Olev Kork on Spring Storm: People put work and family on hold to defend the country

Reservist Olev Kork shares his impressions from the Spring Storm exercise, emphasizing that the reservist's role carries real responsibility. He highlights heartwarming public support — many show thumbs up to soldiers along the roadside.

Estonia's largest spring military exercise, Spring Storm, has once again brought together thousands of reservists who pause their everyday lives — work, family, and comfort — to practise defending the country. Reservist Olev Kork describes the exercise as an experience that reminds people what reserve service actually means.

"It's heartwarming when so many people show soldiers a thumbs up even from the roadside," says Kork, emphasizing that such public support signals societal solidarity and understanding of why defence capability matters in Estonia.

According to Kork, the reservist's role is not merely a formality or a tick on a piece of paper — it is real responsibility. People temporarily give up their comfort and dedicate themselves to being ready to defend Estonia if needed. This requires both physical and mental effort.

Spring Storm is an annual training exercise involving thousands of reservists across Estonia and is one of the most important tools for maintaining military readiness. During the exercise, both individual soldiers and large units' ability to work together is tested under realistic conditions.