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Dutch Army Commandos -- Airborne Forces of the Netherlands

THE NETHERLANDS

MILITARY PARACHUTISTS AND COMMANDOS

The image here is of a Dutch Commando who during World War II, were based in England. The Dutch Commando shown here is in the uniform of a member of 2nd Troop (Dutch), a force part of the unit, 10 Inter-Allied Commando. (The image is contained within the book,
    Campaign Series 24 -- Arnhem 1944,
Publisher: Osprey Military.

The Dutch commandos routinely conducted raids on the German occupied European continent, and parachuted into Arnhem with the British pathfinders as a prelude to the largest wartime airborne drop in history.

The infantry forms the core of the Royal Netherlands Army which is organised in battalions of 600 to 800 men. The Commando Corps is a separate category of infantry personnel who possess advanced combat skills including both round and square canopy parachuting.

Commandos are trained in collection of military intelligence in the field, usually behind enemy lines. Commandos are also assigned sabotage missions.


Training of the Dutch Army commandos is at the Engelbrecht van Nassau Kazerne at Roosendaal in The Netherlands. Parachute training is integral to the course. In the words of one trainee,

"the day you find yourself thundering through the night sky toward the drop zone, daubed in camouflage, with two parachutes, field pack, ammunition, weapons, and protective mask, you'll know it's now or never "Nunc aut nunquam." A Dutch commando is a member of one of the most elite corps the Dutch Army has ever produced.

In sharp contrast to the rigors of commando school parachutist training, both civilian and military personnel can take a less arduous military parachute training course at the Texel Island Drop Zone. The course consists of making five jumps using a round parachute, and executing a military style stand-up, static-line exit from an AN-2 Colt aircraft, a former Soviet paratroop trainer. Upon completion of this course, the trainee is awarded official Dutch military parachutist wings at the Brevet B level. The military parachutist course at Texel Island concerns itself only with basic military-style parachuting without rucksack or combat gear. To earn the the Brevet A military parachutist wings requires at least 3 jumps with the paratrooper's personal military weapon and personal military gear (at least 30 kilograms). One of these jumps must be made at night.


Click below to learn more about military parachutist training and to visit the Dutch Army Commando Web Sites


Military Parachuting
Paracentrum Web Site


Dutch Army Commando
Corps


Dutch Army Jump Wings
and Emblems
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