‘People are more and more aware of how important defence is’

Advertisements from the Dutch Ministry of Defence, offering university students a part-time job in the military, are everywhere. Currently, some four hundred students are part of the Defensity College programme, many of whom are from Utrecht University. Medical student Cecilia (25) has been working there for two years, while Casper (23), a Master's student in Strategic HR Management, has been there for nine months, and Eva (23), a graduate in Liberal Arts & Sciences, has been there for eighteen months. 

All three of them were interested in working for the military before going to university, but they also wanted to study. For these three, the arrival of Defensity College was a godsend. The programme was created a few years ago. "I was so excited," says Eva. "What appealed to me was that I could put my educational background to good use immediately. I also liked the self-development aspect of the programme: you really have to be a go-getter." Fifth-year student Cecilia was drawn to the physical and mental challenges offered by the job. "I could see myself working for the defence department or Doctors Without Borders, but I wanted to do many different things, just like Eva. Defensity College seemed like a unique opportunity to combine medicine and defence." For Casper, the military part of the programme is the main reason to sign up. "You learn to recognise your limits and always go the extra mile, but you do it in a safe environment with people who have years of experience. It's also great that I can use my academic background. For me, this is the coolest part-time job I can think of."

Casper and Cecilia. Photos: courtesy of the students

Van Koningsbrugge Camp
Interested students must first go through a selection process which assesses whether candidates are physically and psychologically fit. "It's very important that you are motivated," says Cecilia. "You must be committed." The physical examination includes running, walking and lifting weights. "It was very nerve-wracking, but luckily it wasn't too bad in the end. I was expecting it to be worse. It's not like the Van Koningsbrugge boot camp on television, you know," Cecilia laughs. Eva was also nervous at first. "It's your first time at the barracks and you want to do everything right. But, in the end, I look back on it with a good feeling."

Once admitted, the students receive military training and a workplace somewhere in the Netherlands. Everyone must complete the basic military training for reservists, which lasts two weeks and can be done in the Army, Air Force, Military Police or Navy. You can choose which branch you want to work in. Eva chose the Navy partly because of family members who have served there, while Cecilia preferred the Army and Casper chose the Air Force.

Fighting in a war
Several European leaders would like a peace deal in Ukraine to include a "coalition of the willing", with troops from European nations helping secure the country. The Netherlands could be one of the countries contributing with troops. However, there is little chance that the students from Defensity College will be deployed to a war zone.  

In the basic training, participants learn basic military skills such as navigation, shooting, special first aid for soldiers and firefighting. Afterwards, the students become reservists and are allowed to wear a uniform. Reservists work part-time for the armed forces, often alongside a civilian job or a study. It is not yet clear what role working students would play in wartime. They would probably be given similar tasks as those given to other reservists, such as protecting government buildings. But things are different if they choose to work in the military.

Participants in the mud together. Photo: Defensity College

You go through the mud together
Working students can choose to continue their training and become soldiers. Eva went for the so-called AMO-plus route, which is "a bit greener", meaning that one gets to sleep in the forest a lot. Cecilia: "You have a lot of freedom to choose how much you want to do and whether or not to move up. Unfortunately, I don't have much time for additional exercises, exchanges or activities aside from my work in the media team and my internships, but there are always lots of opportunities, such as training days you can attend."

According to them, the atmosphere at Defensity College is good and there is a strong sense of community. Everyone is highly motivated, ambitious and committed. Eva: "I made a lot of friends, especially at AMO. You literally go through the mud together, which creates a bond. Many friends from outside Defence don't fully understand what you do, so it's great to be able to share experiences with the friends you make within the organisation."
 

Using your own talents
The Ministry of Defence has a Talent Manager who works with students to find a suitable job and see how their educational background, talents and characteristics can best be used. Eva, for example, studied social, health and organisational psychology as part of her Liberal Arts & Sciences programme and then worked at the Military Mental Health Service (MGGZ). Eva: "I did research there on high-intensity trauma therapy and how this could be embedded in the military mental healthcare. I loved doing that. Once I was finished, I arranged my next jobs myself. Every six months, you start at a new workplace to gain as many different experiences as possible."

For Cecilia, this was a little more difficult because she was doing a full-time internship. "I have become the point of contact for all medical students considering Defensity College because I know what they combine this with. I am also on the Defensity College media team, which does all kinds of things related to social media, blogs and other forms of information provision. So you always end up in a place where you belong."

Casper has also found a workplace that matches his studies. To start working for the Ministry of Defence, everyone has to go through a long process. There are many medical examinations and tests, and it can take a long time before they can start. Casper: "That is why I work two days a week on a platform that offers information about your future workplace. I am about to graduate, and I will work one day a week while working on my thesis. They are very clear about that at DC: studying comes first."

A graduation at Defencity College. Photo: Defensity College

From theory to practice
One of the reasons Defencity College was founded was to bring knowledge from university students to the Ministry of Defence. The second reason was to bring knowledge about the Ministry of Defence to people outside that realm. According to Cecilia, this is crucial. "People don't always understand why I do this. They don't understand what it entails and not everyone has a positive image of the Ministry of Defence. I understand that, but I also hope that people realise that the Ministry of Defence is a large, meaningful organisation with many facets. I also notice that people are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of the Ministry of Defence, given the state of affairs in the world. Furthermore, I am allowed to be critical of how the Ministry of Defence tackles things and they are giving critical university students opportunities to contribute.

When Casper tells people he works for the Ministry of Defence, many are surprised. According to him, they have a stereotypical image of soldiers and the Ministry of Defence. "There are so many possibilities within the Ministry of Defence, not everyone is lifting heavy things, driving tanks or lying in a trench. There are many other possibilities. That's why I like to share my experiences."

They are not entirely sure whether they see a future for themselves in the organisation, but they don't rule out staying. Cecilia sees herself working as a doctor in the ministry, while Eva is considering a job combining Psychology and Defence. As for Casper, he does not rule out ending up in the HR branch. 

At Defensity College, university students can get a part-time job for up to three years. They are trained to become reservists alongside their studies. There are various conditions attached to this job. For example, students who apply must still have at least 22 months of study left and have already earned 100 credits.