A few miles from Amari airbase, where NATO allies' planes are deployed to patrol the skies of Baltic states, the introductory training did not include shooting with the guns, but the women learned how to apply camouflage on their faces, navigate in the woods and communicate via radios.
"Because of the situation in Ukraine, I want to be ready in any crisis situation," said Merle Vimb, 38, on maternity leave for her second child. "I am mostly alone with my children, and I must be ready to cope alone."
After seeing an advert on Facebook, she joined up in March to learn first aid and military skills.
"Most of us in the Baltics are living in a frightening situation. Because it's not normal, we must prepare. I cannot just sit and wait and see what happens. If there's a crisis, you no longer have a possibility to search for information," said Vimb.
