Exams finished. Laptops closed. For over 200 Yorkshire university students, summer meant two weeks in the Netherlands conducting infantry training alongside Dutch military cadets.
More than 200 University Officer Cadets, supported by 40 instructors, trained alongside Dutch counterparts bolstering their front line war fighting skills during a two-week training exercise.
Officer Cadet from Sedgefield chats to a Dutch Officer Cadet at Herskamp.
University Officer Cadets on patrol after bayonet training.
He is pictured inside the paint ball simulation at Herskamp.
Two Officer Cadets celebrating a job well done,
More than 200 University Officer Cadets, supported by 40 instructors, trained alongside Dutch counterparts bolstering their front line war fighting skills during a two-week training exercise.
The officer cadets from Yorkshire Officers' Training Regiment (YOTR), supported by 40 British Army instructors, joined 130 Dutch cadets from Defensity College for Exercise Fallowlands Resolve.
The two-week exercise was conducted in mixed British and Dutch platoons. Held alternately each year in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, this year's exercise saw Dutch instructors deliver training in live firing, urban operations, trench warfare and woodland clearance.
Real training, real conditions
Training included platoon-level assaults on trench networks, casualty extraction drills, and systematic room-by-room clearance of a purpose-built urban village, all designed to test endurance and rapid decision-making under pressure.
Dutch Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Pieter van der Peet described the approach: "We start with the basics, teaching the students the drills and procedures in a controlled environment before quickly progressing to realistic scenarios. The students are like sponges — incredibly curious, enthusiastic, and keen to learn, which makes training them particularly rewarding."
Commanding Officer Lt Col Simon Pollitt, Yorkshire Officer Training Regiment (left) meets with his Dutch counterpart Lt Col Peter Van Der Peet (right).
"Our mandate is leadership development. University is a unique period in a person's life — a time when young people are discovering who they want to be. Alongside their studies, we provide an opportunity for them to explore what kind of leader they want to become, challenging themselves, working with others, and developing skills that will benefit them throughout their careers and lives."
Working in mixed British-Dutch platoons added a further layer of complexity. Communicating across languages and cultures required cadets to think carefully about how they conveyed information and confirmed it was understood — simplifying their messaging and adapting their style under pressure.
Owen Summerscales, 21, a History graduate who will begin a master's in International Relations at the University of York in September, said: "It's good to understand how others do things. If you only look at one perspective, you miss part of the picture. Working alongside people from different countries gives you a chance to learn new approaches and understand why they do things the way they do."
Marius Van Bouwdijk Bastiaanse, 24, a Dutch cadet who also begins a master's in International Relations in September, shared that view. "It's really nice to see different skills and understand how things work in the UK — it's a truly unique opportunity. We have some differences, perhaps in communication styles and ways of doing things, but that's part of what makes it valuable."
Even the ration packs reflected those differences. Each Dutch pack contains around 5,000 calories and includes items such as cinnamon buns, pâté, jam, and meals like rice and chicken.
Developing leaders
The University Officers' Training Corps has existed since 1908. Officer cadets pursue a wide range of careers and no prior military experience, or Army career commitment is required. Around 40 per cent go on to join the armed forces. The rest return to civilian life carrying the leadership skills developed through the UOTC.
Lieutenant Colonel Simon Pollitt Commanding Officer of YOTR, said: "Our mandate is leadership development. University is a unique period in a person's life — a time when young people are discovering who they want to be. Alongside their studies, we provide an opportunity for them to explore what kind of leader they want to become, challenging themselves, working with others, and developing skills that will benefit them throughout their careers and lives.
"I am incredibly proud of how the students have come together as a team. The skills, resilience, and leadership qualities we have seen give me great confidence for their future."
