...are you serious? Man, it takes balls to make your first post on mp.net about how you're married to a tranny. As for your question, I dont think the Belgian army has a problem with it. Gay marriages are legal in Belgium. In fact, recently a soldier from the 3rd Para Commando battalion (henceforth called the 'pink paras') married a man. So, I dont think the army would mind. Only god minds.... jkOriginally Posted by XMichael
You're right, officially the army will not care.
But in your platoon, there will we be comment.. it will depend on your reaction how you deal with it..
I read that this famous NCO of 3 Para has not had an easy life since his "outing" and lives a somewhat isolated existence since.
I heard the same. If i were you I'd keep your particular domestic situation on the downlow.
Bad choice of words, though this post is in my opinion correct. A couple of months ago, a politician made a remark about the propaganda radio in Ruanda in '94, and the families were insulted. They probably didn't think that far before the press showed up to ask what they think about such comments. The media also have a big part in this I think.
I certainly don't mean any disrespect, those 10 and their families gave more than anyone can ask, but at some point it becomes history and shouldn't be used as leverage in discussions.
Last year there was a interview on TV with a transsexuel female soldier. So if transsexuels are able to work for Belgian mod I don't see why it should be a problem for people with a transsexuel partner to join the army. I don't see why marriage status of its soldiers is important for Belgian mod.
The one I saw were the tactical variant with the tripple rail. I didn´t see any optics so I guess it´s with iron sights. I didn´t see any GL. Right now the first cqb-instructors are receiving the lessons about the weapon. So it still will be a while before the troops get them in their hands.
On VTM I have seen footage that included a soldier armed with F2000 40MM doing guard duty in Kabul Airport on new years eve.
you don't happen to have a link to this report or videoclip?
I also spotted it.
Last edited by Sato; 01-07-2008 at 10:31 AM.
Looks like a space marine.
Yeah, either that or a troll
You gotta have more faith in people, manYeah, either that or a troll
but yeah, probably a troll. Although who knows in this crazy, crazy world...
P. De Crem en commission de la défense : les AIV et les 90mm "inadaptés"
The purchase of the AIV and the 90mm turret will be reviewed.
(credit goes to Solidarnosc for posting it on paracommando.com)
Last edited by Sato; 01-17-2008 at 10:20 AM.
The entire AIV procurement will be reviewed. In the parliamentary defense commission the Minister of Defense said that not only the 90mm but the entire procurement will be reviewed as the Piranha IIIC is deemed to have been the wrong choice. Says so, Go to 'De Kamer' and the 16 January 2008 Session of the kamercommissie landsverdediging, scroll down to pages 37 & 38 of the PDF (Dutch/French).
A Belgian cancellation of the AIV programme would be the best thing that could happen. If they at the same time would downsize the Dingo 2 order to a 100 units and the LMV order to 200 vehicles they would be onto something.
All the money released through such actions could be used for a more "danish" solution when it comes to vehicles. With that I mean several different but smaller programmes to adress a larger amount of diverse operational requirements. The money released could be used as follows:In addition the introduction rates of the BMS should be lowered and initially only added to command vehicles and vehicles used by company and maybe platoon commanders.
- 50-60 Leopard 2A4
- 50-60 IFV:s (CV90, Ulan etc)
- 100-150 tracked APC:s (M113 or AIFV) upgraded to FFG WARAN standard
- 100-120 wheeled APC:s in different configurations (with HMG in soft mounts, about 30 equipped with a OWS for said HMG)
- Upgrade of a small number of Leopard 1 versions including recovery, engineering and bridgelaying
Any sums that are left could be used to start replacing the Milan ATGM or maybe more importantly buy LG-1 or M-777 howitzers for the artillery so the infantry can get their mortars back.
How do you get enough money to use all these shiny toys then? I'd say that the Belgian landforces would need a total makeover including:Quite a few people will have to find work outside of the forces but thats the way it has to be. With similar reforms in the navy and airforce the personnel costs will drop significantly releasing funds to be used on training, equipment and operations.
- Disbanding one reconnaisance battalion
- Disbanding one tank battalion
- Disbanding the IRCC
- Disbanding three logistics battalions
- Disbanding two CIS-groups or disbanding all of them and transferring personnel, equipment and know-how to two brigade HQ companies and one signals battalion with the capability to act as a divisional HQ
- Possibly amalgamate 1 and 3 Para
- Integrate 1/3 Para and 2 Commando in the command structure of 1st and 7th Brigade respectively
- Disband 1 engineer battalion while retaining two of its companies and assigning one each to the two infantry brigades
- Make one tank battalion, one air defence battallion, one engineer battalion, one signals battalion, one logistics battalion and one reconnaisance battallion divisional or higher level assets with no direct affiliation to the brigades.
Last edited by Erki; 01-17-2008 at 06:24 PM. Reason: Spelling
You bring up some interesting points.
However in your vision the Belgian army would (capability-wise) be in the same situation as it is today. While the policy of these last few years has been to move to a leaner ,more modern and easy deployable force.
Furthermore, downsizing the army is indeed (IMO) neccesary and it is in fact one of the components of "Le plan stratégique 2000-2015 " but the marginal results to date are proof that it is a very delicate matter, and can't be done from one day to the next.
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