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February 21, 2023Who is Combat Ready instructor Priit Lilleväli?
My involvement with Combat Ready started in August 2022. By that time, I had completed my first practical leadership training – FTX. We were brought together by a mutual acquaintance from the Defence Forces, one of my commanders from my Scouts Battalion days. I quickly recognised that Combat Ready was my kind of people – similar mindset, focusing on action, disciplined and continuously developing team.
My service in the Estonian Defence Forces began in June 2007 in the Kuperjanov Infantry Battalion. I started my service in the Reconnaissance Company and during my service I had the exceptional opportunity to serve in the Peace Operations Centre and also in the Scouts Battalion. As the conscripts of 2008, we were the first to receive pre-mission training under experienced Scouts and mission commanders.
I later decided to go on active duty with the Scouts Battalion and participated in two combat missions in Afghanistan. On these missions I was a machine gunner, an armored vehicle gunner as a heavy machine gun operator and an acting section commander conducting combat patrols.
The missions have taught me the most about cooperation and respect for each other. We do not survive alone on the battlefield and I have taken this lesson with me into my daily life. We need other people at every turn. Together we are stronger!
After five years of military service, I went to TalTech to study real estate management. I worked as a real estate salesman and learned all about sales, relationships and different personality types. I continuously improved my sales skills and through continuous self-development I reached the point where I studied coaching. At the beginning, I learnt about coachable selling, or how this methodology helps me to make even more successful sales. Seeing the great progress I made, I learned more about coaching leadership, both from the solution-focused coaching direction and leadership coaching at EBS.
I’ve always been interested in psychology, read a lot of books about it and also completed a microcredential in psychology at the University of Tartu.
I have also applied the knowledge and experience I gained from my military service as a defense teacher in secondary school. I am also a member of the Defence League and continue to contribute to Estonian national defense as a volunteer.
As a Combat Ready instructor, all my previous service and life experience will be of great benefit and will support my development in conducting training and education. Here in this team, I feel that I can learn and train my own leadership skills in the best possible way and also support others to become better leaders.
My motto is a saying that I constantly put myself in uncomfortable situations with: ‘Anything is possible until proven otherwise!’
See you on the battlefield!
Priit Lilleväli
Combat Ready instructor
