29 Aug 2007
On 29 August, the Secretary General of NATO, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, visited Dutch Army troops who recently returned from duty in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.
The visit was an opportunity for a demonstration of the troops' equipment, duties and how they are protected.
Most of the troops served in the 1st Netherlands Task Force in Uruzgan, southern Afghanistan.
The Secretary General and the Dutch Minister of Defence, Eimert van Middelkoop, who hosted the visit, were briefed by the officers who commanded the Uruzgan Provincial Reconstruction Team and the operational and support units of the Task Force.
Issues discussed included the concept of operations, tactical operations, force protection, patrol methods and defence against improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
The Secretary General and the Defence Ministers also took a ride in the new BushMaster armoured vehicle used by the Dutch Army in Uruzgan, and witnessed a typical patrol.
This provided an opportunity for a demonstration of how troops are protected, including the clearing of roadside bombs by explosive ordnance disposal specialists and impressive air support by Royal Netherlands Air Force Apache helicopters.
While meeting with the soldiers the Secretary General stressed that it was the men and women of the armed forces who contribute crucially to the success of any NATO-led mission.
He thanked and complimented the Dutch Minister of Defence for hosting the visit and to the Commander and personnel of 13 Mechanised Brigade and other members of Netherlands Forces who took part in the demonstrations.
