Military union says not enough soldiers can use Patriot system

The Netherlands does not have enough properly trained soldiers to accompany its Patriot anti-missile systems to Turkey next year, according to the AFMP military union.


This will lead to too much pressure on the soldiers who can work with the latest version of the Patriot defence system, the country’s biggest military union says.
‘There are too few specialists and people who do not understand the Patriot system well enough will be sent to Turkey,’ union chairman Wim van den Burg told RTL news. ‘That is irresponsible.’
Syria
The Netherlands is to send a maximum 360 soldiers to Turkey to protect its border with Syria. The mission was originally due to leave at the end end of January but may leave earlier if requested.
The defence ministry denies the accusations that not enough soldiers have been trained to use the Patriots.
It also brushed off claims that soldiers are taking part in too many foreign missions in quick succession. The soldiers heading to Turkey were last posted in the Caribbean, not a conflict zone, the ministry told RTL news.

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