Yesterday I went, together with my oldest son, to the Royal military academy in Breda, the Netherlands. My son is preparing for his study after this education. As I already had mentioned in previous posts my son want's to become a pilot, already for as long as he can remember. Therefore we already visited the KLM Flight Academy last year.
After that visit we talked a lot about his further career (educational) , he wasn't sure if he would fit into the education at KLM. I told him that would be a personal decision, something he had to feel comfortable about. Then I told him if the army wasn't something for him. We have the airforce where he could try to become a pilot too... He didn't agreed instantly but he came back one day later that he thought about it and that he would like to visit the military school just to see how things went overthere.
So yesterday we went there together, it's a old site in original building in the centre of Breda, very impressive.
When we arrived it looked rather small but behind the fences there is this huge complex with many buildings surrounding a big training and sport complex. Impressive to see.
There are three directions in the army, the navy, the airforce and the groundtroops. We went to the presentation for the airforce of course.
There is a short in personel in the Dutch army, especially in supervisor functions. The site in Breda is soley for higher and university education. I thought the courses they offer in combination with the military education is just great and valuable.
First we got a presentation about the miltiray in general, what they do and how the organisation is formed. After that we went to another room with only kids that wanted to join the airforce. First some caddets told their story about 'how great' everything is and that they are happy with the environment they work in and that, of course, it is for peace and safety. After that we were able to ask questions.
the following steps are important to be admitted to the academy (for a pilot):
- You apply for a job they offer
- You make a online test
- If you pass the test you get invited to do a cognitive test
- If you pass you'll be invited to have a selection meeting with the staff
- If you pass you get a psychological test
- If you pass you have to write a flightplan (without any knowledge)
- If you pass you get a medical examination
- Pass it all, you can join the force and school
It is a quiet heavy selection, a guy asked how many places there are each year... The answer was 6 !?!?! only six aspirant pilots get to join the army each year. I was kind of surprised and asked them why only six. The answer was because of the fleet of the Dutch Airforces, it was brought down the last decades by the governement so with the existing pilots there was only little place for more...but the were needed indeed...
So during the brake I told my son that he has to have a plan b, because only 6 a year on a selection of many many more, the changes to becoming a pilot where very little. We had a talk with the airforce major. I asked if there are restrictions on doing tests, you can only do one test a year. So that's not that good too (in terms of time). My son asked him if it was possible to apply for another job in the same year when you failed the first pilot test. He told us that's possible indeed, he also said that it would be better to first apply for a other function in the airforce, the reason for that was when there came new job's available for pilots, people that were already in the army (and pass all tests) have a advantage. It was a tip from him to my son, and I think a very valuable tip.
The advantage of a job and education in the army are various. One (quiet important) is the costs. When you join the army you receive from day one a salary which is quiet good in Dutch standards, all expenses are paid for. You bachelor education is being paid for too.. So there is no investment required from parents or kid. for me I think the advantage for him would be the education he gets. A proper valuable education. Besides that the army is a place of morals and values which he can profit from the rest of his life, making friends for life... etc...
He was very enthousiastic and will apply next september though he still want's to start the selection for the KLM flight academy. I think he is doing right, betting on two horses is always better....
I hope he will succeed in the dream that he is hunting...
Have a great day,
Peter
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