Defense opens Shooting Knowledge Center for reform of shooting policy | News item

More safety during shooting activities and even better trained shooters. These are the main goals of the new Joint Knowledge Center for Shooting (JKC) Small Caliber Weapons in Amersfoort. The center must make Defense’s shooting policy clearer and improve shooting training. Today the JKC was officially opened by State Secretary Christophe van der Maat.

The employees of the new knowledge center will draw up regulations for the use of small-caliber weapons in Defense. This includes personal rifles and pistols, as well as machine guns.

Currently, the regulations for the use of these weapons still differ per operational command. This can occasionally lead to dangerous situations, for example during joint exercises and deployments.

Shooting simulators

The JKC also draws up new methods and procedures for military shooting exercises. For example, the employees advise on the purchase of shooting simulators. The aim is to increase the capacity and quality of the training courses. In the long term, Defense will therefore have to have more and better trained shooters.

The knowledge center will also play a role in investigations into shooting incidents.

Monster job

Van der Maat addressed all JKC employees at the opening. He emphasized the importance of reforming the Defense shooting policy. “A clear, simpler, clearer and Defense-wide policy must put an end to fragmentation. You set and guard the boundaries.”

He called increasing the capacity of shooting training a monster job. “We want to train more soldiers. And because of the increasing threat, we also want them to practice more. That is doubling, while we are already reaching the limits. You face an important task.”