It is the primary military unit in Northern Estonia.

On 25 April 1917, the 2nd Naval Fortress Regiment of the Peter the Great's Naval Fortress was formed in Tallinn, recruited from Estonians.

From 1918 to 1920, the unit fought in the Estonian War of Independence.

On 1 February 2003, the 1st Infantry Brigade was formed in Tallinn.

Brigade units is armed with CV90 infantry fighting vehicles, Pasi armoured personnel carriers, FH70 and D30 howitzers, Mistral and ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft systems and Javelin anti-tank missiles.