Combat Ready emerged from a simple but urgent realization: while management courses abound, practical leadership training was missing in Northern Europe. Founded by veterans of elite military units, the company set out to close this gap by adapting the rigorous methods of Special Forces training to the realities of business and civil society. The result is a leadership development program that is immersive, demanding, and grounded in real-world experience — far beyond classroom theory.
“Challenging times call for good leaders,” says one of Combat Ready’s founding instructors, Remo Ojaste. “But great leaders are not born — they are trained. Only through practice can you develop the ability to lead under pressure.”
FROM THE BATTLEFIELD TO THE BOARDROOM
The DNA of Combat Ready has come from the discipline and adaptability utilized in the military, especially in Special Forces. Every instructor Combat Ready has, has in some way or another served in an elite unit (being it in business or on the battlefield). The company has people, who have had or have diverse careers in entrepreneurship, still work or have worked in national security, have done or still do business or sales coaching and done professional sports. Before joining the team, each Combat Ready member completes the same intense internal training expected of participants, just customized for civilian life. This ensures that every person teaching leadership has first demonstrated it.
Combat Ready deliberately chooses slow, steady growth to maintain quality. “We have no interest in scaling at the expense of standards,” explains Co-founder, CEO and instructor Remo Ojaste. “Our quality of trainings land on the training that we have internally and being consistent with that.’’
This commitment has definitely paid off. In 2023, one of our instructors, Priit Lilleväli, was named Trainer of the Year by Estonia’s leading business newspaper Äripäev — a remarkable recognition for a company only two years old. Combat Ready has already trained teams at one of the biggest names of Northern Europe like Telia, Pipedrive, Bolt etc.
A MINDSET OF EXTREME OWNERSHIP
Combat Ready’s methodology draws on the framework introduced by U.S. Navy SEAL veterans Jocko Willink and Leif Babin in their bestselling book Extreme Ownership. After returning from combat missions, Willink and Babin documented the principles that helped their teams succeed under extreme stress. As of year 2024, Combat Ready is the only official partners of Echelon Front, a leadership company based in the U.S. led by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. Combat Ready has adapted these “Four Laws of Combat” to the civilian context, teaching participants to:
- Cover and Move – This is about teamwork and establishing good relationships within your team. The idea is that teams or sub-teams support one another, providing “cover” as others “move” to execute tasks.
- Simple – Clarity and simplicity are key. A plan is only as good as its level of understanding among the team. Everyone needs to understand where the team is headed.
- Prioritize and Execute – The battlefield and boardroom alike are environments of limited resources. Knowing what to do first and executing it efficiently is critical for success.
- Decentralized Command – As missions unfold, centralized control becomes impractical. Empowering team members for decentralized problem-solving allows for multiple challenges to be tackled simultaneously, enabling the leader to allocate resources more effectively.
These principles are practiced in practical scenarios that simulate the pressures in everyday life. Participants must make decisions with limited information, manage risks, and support their teammates, all while experiencing real consequences for their actions.
EVERYONE IS A LEADER
Combat Ready challenges the notion that leadership is tied to a title. “In a crisis, everyone must take ownership,” says Ojaste. “You might need to lead your peers, your superiors, and yourself — all at once. Leadership is never linear. Leadership starts with you.’’
This method of leadership training suits for organizations seeking to strengthen their company culture and resilience to handle everyday obstacles. It doesn’t matter who you work with – being it with corporate executives, government agencies, or small teams, Combat Ready emphasizes that if someone fails in the team, everybody fails. There is no room for excuses or blame — only taking ownership of your own actions and the reminder that mission and team comes first.
BUILDING A STRONG LEADERSHIP CULTURE
Based in Estonia, Combat Ready aims to raise the standard of leadership all over Europe. The company continues to innovate and adapt to make its programs more accessible without compromising the high quality and impact of their trainings – from short public workshops to tailored corporate training for long-term effect.
As they expand, the mission remains clear: to defend freedom and to build a resilient society by helping leaders who thrive under pressure. The combination of battle-tested principles with hands-on practice, Combat Ready equips individuals and teams to navigate uncertainty, to take ownership, and become unbeatable — no matter the circumstances.
Remember – everyone is a leader. Leadership starts with YOU.
