Capt. Joris Vanhoecke, officer in charge of plans and training at the Belgian Royal Military Academy, talks to an assembly of U.S. military police Soldiers and Belgian cadets May 17, 2022 at the academy. The U.S. MPs helped the cadets qualify on the M4 carbine and the M17 service pistol at a shooting range at the Belgian military’s Peutie Military Complex in Vilvoorde, Belgium a few weeks prior. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Benelux Public Affairs)

US Army MPs help Belgian military cadets qualify on US weapons

By Bryan Gatchell, USAG Benelux Public Affairs

BRUSSELS – During a ceremony at Belgium’s Royal Military Academy in downtown Brussels May 17, U.S. military police Soldiers from U.S. Army Garrison Benelux awarded Belgian cadets and their leaders with certificates on their completion of U.S. Army weapons qualifications.

The cadets trained and qualified on the M4 carbine and the M17 service pistol at a shooting range at the Belgian military’s Peutie Military Complex in Vilvoorde, Belgium a few weeks prior.

The certification ceremony took place at the academy (École royale militaire in French and Koninklijke Militaire School in Dutch) in a basement tavern where the commandant mentioned that the group of cadets were “probably our finest team in regards to shooting and rifle skills.”

“Please let me thank you again for the opportunity you gave to our cadets by having this international experience, which is not something really common during basic training,” said Col. Thierry Pirenne, director of officer basic training at the academy, to the crowd of cadets and U.S. Soldiers. “I just encourage this kind of initiative because it enhances the future cooperation they will have throughout operations, when in NATO or just on bilateral sides.”

“Marksmanship, in our profession of arms, it’s our craft,” said Maj. Denard Honeysuckle, provost marshal for USAG Benelux – Brussels, during remarks at the event. “Shooting is one of the basic fundamental skills, along with moving and communicating, that definitely allows the American Army to succeed. It allows the Belgian army to succeed. And, trust me, it’s going to allow NATO to continue to succeed.”

Maj. Denard Honeysuckle, provost marshal at U.S. Army Garrison Benelux - Brussels, talks to an assembly of U.S. military police Soldiers and Belgian military cadets May 17, 2022 at the Belgian Royal Military Academy. The U.S. Soldiers conducted a weapons qualification range to qualify the cadets on the M4 carbine and the M17 service pistol at a shooting range at the Belgian military’s Peutie Military Complex in Vilvoorde, Belgium a few weeks prior. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Benelux Public Affairs)

Belgian military Capt. Joris Vanhoecke, officer in charge of plans and training at the academy, said the benefits extend beyond the training the cadets achieved performing the qualification.

“It gives them the opportunity to later on organize (a similar event) for themselves – with their platoon or company later on – qualification or joint training,” he said. “This is a typical military exchange, and it’s interesting to see what’s possible in the military branch, and not only in the academic branch.

Second Lt. Jerome Dugardin, the shooting team captain, is a cadet at the academy as well as a former noncommissioned officer in the Belgian military. He is leaving the academy in one month, so this is his last time to work with the team. He is moving on to join the air component of the Belgian military.

“It is a kind of new challenge for us, because we are very used to our techniques and our qualifications,” he said. “And it’s always nice to challenge ourselves to other Army qualifications tests. And it was nice to see how it was done in the U.S.

“It’s nice to have contacts with other armies and to see how they work,” 2nd Lt. Dugardin continued. “In our future work, we will work with NATO and other organizations, and we will work again with American Soldiers. For myself, I was in Kabul (Afghanistan) two times . I worked with the Americans before, ten years ago, and it was nice for me personally to meet with American Soldiers. For my younger colleagues, it’s their first contact with other armies, and I’m sure it’s very positive and beneficial for them.”

Col. Thierry Pirenne, left, director of officer basic training at the Belgian Royal Military Academy, meets with Maj. Denard Honeysuckle, provost marshal at U.S. Army Garrison Benelux - Brussels, during a weapons qualification ceremony May 17, 2022 at the academy in downtown Brussels. Military police from USAG Benelux - Brussels helped cadets qualify on the M4 carbine and the M17 service pistol at a shooting range at the Belgian military’s Peutie Military Complex in Vilvoorde, Belgium a few weeks prior. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Benelux Public Affairs)

First Master Chief Eloïse Verwimp, a cadet at the academy distinguished herself at the range. She likes shooting, but is typically used to firing only 10 rounds at a time for Belgian weapons qualifications rather than the 40 rounds for U.S. weapons qualifications.

“I think I learned to be more concentrated for a longer period, to just stop and go backwards and look at anything else and then come back and be super focused,” she said.

First Master Chief Verwimp does not plan to continue a career in the military past her time at the academy, but she saw the value of the training, calling it a “really great opportunity.”

Capt. Vanhoecke also saw the value of the qualification.

“Overall, it’s something worthwhile,” said Capt. Vanhoecke. “It’s something I’m definitely looking to organize again.”