Career
Vbl Tikko began military service in 1998 in Battle School of EDF (Kaitseväe Lahingukool) and has served in the Scoutspataljon, the staff of the Maavägi (Ground Forces) and the operative department of the Head Staff of Kaitsevägi (the Estonian Defence Forces). Before ESTCOY-8"s mission in Afghanistan, Tikko had participated in three foreign missions: he had headed a section in Kosovo in 2003 as a part of the Baltic Reconnaissance Squadron - BALTSQDRN for KFOR. He had headed an infantry section of ESTPLA-9 in Iraq in 2004, and he had served in Afghanistan in 2007 in ESTCOY-4.
On early morning of 15 June 2009, vbl Tikko"s squad was ambushed in about one kilometre from the Pimon patrol base in the Helmand province. Estonia has been participating in North Atlantic Treaty Organization operations in Afghanistan since 2003.
Before vbl Tikko, three Estonian soldiers had died in the course of these operations.
After the scheduled five-month increase of military presence in July, intended to improve security during the upcoming presidential elections of Afghanistan, Estonian military contingent will be the second largest (after the United States) of the participating North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces.