Philipsburg:--- Six members of the Voluntary Corps of Sint Maarten (VKS) are participating in the international training exercise "Deux Tricolores" on Curaçao. Four members left for Curaçao earlier this week and another two will join them this Saturday. The VKS has been invited by the Royal Dutch Marines corps based in Aruba to join them this year in the annual exercise. Deux Tricolores was originally an exercise for the Dutch and French military based in the Caribbean. The location would alternate annually between the French and Dutch Caribbean territories. Over the years this exercise has grown into an international one. This year members of the US Marine Corps will participate as well.
The VKS and the marines from Aruba have developed a close working relationship over the years. Based on the fact the marines from Aruba have been assigned to the Windward Islands in case of calamities, they visit Sint Maarten on a regular basis for trainings and deployments. The last occasion was the passing of hurricane Omar last month. VKS management had inquired about the possibilities for VKS members to train with the Aruba marines quite some time ago. This inquiry has materialized now in an invitation form the Aruba marines to join them in the Deux Tricolores exercise in Curaçao. The VKS members will be assigned to the same tasks and duties of the marines.
The exercise consists of two parts. Until this Saturday the participants will test each other's military and physical skills in a competitive manner. The actual exercise will start on November 8th and end on November 14th. During the exercise a drug lord seizes power on the imaginary island of "Aurora" with devastating consequences. Military assistance and intervention is required.
The VKS members will return to Sint Maarten on Saturday November 15th. It is expected from them they will transfer their acquired knowledge to the other members of the corps in the coming months.
