Starting shot for cooperation between VDL Groep and Defence to attract more reservists

Caption: from left to right. Colonel-pilot Gerbe Verhaaf, Willem van der Leegte, Secretary of Defence Christophe van der Maat, Major No Mauer, Jennifer van der Leegte

VDL Groep and Defence join forces to attract reservists into the corporate sector. Both parties signed an agreement to further cooperation.

At VDL Groep, reservists are already employed, but there are opportunities for more. One of the aims of the collaboration is to attract employees who are looking for a combination of two different working environments, while also being able to make a difference for society.

Chief Executive Willem van der Leegte of VDL Groep: “We see it as our social responsibility to raise awareness of the opportunity to become a reservist. Additionally, we believe this collaboration also aligns with the motivations of our employees: personal development and purpose, contributing to peace and security, and enhancing the resilience of our society.”

Caption: signing of the covenant by State Secretary Christophe van der Maat (left) and President and CEO Willem van der Leegte.

Shortage of military personnel

Reservists are military personnel with a temporary or call-up contract. They can be called up individually or through their employer. In this way, they contribute to a scalable armed forces. Defence can, thanks in part to reservists, have the right capacities at the right time. Except for a few exceptions, they are currently mainly deployed on ad hoc tasks and projects. In the future, this must change by making them part of a permanent unit. For example, there will be special roles for reservists.

Van der Maat wants to make it more attractive to become a reservist. Defence still faces a significant personnel shortage. “Solutions must be found for the personnel shortage. This is due to the deteriorating security situation and the planned growth of Defence in the near future,” said the State Secretary. Furthermore, Defence needs to collaborate more closely with society to enhance its resilience.

Defence aims to intensify collaboration with civilian employers for this purpose. This will establish a network for the exchange of personnel. The goal is to have at least 150 employers and industry organisations connected by 2024. Ultimately, about a third of the armed forces should consist of reservists and/or part-time workers.

Custom work and training

The position of the reservist also receives attention. There is more focus on tailored solutions, both in deployment and in appointment and contract forms. Reservists also have an advantage when applying for a permanent position at Defence. Furthermore, the goal is to make the legal status of reservists equivalent to that of professional soldiers.

Of course, a good education and training should not be missing. Defence will ensure even more that reservists actually receive it. There will also be a stricter check to ensure they meet the requirements. This is one of the reasons why there will be a broader range of training courses, including those where reservists train other reservists. This should contribute to making being a reservist more substantively interesting.