Captain
Captain Aivo Vahemets was interviewed in More House, UN Post 2-45, UNIFIL, South Lebanon for the Military Archives Oral History Project. His interview is part of a series of interviews recorded to mark forty years of Irish service in Lebanon with UNIFIL. Captain Vahemets speaks about his military career, conscription and military service in Estonia and his service overseas in Afghanistan and Lebanon.
Aivo Vahemets
Interviewed for MAOHP - 06/03/2018
Location(s): Estonia
Length: 4.10
Aivo Vahemets speaks about conscription in Estonia and discusses his initial military training in 1995. After his conscript service Aivo explains that he went on to the Reserve, did his Reserve training but worked in a civilian capacity as a journalist.
Aivo Vahemets
Interviewed for MAOHP - 06/03/2018
Location(s): Estonia
Length: 1.29
In this clip Aivo speaks about the public perception of the Defence Forces in Estonia. He explains that public trust in the Defence Forces has traditionally been high and that it, the police and fire services are trusted institutions. He speaks about the role of conscription in showing people how...
Aivo Vahemets
Interviewed for MAOHP - 06/03/2018
Location(s): Estonia Lebanon
Length: 3.12
In this clip Aivo speaks about working with the Irish and Finnish Public Information Officers as part of his work with UNIFIL. He explains that as the Estonian contingent is a small part of the Irish Finnish Battalion they have to work closely with them. He refers to the public...
Aivo Vahemets
Interviewed for MAOHP - 06/03/2018
Location(s): Estonia
Length: 2.39
In this clip Aivo speaks about the perception at home of Estonian soldiers serving overseas. He explains that in 2014 when the Ukrainian crisis started, the Estonian Defence Forces Commander asked NATO for support and within a matter of hours fighter planes arrived. There is now a NATO battalion stationed...
Aivo Vahemets
Interviewed for MAOHP - 06/03/2018
Location(s): Lebanon
Length: 2.52
In this clip Aivo speaks about interactions between the Estonian and Irish troops. He speaks about the cultural differences between the troops, explaining that the Irish are more extrovert and louder while Estonians and Finns don't always need to make small talk. He believes that once these cultural differences are...
Aivo Vahemets
Interviewed for MAOHP - 06/03/2018
Location(s): Lebanon
Length: 1.26
In this clip Aivo speaks about his lasting impressions of Lebanon which include the mountain terrain in the country, the climate and the interesting architecture.
