Basic military education

Your military training as an officer candidate runs concurrently with academic training. It should enable the candidate to acquire the general, military and professional knowledge necessary for the exercise of command.

We want to form officers who possess the human and professional competencies required to manage and employ a group of 30 or so soldiers, a platoon, in a tactical framework and changing environment.

At the end of his/her progressive training, the candidate should be able to:

• command, lead and control a given group of soldiers;
• use the equipment, armaments and available equipment correctly;
• work under stress.

In military training, we emphasise the acquisition of knowledge (KNOW), but also the development of competences (SAVOIR-FAIRE) and the expression of functioning modes (SAVOIR-ETRE).

Ability to live in community, ethics and leadership are constantly emphasised.

Although the acquisition of tactical procedures and military competences is mainly done during camp periods in Belgium or abroad, military training in the RMA is a continuous process during candidates' stay with us.

The MIP (Military Initiation Phase) is the first confrontation of all our young candidates with the military aspects of training. It takes place for five weeks at the military camp in Elsenborn before the opening of the first academic year (mid-August to the end of September).

Thereafter, the important stages of military training for all candidate officers are spread over the two-week winter camp (late January to early February) and the summer camp (during the month of July).

Besides acquiring these professional skills, the candidate will continuously develop his/her character qualities and fitness. He/she will also play intensive sports.

Throughout their entire course in the RMA, the candidate must demonstrate that he/she possesses the necessary character qualities needed for his/her future role as a leader.

Candidates are constantly placed in situations that are favourable to further develop qualities such as self-discipline, commitment, courage and respect.