Public lecture by Professor of Resilient Futures Martin Herem “What are the challenges in preparing Defence Forces personnel for war?”

General Martin Herem, the first Professor of Resilient Futures at the University of Tartu, delivers a lecture series “Comprehensive national defence and Estonia’s future” in the autumn semester. The lectures are open to all interested. The lecture on 12 November is titled “What are the challenges in preparing Defence Forces personnel for war?”.

When discussing a country’s military defence capability, we must keep our focus on people. How many and what kind of service personnel do the Estonian Defence Forces need in peacetime and wartime, and what are their duties? How are they trained, and how can training efficiency be improved?

The aim of the lecture is to explain how service members are selected and trained, how the personnel of the Estonian Defence Forces are recruited and organised, and how personnel records are maintained. Also, the Defence Forces’ staff requirements are discussed, along with the obstacles to meeting them and preparing personnel for service.

Speakers: General Martin Herem and Major General Veiko-Vello Palm.

The guest speaker, Major General (Res.) Veiko-Vello Palm is known as a straightforward and demanding military leader. During his long career, he held several senior positions in the Estonian Defence Forces and the Ministry of Defence, took part in missions in Afghanistan, and served with NATO Multinational Corps Northeast. Until transfer to the reserve in 2024, Major General Palm participated in the development of the Estonian Defence Forces as Commander of the 1st Infantry Brigade, Chief of Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces, Deputy Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces, and Commander of the Estonian Division. In these roles, he devoted particular attention to the people involved in Estonia’s military defence. Since 2024, Major General Palm has been working at the Estonian defence technology company Frankenburg Technologies OÜ.

The lecture is video recorded and uploaded to the university’s video portal UTTV.

Lecture series by the professor of resilient futures “Comprehensive national defence and Estonia’s future”

In the series of eight lectures, General (Res.) Martin Herem explores the concept of comprehensive national defence, including the roles of public authorities, the private sector, and individual citizens in ensuring Estonia’s security and responding to a potential military conflict. Herem draws on questions that Estonian people have asked him during numerous meetings. Find the topics of all lectures on the university website.

The professorship of resilient futures was established as one of the initiatives of the programme marking the approaching 400th anniversary of the University of Tartu. Through this, the university aims to strengthen its role as a centre of free thought and evidence‑based discussion, and to connect academic knowledge with individuals whose activities have significantly contributed to the preservation and advancement of the values of the free world. The professor of resilient futures delivers public lectures, participates in teaching and research, and helps bring new perspectives to the university’s discussions.