Of course, many of the candidates feel the oppressive weight of the threat of war. Visitors to the information for infantry protecting the National Reserve Corps are aware of the squeaking and cracking relationships on the world stage. They call the war in Ukraine, the threat of Putin and the new American president. “We thought for eighty years that the United States would take the chestnuts out of the fire for us, but with Trump you just don’t remember,” says one of the visitors.
It is necessary, that is what it is, says André Kers (35), who visits the information. “What happens in Ukraine touches me. We have had three years to do something about it. There is talk about yes, in politics, but hardly anything happens. ” And he doesn’t want to sit on his hands anymore. “Registering as a reservist, I can in any case do that.” Is that exciting? “Yes, if there is war, then you have to, that’s exciting. But if you can’t handle that, you don’t have to register. “
At the Johannes Postkazerne in Havelte, more than forty candidates have gathered, ranging from young to old, to listen to information at ’10 Infantry Battalion Secure the National Reserve Korps’. There are five women in the room, one of whom is interested, the rest is a interested partner or family member.
I sat at the army, it tickles again
“Becoming a reservist is a serious matter, says Sergeant Liza (32), who became a reservist twelve years ago. “Good agreements with the home front are essential. It requires commitment and takes time, but you contribute to something important. At the same time, it yields a lot: companionship, unique experiences and opportunities to develop yourself. We always say: becoming a reservist is voluntary, but not without obligation. “
As part-time soldiers, reservists form the flexible shell of Defense. They have a zero -hour contract, which may sound without obligation, but it is expected that they are available at least three hundred hours a year. This includes planned training and training, on average two weekday evenings per month and one or two Saturday, supplemented with extra multi -day exercises from Thursday to Saturday. And then there are the planned supports and ad hoc calls in the event of calamities.
Before that, a candidate must first follow the information, register, go through a application with psychological and physical tests. If they have successfully completed that procedure, including security investigation, they will be appointed. They can be measured for uniform, equipment and shoes (two pairs). This is followed by a two -week training at the barracks, in which they only go home on weekends. Just like professional soldiers, they must take the military oath or promise.
Koningsbrugge
The information is provided by Sergeant Rob (55), staff officer recruitment and information. Of the soldiers, only their first names are used, at the request of Defense, in connection with safety. He gives the information, Rob to arrive just before the candidates, he gives backwards. “I am talking about it as if it were like they are already a reservist. So I start with work, our tasks. Then I go back: what does it mean, what do you need, how does the application work? And then I end up at the beginning: whether you choose to register. ”
Why are you here, Sergeant Rob asks the hall before he starts. “I sat at the army, it tickles again,” says one of the candidates. “And I have Kamp van Koningsbrugge looked. ” Laughter sounds. Not everyone is here because of felt threat. There are, according to the tour, more men who have served in the army before and who miss it.
There are five women in the room, one of whom is interested, the rest is a interested partner or family member
Similarly Jarno Dingerink (51). He was ‘very long ago’ thanks to the military service in the army, in the nineties. Due to a reorganization, that career ended and went back to school. He finds working at the bank ‘also very nice’, but the interest in the army has never disappeared. “The team, running and standing still appeals to me.” The question is not so much for him why becoming a reservist, but: why not?
“My girlfriend finds it exciting, we have two children,” he says. “And friends also respond surprised. They then say: ‘Huh? Are you going to Ukraine?! “” They immediately make that link, he says. “But then I say: no dude, tranquiloit doesn’t go that fast. It is about safety here, monitoring and securing in the Netherlands. “
What he also liked about the military service that the soldiers form a mixed company, he sees tonight too. “Young, old, everything is mixed up. And I am really positive, because I thought: there will be ten men and a horse’s head, but that is not true at all. Although you don’t know who lingers. “
The Ministry of Defense again stated again at the end of last year that she wants to drastically expand the number of reservists. The now eight thousand reservists, spread over the Royal Netherlands Air Force, the Royal Netherlands Army, the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, must be twenty thousand as soon as possible.
That could be difficult. Although more and more war threat is being experienced and half of the Dutch would like a European army, the willingness to participate themselves are low: only 18 percent of the 1,944 respondents are willing to serve themselves. That turned out Wednesday an investigation from Ipsos.
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Material
But in Havelte there is a group that is considering it – at least part -time. On the screen, the sergeant, between the PowerPointslides, shows a promotional video explaining what a reservist is doing. “This is about how you want to see yourself,” says the voice-over. “Ready for every fight.” “Flexible, proud and committed.” “This is not playing a soldier, but you bet for your country.”
Because of the raid in Ukraine, I realized that our democracy is vulnerable
As part of the information, the candidates can of course also view, touch and wear equipment. Bart (almost eighteen) has put on the bullet and stab-resistant vest and hung a large backpack around his shoulders, which also dangles a helmet. His mother takes a photo. He follows the protection course and has to go for another year, then he wants to move on to the police or the Marechaussee. But only did he start talking to someone who serves in the army and who said you can do that “part -time.”
That is “a super cool side job,” he says. “Of course it is exciting, and when I look around, I think: I am quite young. But I do have a certain adulthood, I believe. ” He should think about whether current events plays a role for him. “That scares me rather than it attracts me. I want to fight for my country, but I find it very exciting. ” In any case, he still has to figure out how everything can be combined with his studies. “And my mother is not a very fan, she finds it very exciting.”
It is also exciting, but for primary school teacher Sjoerd (45), who does not want to be in the newspaper with his last name, the world is at the moment anyway. “Because of the raid in Ukraine, I realized that our democracy is vulnerable.” He says that he has studied history, that he knows that emancipation – such as women’s rights – disappears “under figures like Putin.” Sjoerd has become more imbued with the value of ‘a free society’. And that it is ‘not obvious’.
He gives nature lessons and yes, that is very different from serving as a military. As a boy, the army did pull him for a while, but he “started to run” other ways. ” Sjoerd has friends who were even anti-militarist. “In theory it is nice to be anti, but since Ukraine it is really only theory, we live in a different reality.” Si Vis Pacem, Para BellumHe says. “If you want peace, prepare for war.”
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Choice
The screen appears in capitals: yes or no is a choice. “Isn’t it it? Just as good friends, “says Sergeant Rob. “Is it it: great, sign up, press that application button.”
How many of the candidates will actually do that is waiting. “On average, about half of the visitors apply after the information,” says Sergeant Liza afterwards. It is not that the felt threat dries the number of registrations enormously, she says. “But they are other candidates. A lot is playing. The people who are now registering do so well and are very motivated. ”