A large group of enthusiasts are voluntarily abandoned for three days at the General Major de Ruyter of Steveninckkazerne in Oirschot. Camouflage, walk with heavy boxes and learn card reading: everything comes by during the military bivouac. “The goal is to make young people more resilient,” says project leader Daan Bakker.
The bivouac is part of the Social Service Time (MDT) Mission of the Ministry of Defense. That is a process in which young people between 17 and 30 years old can be challenged mentally and physically. “Young people first do a military bivouac for three days. After that they will do forty hours of volunteering in their own region, we call that the social mission,” explains project leader Bakker.
At the front of the MDT Mission are not inspections. Everyone who wants can therefore participate. And that is increasingly being done since the start in 2018. Last May the process had the two thousandth participant. A total of 304 people from Brabant have successfully completed the MDT.
This Thursday it was time for the bivouac. The young people were considerably challenged with heavy exercises. For example, they had to walk for miles with heavy things. The goal was mainly to work well together. “It’s not about who is the first to cross the line, but that you as a team wear the burden,” says Bakker.
And that worked. With red heads and a big smile, the participants proudly tell about their experiences. “It was very tough, so we really had to help each other,” says 24-year-old Stefano from Sint-Michielsgestel. “We dragged tables, crates, tires and heavy backpacks. You really do it together.”
“I thought it was very cool,” says 23-year-old Emma from Leiden. She had to lead the group, keep the overview and was therefore not allowed to lift anything. “I thought that was mentally tough, because I saw everyone struggling but couldn’t help. But I thought it was super cool that we all did it together. Maybe I want to be at Defense now.”
Jordan Deventer (20) from Sleeuwijk is also happy that he participated. “I wanted to see what I have in me. It was very tough today, but I learned a lot about working together.”
Not everyone would let themselves be abandoned voluntarily, but these young people had a clear goal. One wanted to learn more about himself, the other wanted to get in touch with others. For some it was a way to browse a career at Defense. “It’s just incredibly cool,” says Stefano with a smile. “I think militarily thinks a great profession. Because of my color blindness I can’t become a military, so now I can still feel a bit what that is like.”
According to the project leader of the MDT Mission, the aim is that young people become more resilient. “They go beyond them comfort zonework together offline and come in connection with people from outside their bubble, “Bakker explains. If people after that are also enthusiastic to come and work at Defense, Bakker is boning nicely.” But that is not the main goal. “
