Army wants to return to an army of Cold War style, with many more reservists: ‘Then you have the plunje bald in the attic’

The Royal Netherlands Army wants to return to an army of Cold War style, in which a large part of the strength is supplied by citizens who are mobilized in times of war.

« We have to modernize and renew, » says Army Commander Jan Swillens in a conversation with NRC. « But we also have to look seriously at the model of the 1980s. »

The Dutch armed forces is strengthening at a rapid pace in order to be able to cope with the Russian threat. Last September, Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans (VVD) announced that the army will again get its own tank battalion. In addition, there are detailed plans ready for three extra infantry battalions (a total of 2,700 soldiers), which can be realized if the cabinet withdraws extra money for defense in the spring memorandum.

However, more is needed in the longer term. New NATO plans for the defense of Europe require a further expansion of the power of European allies. For the NATO summit in The Hague (at the end of June), the joint Ministers of Defense must agree on contribution that each country makes to the Nato Force Model. According to NATO commander Pierre Vandier, the allies must expand their capacities by around 30 percent. Projected on the Netherlands, this would mean that the Royal Netherlands Army could also form a brigade (3,500-5,000 soldiers) in addition to the current three combat brigades.

Screaming staff

The ambitious expansion plans cannot be realized with full -time professional soldiers: Defense has been struggling with a screaming staff shortage for years. In order to grow, the armed forces want to rely on former soldiers and part-timers, who arise in times of crisis. By spectacularly expanding the number of reservists, Defense can eventually grow from 76,000 people to a ‘war organization’ of 200,000, State Secretary Gijs Tuinman (BBB) ​​wrote to the Lower House earlier.

Such an army organization is very similar to the armed forces for the fall of the wall, in which professional soldiers led a mass of (former) conscripts. According to State Secretary Tuinman, the reintroduction of the attendance obligation is not an issue and growth can be achieved with volunteers. The Ministry of Defense is experimenting with the ‘day’ year, in which young people from the age of 18 can get acquainted with Defense. This year, 1,000 in the year soldiers are coming up, in the coming years the number of training places must be greatly expanded.

According to the army commander Swillens, it is being investigated whether the new Tankbataljon (around 400 men) can be formed with a core of professional soldiers, supplemented with reservists. For other parts, such as the artillery, it is also being examined which functions can be filled by volunteers, who are trained for a few months to a year and then can be called to their fortyth. Swillens: « Then you have the plunje bald in the attic, as in the conscription system in the past. »

Ukraine has taught us that the war can last long

Continuation

The war in Ukraine shows that the army should modernize as quickly as possible in the field of electronic warfare and drones, says Swillens. « But the continuation capacity is also a crucial factor. Ukraine has taught us that the war can take a long time. »

According to Swillens, it is therefore necessary to consider the formation of mobilisable units with equipment stored in ‘mobilization complexes’. « I sometimes say: do we want to be able to fight for three days, three weeks, three months or three years? »

On Wednesday, the committee of the armed forces gave Onno Eichelsheim, the highest soldier in the Netherlands, all 76,000 defense staff in a so -called ‘day order‘Assignment to make all existing units applicable as quickly as possible. Such a ‘day order’ is a rarity. In an explanation, the commander of the armed forces announced that he « wants to emphasize the urgency again. »

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