Maryland National Guard supports Spring Storm in Estonia

VORU, Estonia — Maryland Army National Guard soldiers participated in Spring Storm 26, a NATO-led multinational training exercise held in Võru, Estonia, May 18–22, 2026. The exercise focused on preparing allied forces to respond to potential threats on NATO’s eastern flank while fostering stronger relationships between participating militaries.

Spring Storm 26 brought together more than 15,000 military personnel from several NATO and allied nations, including Estonia, the United States, Australia, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, Latvia, Lithuania and Denmark. Representing the Maryland Army National Guard, 14 Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 107th Field Artillery Regiment participated in the exercise, marking the unit’s third rotation supporting the largest annual exercise of the Estonian Defense Forces.

Throughout the exercise, Soldiers conducted reconnaissance and tactical repositioning operations designed to simulate real-world battlefield conditions. Utilizing unmanned aerial systems, troops observed enemy movements, identified troop formations, and gathered critical intelligence without exposing their own positions. The use of drone technology provided Soldiers with increased situational awareness and allowed units to make more informed decisions before engaging opposing forces, highlighting the growing importance of unmanned systems in modern military operations.

Beyond tactical training, Spring Storm also provided an opportunity for participating nations to strengthen long-standing partnerships and build personal connections between allied service members. Through repeated rotations and joint exercises, Soldiers and Airmen from the Maryland National Guard have developed enduring relationships with their Estonian counterparts since 1993 through the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program, helping foster trust, communication, and cooperation between forces.

“This mission has been going on for about five years now for Maryland,” said Maryland Army National Guard Capt. Justin Loewke, a fire support officer, 1-107th Field Artillery Regiment. “And many of the soldiers that we brought here this time in 2026, actually know some of the guys that are attached to us right now. So they’ve had special relationships with Estonia for about five years now.”

Those relationships continue to play an important role in improving interoperability and reinforcing the alliance between NATO partners.

“The Estonians have been very good to work with,” said Maryland Army National Guard Sgt. Trevor Fitch, a joint fires observer, 1-107th Field Artillery Regiment. “They have a lot of knowledge to offer us as we do them.”

Continued participation in exercises like Spring Storm helps ensure U.S. and partner nation forces remain prepared, adaptable and capable of responding to emerging threats while enhancing overall warfighting readiness across the alliance.

“The United States is ready and we’ll always be there for our friends, our allies, and we are ready to help, support, and fight,” said Loewke.