Ants Laaneots
Encyclopedia
Kindral Ants Laaneots, (born 16 January 1948) in Kilingi-Nõmme
in Pärnumaa, is the current Commander-in-Chief
of the Estonian Defence Forces. General Laaneots previously served as the Commandant
of the Estonian National Defence College
from 2001 to 2006. He was appointed the Commander-in-Chief on 5 December 2006, and was promoted to Kindral in 2011.
. In 1948 the NKVD
arrested his father for being a forest brother. For that he was deported to Siberia
between 1949–1958. His mother died there in 1952. In July 1966 he entered the Higher Military School in Kharkov, Ukraine, and graduated in 1970 as an Army Tank Officer. From 1970 to 1978, he served as a platoon leader, company commander, and battalion commander of the 300th Tank Regiment for the Soviet Army
in Ukraine. From 1978 to 1981, Laaneots studied in the Malinovsky Military Academy of Armored Forces
in Moscow. From 1981 to 1987, he was posted to the Soviet-Chinese border in Eastern Kazakhstan. During this assignment he served as the Executive Officer of the 96th Tank Regiment, two years as the Commander of the 180th Tank Regiment, and three years as the Deputy Commander-Chief of Staff of the 78th Armoured Division. From 1987 to 1989, he deployed to Ethiopia
where he spent one year as the military advisor to the commander of an infantry division, and a year and a half as the military advisor to the commanding general of an army corps participating in combat activities. Before his resignation from the Soviet Army in September 1991, he served as the Chief of Regional Department of Defence, Tartu
in Estonia.
In 1998, he was promoted to Kindralmajor (Major General
). In 2000, after a year at the course in the Finnish National Defence College, he was appointed the head of the Baltic Defence Research Centre located in Estonia. From September 2001 through to December 2006, he was Commandant of the Estonian National Defence College
. Ants Laaneots was appointed the Commander-in-Chief on 5 December 2006.
)
In addition to the Estonian language, General Laaneots is fluent in English and Russian. He is an active member of the Estonian National Defence League and the Rotary Club. He is married to Natalia and has a grown son and a daughter.
Kilingi-Nõmme
Kilingi-Nõmme is a town in south-western Estonia. It is a centre of Saarde Parish in Pärnu County.Kilingi-Nõmme borough became a town in 1 May 1938....
in Pärnumaa, is the current Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the Estonian Defence Forces. General Laaneots previously served as the Commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
of the Estonian National Defence College
Estonian National Defence College
The Estonian National Defense College is an institution of applied higher education for national defense in Tartu, Estonia....
from 2001 to 2006. He was appointed the Commander-in-Chief on 5 December 2006, and was promoted to Kindral in 2011.
Biography
Ants Laaneots was born on 16 January 1948 in Kilingi-Nõmme, EstoniaEstonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. In 1948 the NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
arrested his father for being a forest brother. For that he was deported to Siberia
Operation Priboi
Operation Priboi was the code name for the Soviet mass deportation from the Baltic states on March 25–28, 1949, called March deportation by Baltic historians. Some 90,000 Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians, labeled as enemies of the people, were deported to inhospitable areas of the Soviet Union...
between 1949–1958. His mother died there in 1952. In July 1966 he entered the Higher Military School in Kharkov, Ukraine, and graduated in 1970 as an Army Tank Officer. From 1970 to 1978, he served as a platoon leader, company commander, and battalion commander of the 300th Tank Regiment for the Soviet Army
Soviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
in Ukraine. From 1978 to 1981, Laaneots studied in the Malinovsky Military Academy of Armored Forces
Soviet military academies
There were/are a number of military academies in the Soviet Union/Russia of different specialties.Unlike Western military academies such as West Point, Soviet, now Russian, military and police institutions referred to as "academy" are post-graduate professional military schools for experienced...
in Moscow. From 1981 to 1987, he was posted to the Soviet-Chinese border in Eastern Kazakhstan. During this assignment he served as the Executive Officer of the 96th Tank Regiment, two years as the Commander of the 180th Tank Regiment, and three years as the Deputy Commander-Chief of Staff of the 78th Armoured Division. From 1987 to 1989, he deployed to Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
where he spent one year as the military advisor to the commander of an infantry division, and a year and a half as the military advisor to the commanding general of an army corps participating in combat activities. Before his resignation from the Soviet Army in September 1991, he served as the Chief of Regional Department of Defence, Tartu
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
in Estonia.
After 1991
After Estonia regained its independence in 1991, Ants Laaneots served two times as the Chief of the General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces – from 1991 to 1994, and from 1997 to 1999. From 1994 to 1996 he was in reserve and in 1997 Laaneots was appointed to the position of Inspector General of the Defence Forces. During his second tenure, in 1998, he graduated from the NATO Defence College in Rome, Italy.In 1998, he was promoted to Kindralmajor (Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
). In 2000, after a year at the course in the Finnish National Defence College, he was appointed the head of the Baltic Defence Research Centre located in Estonia. From September 2001 through to December 2006, he was Commandant of the Estonian National Defence College
Estonian National Defence College
The Estonian National Defense College is an institution of applied higher education for national defense in Tartu, Estonia....
. Ants Laaneots was appointed the Commander-in-Chief on 5 December 2006.
Soviet Army
(See Military ranks of the Soviet UnionMilitary ranks of the Soviet Union
The military ranks of the Soviet Union were those introduced after the October Revolution of 1917. At that time the Imperial Russian Table of Ranks was abolished, as were the privileges of the pre-Soviet Russian nobility....
)
- 1970 Lieutenant (лейтена́нт)
- 1973 Senior LieutenantFirst LieutenantFirst lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
(ста́рший лейтена́нт) - 1975 Captain (капита́н)
- 1979 Major (майо́р)
- 1982 Podpolkovnik (подполко́вник) – (Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
) - 1987 PolkovnikPolkovnikPolkovnik is often a military rank in Slavic countries which corresponds to a colonel in English-speaking states. However, in the Ukraine, polkovnyk was an administrative rank similar to a governor...
(полко́вник) – (ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
)
Estonian Army
(See Military of Estonia#Insignia)- 1992 Kolonel (ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
) - 1998 Kindralmajor (Major GeneralMajor GeneralMajor general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
) - 2008 Kindralleitnant (Lieutenant GeneralLieutenant GeneralLieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
) - 2011 Kindral (General)
Personal
His main research interests include modern conflicts, conflicts involving small states/nations, development of national defence. Since 1999, he has 48 publications, among others 1 monograph, 3 academic papers published in international journals and 15 other academic papers.In addition to the Estonian language, General Laaneots is fluent in English and Russian. He is an active member of the Estonian National Defence League and the Rotary Club. He is married to Natalia and has a grown son and a daughter.