Retired colonel speaks out after second brawl involving drunken Belgian soldiers during a foreign mission this year

In addition to the recent incidents abroad, there have also been reports of new recruits being subject to inhumane and degrading treatment during so-called “having” rituals at a barracks in Liège Province.

Roger Housen says that there are a number of issues at play here "There is an issue, if the prevailing attitude is that this kind of this can be tolerated. Also, the dynamic within the group is wrong here: you have to take part or be shunned by the group. Furthermore, there is a complete lack of leadership with officers not being called to account”. 

The retired colonel also points to the issue of alcohol. The Portuguese press reports that the Belgian soldiers that were involved in a bar brawl in the town of Beja at the weekend were “as drunk as lords” when the incident occurred.

Colonel Housen asks "Why are the rules on alcohol consumption not being followed? The rules state that during manoeuvres and while on missions abroad, you are only allowed to have two alcoholic drinks per day. If a direct superior officer realises that one of his subordinates is not complying with this, he must take action."

The retired army colonel’s assumption is that Belgium's new army chief, Lieutenant General Frederik Vansina, will take a strict approach to the issue: "Colleagues believe that he has forward-looking and solution-oriented manner of working."

Nevertheless, Colonel Housen remains cautious in his expectations "If you don't clean up the mess now, things like this will continue to happen. There have been bosses in the past who thought they had taken action but it was to no avail."