Marine Corps
The Ministry of Defense acquired a few dozen teeny-tiny drones. These Black Hornets will be used by reconnaissance units of the Dutch Armed Forces and Marine Corps, ANP reports.
A Black Hornet is a miniscule helicopter that weighs only 18 grams. It has a rotor span of 12 centimeters and can fly for 25 minutes, taking photos or recording video while it does so. Soldiers can use them to explore a battlefield at a safe distance.
Dutch soldiers are again allowed to wear their uniforms in public. Minister Ank Bijleveld of Defense lifted the ban that was implemented in 2014 due to an increased threat of attacks on soldiers by jihadists, according to a Defense memorandum that will be published on Monday, ANP reports.
"The army has the task of protecting our kingdom and its allies. So it is also important that you are recognizable and approachable", the Minister said. According to her, the ban is being lifted at the express wish of Dutch soldiers.
Dutch marines are leaving the corps in large numbers out of dissatisfaction about their barracks relocating from Doorn to Vlissingen in 2022. In the first quarter of this year, 73 marines left he corps - three times as many as in previous years, ANP reports.
The marines are worried that their partners won't be able to find work in Vlissingen, and if they bought a house there, they won't be able to sell it again. Other complaints include that the new location has too few gun ranges, and that they will not be able to practice enough due to noise problems.
The Marine Corps and the Army are temporarily merging companies because of staff shortages. With this solution the units can continue to follow complete training programs, but this is only a temporary patch, the Ministry of Defense confirmed to ANP.
Defense is facing a 13 percent staff shortage. The armed forces are attracting more people, but employees often only stay at Defense for a few years. Defense trained employees are attractive to other employers, and other employers can often offer better growth opportunities, according to the news wire.
A very expensive mountain climbing expedition for seven Marines in Nepal led to outrage by many other members of the Marines. The trip, called "Expedition Manaslu" cost nearly a million euros, according to figures the Telegraaf received after appealing to the Freedom of Information Act.
A few dozen people demonstrated against the film Michiel de Ruyter at the film's premier at the Maritime Museum in Amsterdam last night. The museum built a movie theater with 1,200 seats for the occasion.
The Ministry of Defence has decided that all F-35 fighter jets from the United States of America are to remain grounded for now due to an incident on the 23rd of June, in which one jet caught fire trying to take off. The Joint Strike Fighter unit (JSF/F-35) includes two Dutch aircrafts, which are also grounded. According to the Ministry of Defense, this is standard procedure.
Two hard criminals convicted or murder and rape, escaped the SDKK prison in Willemstad, Curaçao, on Thursday. They overpowered, abused and subsequently bound two guards before making a run for it.
