In November 1918, Estonian American entrepreneur and scouting enthusiast Henry Reissar returned to Estonia and turned to the Ministry of Defence (then Ministry of War) with a proposition of forming a voluntary military unit, financed by himself, in order to help defend Estonia.

On 23 January 1919, a 43-man unit of Scouts captured the Pikksaare Train Station, defended by 524 Red Army troops.

On 1 December 1919, the Scouts Regiment (Estonian: Scoutspolk) was formed as a part of the Armoured Train Division.

[1] After the signing of the Peace Treaty of Tartu, many servicemen were demobilized and returned to civilian life.

From 1921-28, the Scouts unit was reduced in size and continued to serve as a part of the 2nd, 5th, 6th and 10th Infantry Regiment.