Estonian reservist: A week in the forest reminded me that defence is a matter of honour

Olev Kork, a member of the Reform Party, shares his reflections after participating in the Kevadtorm reserve exercise for the first time. He argues that the role of a reservist is not merely a bureaucratic obligation but a genuine responsibility. The experience reinforced his conviction that national defence is a matter of personal honour.

Stepping away from work, family life, and everyday comfort for a week in the forest is not something most people do voluntarily — but for Estonian reservists taking part in the annual Kevadtorm (Spring Storm) exercise, it is exactly what service to the country demands. Olev Kork, a member of the Estonian Reform Party, participated in Kevadtorm for the first time and came away with a renewed appreciation for what national defence truly means.

More than a checkbox

Kork emphasises that the reservist's role is far more than a formality to be ticked off on paper. It represents genuine, tangible responsibility — one that requires individuals to temporarily set aside their careers and personal lives in order to be ready to defend Estonia if the moment ever comes. For many participants, that sacrifice is easy to overlook in peacetime, but exercises like Kevadtorm bring it sharply into focus.

The week-long training in the field also highlighted the collective nature of national defence. It is not just soldiers or professional military personnel who carry the burden — it is ordinary citizens, colleagues, neighbours, and parents who form the backbone of Estonia's reserve force. The shared experience of hardship and training in the field creates a sense of solidarity that, Kork argues, is difficult to replicate in any other setting.

Defence as a matter of honour

For Kork, the most lasting takeaway from Kevadtorm was a simple but powerful reminder: defending one's country is a matter of honour. In an era when security threats across the Baltic region have grown more concrete, that sense of duty carries real weight. He hopes that more Estonians will approach their reserve obligations not as a burden, but as a meaningful contribution to the safety and sovereignty of the nation.