The largest army exercise in a long time is rolling out of the gate in ‘packages’

It is remarkably quiet at the gate at the beginning of this Wednesday evening. Only after driving around you see where everyone is. Pieces of columns are positioned throughout the barracks area. Under trees, in side streets, between buildings. Always about twenty vehicles maximum. Dosed in ‘packets’ so as not to cause congestion anywhere.

Even now that they travel in the evening and at night, they want to avoid chaos, which is why there has been one-way traffic at the barracks for ten days.

‘A lot of confidence’
General Stefan Linders has just been there for two weeks as commander of the 13 Light Brigade. Pistol and helmet on his belt. He can go first. “It’s a challenge to move so many troops in a short time. I have a lot of confidence in the people around me.”

Those people around him are two thousand men and women from the barracks in Oirschot. They drive out of the gate of Oirschot in 750 trucks and various types of armored vehicles. Two air defense platoons follow from the barracks in Vredepeel.

Alarm
Well prepared, according to a tight schedule. Ten days ago the alarm for exercise came Fighter Lion of NATO. Then came the planning, packing everything, saying goodbye to loved ones, and having a massive meal at the barracks shortly before departure. On the menu peas, potatoes, a meatball and semolina pudding for dessert. And then pick up the gun.

Heavy humming sounds at the shooting range. A Busmaster parks. Two soldiers walk to the armory. A moment later they drag a heavy machine gun outside.

A soldier walks out the door with three machine guns in his hands. “Babes!” he shouts to his comrades as he climbs into the Boxer armored car. Everything ready for departure.

Lieutenant Colonel Marcel Kerstens gets out of one of the cars and fixes his uniform. He is commander of the Limburg Hunters. Together with the Fusiliers Prinses Irene, they form the combat units on Oirschot.

High pressure
He emphasizes that defense needs to innovate more than ever. Just old-fashioned camouflage no longer works. “We are always observed, you also see that with the soldiers in Ukraine. That creates high pressure.”

That is why Oirschot soldiers carry novelties with them. Like an anti-drone net. “I can stretch that in the event of an attack, then he will fly into it. It is a kind of nylon fishing net.”

Peace?
Kerstens also has a camouflage cloak. “It covers the entire body, takes out the shape. An enemy drone sees nothing more than a canopy.”

Commander Kerstens is clear about why they are going to practice, without mentioning the word Russia. “We have an opponent who is absolutely not interested in peace. If it comes to that, I am sure we will win.”

For soldier Siem from Eindhoven, this is his first major exercise. I’m looking forward to it. You know what you choose.” He sits in the back of the Boxer. “There are no windows, so bring a bottle of water and watch movies on the tablet. Rocky is on it. Not Band of Brothers, no, I’ve seen them so many times.”

Twenty days away from home is no problem for Siem. He can do without his cell phone for a while. “Nice and offline, rest,” he laughs. “What I will miss most is my own bed.”

At the back of the column, a group watches the Oranje practice match to pass the time.

Schedule
Deploying so many soldiers in a short time is a challenge. That is why a national coordination center for the land forces ensures that everything runs smoothly. ‘Movement control’ regulates the exodus. “We started planning more than a year ago,” says an arranger, looking at a large paper schedule full of departure times.

Four motorcyclists from the Royal Military Police jump on their motorcycle. They accompany the columns to the highway entrance. All evening and night. The whistle blows. All traffic must give way to another convoy. Into the night. On to Germany.