Military developments in Belgium and the Netherlands

In Belgium, 125 candidates have begun the Military Service Year at the Berlaar barracks. These participants will serve as reservists for one year, rotating through the Army, Air Force, and Navy. The Berlaar site, which had previously been largely vacant, has been reintegrated into the defense logistics network as an expansion of the 29th Logistics Battalion based in Grobbendonk.

In the Netherlands, D66 lawmaker Michelle Jagtenberg has proposed an action plan to increase the proportion of women in the military to 30 percent. The proposal includes specialized career paths to help women reach higher positions more quickly, as well as increased attention to menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause during training and deployments. Suggested measures include providing pregnancy clothing, affordable childcare, and flexible scheduling to accommodate exercises and deployments.