WILLEMSTAD - Approximately 130 soldiers from the Royal Netherlands Army will be conducting exercises in Curaçao from today until September 22. They will be training at various locations on the island but are not part of the permanently stationed Company in the West of the Royal Netherlands Army in the Caribbean region, as reported by Defense.
Curaçao offers training soldiers a unique training location due to the weather conditions, providing them with many options to push their physical and mental boundaries.
Defense states that by pushing boundaries, soldiers can bring out the best in themselves. "This prepares them well for unexpected situations in the future. During these types of exercises, soldiers learn to trust each other and learn to deal with stress."
Units
The participating units are part of the 43 Mechanized Brigade and primarily consist of well-trained infantrymen and technical personnel. These soldiers are trained for intense and prolonged conflicts and primarily use the Combat Vehicle 90 (CV90).
According to Defense, it is unique for these soldiers to train in Curaçao because their high-tech armored vehicles have not been brought along for this exercise. These soldiers are usually stationed at the Johannes Post Barracks in Havelte.
Heaviest Capability
Defense states that the 43 Mechanized Brigade is a combat unit designed and prepared for high-intensity combat operations against a modern adversary.
"She does this with heavy, high-tech armored vehicles that provide strong protection and impressive firepower. The combination of this firepower, armor, as well as speed and agility, makes this brigade the heaviest capability within the Royal Netherlands Army, to be deployed in the highest spectrum of violence," according to Defense.