To maintain mountain qualifications within the Royal Netherlands Air Force's helicopter force, Exercise High Blaze 2021 was executed last September. Frank Visser and Ludo Mennes spoke to the commander of the exercise. WHEN EXERCISE HIGH Blaze 2021 presented itself, Maj Prins of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) decided to sign up as detachment commander (detco). Firstly, because he was closely involved in the exercise's preparation, and wanted to experience the process of implementation up close and personal. Secondly, because he saw it as a good learning experience, and, thirdly, he considered it an honor to do so. A role usually only given to a high-ranking squadron officer or squadron commander, the detco position was rewarded to Maj Prins by the staff of the Dutch joint Defence Helicopter Command (DHC). "The staff for this exercise mostly consisted of enthusiastic junior officers, and a number of experienced employees, which made it easy to manage," the major said."During the three months prior to High Blaze, we put together a staff based on the different functionalities on which such an exercise revolves, such as general management, logistics and maintenance. Due to the planned participation of the three different helicopter squadrons, the staff was originally larger. This was to ensure that every member could perform the work optimally during the exercise."
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