Corps Bivouac - 15 years anniversary 1(GE/NL)Corps

Lieutenant General Ton van Loon (middle) and Bürgermeister from the city of Münster, Holger Wigger (right) sitting with other guests around the cosy campfire at the innercourt of the HQ.

On the 1^st of September 2010, 1 (GE/NL) Corps celebrated its 15^th anniversary. The Corps started as a unique cooperation between Germany and the Netherlands in 1995. In the period following the year 2000, the Corps became multinational when Norway joined the HQ. In 2003, the Corps took for the first time command of an ISAF mission. By the end of 2005, 1 (GE/NL) Corps comprised ten nationalities, soon to be followed by two more to make up for the twelve nations forming the current Corps. In 2009, the Corps served for the second time as a NATO Response Force (NRF) HQ.

During the Bivouac, the Corps looked back on fifteen successful years with its members and their partners/families as well as former members, reservists, VIPs and people closely related to the Corps. This way the Corps showed its gratitude to those who have been supporting it up to now. Besides, the Corps looked to the future with the Corps Vision. The new vision is taking civilian authorities more into consideration. According to COM LtGen Ton van Loon it is “intended to provide us to orientate and help us to prepare for the challenges of future missions”. This comprehensive approach, an integrated approach in which military force is only one of the elements to be used, is the current approach to the future.

The anniversary of 1 (GE / NL) Corps started with a reception and afterwards COM LtGen Ton van Loon welcomed the guests. He looked back at 15 successful years and said that “1 (GE/NL) Corps has brought perpetual change, challenges but also friendships and the feeling to be needed”. He remarked that this event could not have been possible without the help of the organising committee and therefore he thanked the men and women who contributed to the success of this event.

Finally, he wished everyone an enjoyable evening. At the Headquarters inner yard the Koninklijke Militaire Kapel Johan Willem Friso and the Luftwaffenmusikkorps 3 performed military music. Our soldiers talked with their comrades while warming themselves at the bonfire. When it was already dark, the serenade with torches officially ended a beautiful evening. All in all, everyone enjoyed the well-organised 15^th anniversary of 1 (GE/NL) Corps and will hopefully join again in 2011!