07.2012 North-Eastern Defence Command, Commander 07.2012–08.2013 Estonian National Defence College, Deputy Commander 08.2013–07.2016 Estonian National Defence College, Commandant 07.2016–12.2018 Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces, Chief of Staff 12.2018–06.2024 Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces
Effective dates of promotion + Promotions Insignia Rank DateColonel18 February 2013Brigadier General15 February 2017Major General14 February 2018Lieutenant General18 February 2021General24 January 2023
Awards and decorations
Decorations and badges
1st Class of the Order of the Cross of the Eagle2nd Class of the Order of the Cross of the EagleCross of Merit of the Ministry of Defence (I class)[https://pildid.mil.ee/index.php?/category/62758Cross of Merit of the Ministry of Defence (III class)Distinguished Service Decoration of the EDFOrder of Merit of the Estonian Defence ForcesCross for the Exemplary Service of the Estonian Defence ForcesGold Cross of the Officer of Land ForcesMoD Medal of Participants in International Military OperationsMerit Medal of the Defence League Special ClassMemorial Medal "10 Years of the Re-Established Defence Forces"Distinguished Service Decoration of the Eastern PrefectureSilver Cross of the Rescue BoardEstonian Defence League School Cross of MeritCross of the Estonian Reserve Officers’ Assembly (special)Cross of the Estonian Reserve Officers’ Assembly (gold)Cross of the Estonian Reserve Officers’ Assembly (silver)Former Estonian Forest Brothers Association Service Cross III classBadge of Honor of the Freedom Oak Wreath1st Class of the Order of Viesturs2nd Class of the Order of MeritУКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №752/2022 Про відзначення державними нагородами УкраїниCommandeur of the National Order of the Legion of HonourBronze Star Medal
Badges Combat Action Badge (United States) Baltic Defence College Higher Command Studies Course graduate Badge Baltic Defence College Joint Command and General Staff Course graduate Badge Estonian National Defence College Advanced Officer Training Course Badge The Order of Merit of Kuperjanov Battalion
Personal life
Martin Herem is married and has a son and two daughters. He is one of the grandchildren of Harri Moora. One of his hobbies is marathon running. He has participated in the organisation of the Järvakandi marathon. He is fluent in English and Russian as foreign languages. He is also one of the re-establishers of the Estonian Defence League in Rapla.
References