There is a threat of a shortage of new commandos in the Netherlands. This year only fourteen were added, while according to Defense, forty new people are needed every year. State Secretary Gijs Tuinman of Defense, himself a former commando, expresses his concerns.
In 2022, the force welcomed 24 new operational colleagues in Roosendaal, also known as special forces operators. In 2023 that number was 31 and this year the counter stopped at fourteen.
‘Making training less difficult puts people at risk’
That is worrying, because on average fifteen people leave active operations every year. While the current situation in the world requires many operational people. Commander Huub Smeets emphasizes this A.D.
Making the training less difficult is not a solution, according to Smeets. Then, according to him, you endanger people.
The tip of the sword
State Secretary Tuinman also ‘certainly not’ wants to adjust the requirements downwards. He calls the special forces – commandos, but also marines – ‘super important’ for our security. He calls them ‘the tip of the sword’.
According to him, the biggest misconception is that people think that commands involve muscles. “But it’s in the head.”
Fewer operations
If the flush eventually becomes too thin, according to chairman Jean Debie of the union for civilian and military defense personnel, the only choice is to carry out fewer operations from now on
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