Mountain Infantry Regiment (Balamb)
| Mountain Infantry Regiment Vuorijalkaväkirykmentti | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1920 - Present |
| Country |  Esthar and Balamb
|
| Allegiance | Esthar and Balamb |
| Branch | Estharian Armed Forces |
| Type | Regiment |
| Role | Light infantry |
| Engagements | Estharian Civil War Second Europan War War of Lorican Aggression Imperial Crisis |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Lari Marttinen |
| Colonel of the Regiment | Laguna I |
| Notable commanders | A. C. G. Lindholm Alarik Huhtala |
The Mountain Infantry Regiment (Balambian: Vuorijalkaväkirykmentti; Estharian: Regimiento de Montaña) is a unit of the Estharian Armed Forces in the Estharian Army. The regiment is best known as the most decorated Balambian formation in the history of the Balambian Defence Force, and consequently, the Estharian Army. It was also one of the most highly-recognised military unit during the Second Europan War. During the Estharian Civil War, regiment itself consisted of mostly Balambian anti-Communists, Nationalists, and anti-Imperialists.
During the First Europan War, the regiment's creation rooted as part of the Balambian State Government's appeal to the Estharian Parliament for a creation of its own defence force in times when the Estharian Armed Forces would be unable to respond to Balamb's defence. Among the first pure Balambian units were the Mountain Infantry Regiment. The regiment was created by none other than A. C. G. Lindholm, who decided that the regiment was to be the model of infantry force that Balamb needed, given Balamb's climate and mountainous nature. It was decided that the regiment itself was to have a discipline comparable to that of a Light infantry, and could easily carry out guerilla campaigns in the case of Balamb being invaded.
During the Estharian Civil War, the regiment accounted for the most number of casualties and defeats inflicted on the Second Estharian Republic. The Estharian Republican Army tried means to counter the unit, such as the creation of the 5th Regiment. Lindholm often utilized the Mountain Infantry Regiment to prevail against a republican force during the civil war, thus minimising the total casualties that the Estharian Nationalists suffered during the war. As the war closed in on the republicans, the regiment itself spearheaded the march to Madrina and became the first Balambian unit in history to enter Esthar's capital. The unit was also responsible for raising the Nationalist flag on the capital during the unconditional surrender of the republicans.
Later on during the Second Europan War, the Mountain Infantry Regiment would not be deployed until after the Allied victory on the Battle of Sania. The unit fought under the Balambian Expeditionary Corps under Marshal Lindholm, fighting the Imperials from the Middle East to Asianna. The Mountain Regiment would become one of the most highly recognised units in the Allies, gaining praise from both Allied and Imperial generals. They would even prevail later on during the Central Highlands Campaign, where the Balambians would adapt easily to Quenmin's jungle and mountainous terrain. By the end of the war, more than 50 Balambians received both Balamb's highest award for valour, the Grand Cross of Balamb and Esthar's highest award for valour, the Laureate Cross of Saint Henry. 300 were given the Lindholm Medal, 750 would receive the Legion of the Lion of Balamb, 1,000 received the Cross of San Alfonso, and 4,000 were given the White Heart, in recognition for those who were wounded in the process of gallantry.
The regiment would see active service later on during the War of Lorican Aggression and other modern conflicts. 18 July is celebrated in the regiment as its foundation day, where veterans and present members of the regiment gather to celebrate with their families and recognised the efforts and actions of past and present members of the unit.