Twenty-eight Caribbean military candidates have begun six months of basic training in Curaçao, a program that can lead successful participants to serve with Aruba’s ARUMIL or Curaçao’s CURMIL.
The new ARUMIL military training pathway started at the Suffisant Naval Barracks and the Fuik training area. The candidates will complete Elementaire Militaire Vorming, commonly known as EMV, before becoming eligible for placement in one of the two Caribbean military units.
Six months of basic military preparation
AWE24 reported that the group will spend the coming months developing the discipline, physical readiness and foundational skills required for military service. The training is intended to prepare candidates for professional duties rather than guarantee placement in a specific unit.
The report did not provide a breakdown of how many candidates are from Aruba or how many may eventually join ARUMIL. It identified the class as a group of 28 candidates entering the shared Caribbean training route.
ARUMIL supports authorities in Aruba
The Netherlands Ministry of Defence describes ARUMIL and CURMIL as professional Caribbean military units that serve the Aruban and Curaçaoan authorities while working within the Defence organisation in the Caribbean. Their personnel are increasingly used to support local authorities.
According to the ministry, Caribbean military personnel receive the same type of basic military training used in the Netherlands. Training is provided through facilities at Suffisant in Curaçao and the Savaneta Marine Barracks in Aruba, and personnel can later pursue vocational preparation to become a corporal.
What happens next
The 28 candidates must complete the six-month EMV program before moving to the next stage. Any eventual assignment to ARUMIL or CURMIL will depend on successful completion and the applicable selection and placement process.
Sources: Information based on reporting from AWE24 and background from the Netherlands Ministry of Defence.
