Queen Maxima joins Dutch Armed Forces as reservist
Queen Máxima will become a reservist in the Dutch Armed Forces, sources close to the government and royal family told NOS and RTL Nieuws. After a brief military training, she will join the army part-time.
Reservists are the Armed Forces’ flexible workforce, primarily called upon in emergencies. They fill numerous positions, ranging from medics and cyber specialists to honor guards and musicians in the army orchestra. It is unclear which branch the Queen will join.
At age 54, Queen Máxima is just in time to apply. The cut-off for applying to work part-time at Defense is 55 years old.
The Queen is not the first member of the Dutch Royal family to work for Defense. Crown Princess Amalia recently completed her General Military Training at Defensity College and was promoted to the rank of corporal. After Amalia’s enrollment, the number of new students at Defensity College doubled.
King Willem-Alexander also has a long history with the armed forces. The King completed his military service in the Royal Netherlands Navy, and until he acceded to the throne, he held high military ranks as a reserve officer in the navy, army, air force, and Marechaussee, the military’s policing force.
The Ministry of Defense is in the midst of a massive recruitment drive amid the rising global tensions. Defense wants to grow its workforce from 80,000 to 100,000 by 2030, and eventually even to 200,000 people.
