# Martin Herem

Martin Herem (born 17 December 1973) is an Estonian General and 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

## Awards, decorations, and recognition
### Decorations and badges

Estonian Awards and decorations :
| | 1st Class of the Order of the Cross of the Eagle | 23 February 2024 |
| | 2nd Class of the Order of the Cross of the Eagle | 21 February 2018 |
| | Cross of Merit of the Ministry of Defence (III class) | |
| | Distinguished Service Decoration of the EDF | 16 February 2007 |
| | Order of Merit of the Estonian Defence Forces | |
| | Cross for the Exemplary Service of the Estonian Defence Forces | 21 February 2005 |
| | Gold Cross of the Officer of Land Forces | |
| | MoD Medal of Participants in International Military Operations | |
| | Merit Medal of the Defence League Special Class | |
| | Memorial Medal "10 Years of the Re-Established Defence Forces" | |
| | Distinguished Service Decoration of the Eastern Prefecture | |
| | Silver Cross of the Rescue Board | 10 February 2011 |
| | Estonian Defence League School Cross of Merit | |
| | Cross of the Estonian Reserve Officers’ Assembly (special) | 17 December 2020 |
| | Cross of the Estonian Reserve Officers’ Assembly (gold) | 29 November 2019 |
| | Cross of the Estonian Reserve Officers’ Assembly (silver) | 17 May 2016 |
| | Former Estonian Forest Brothers Association Service Cross III class | |
| Foreign Awards |||
| | 1st Class of the Order of Viesturs | 24 April 2023 (Latvia) |
| | Order of Merit (Second Class) | 4 November 2022 (Ukraine) |
| | Commandeur of the National Order of the Legion of Honour | 11 November 2021 (France) |
| | Bronze Star Medal | (United States) |
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.