The University of Defence welcomed rare guests from the Royal Military Academy (RMA) of Belgium on 1 March 2010. Lead by lieutenant colonel Dirk de Busschere the delegate was due to discuss the arrangements of 120 RMA's cadets trip to Brno organised in a short time.
RMA has introduced a nice tradition for it international students coming mostly from French-speaking African countries, such as Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauretania, Ghana, Benin, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Algeria, Chad, Surinam, or others, to visit an European country in the Easter holidays time. Recently they had a chance to visit and learn the culture and military history in Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin or Reims. All cost related to the trips is paid by the students.
In this year, a trip to Prague, Brno and Vienna seemed interesting. Because of its location, Brno was the natural centre point of this area besides being the home of a partner school of RMA's – the University of Defence. Therefore, we have been asked for cooperation.
The guests will use their five days to spend a day in Prague, to make a field trip to the Austerlitz battlefield, to visit Spilberk casemates, Moravian Land Museum, and Templars' wine cellars, or to have a day-long visit to Vienna historical centre or Theresan Military Academy. On their way back to the Brussels the buses full of RMA cadets are planned to stop in Dresden.
We believe that the trip will contribute to the promotion of Czech Republic's and Brno area beauties and that the senior officers-to-be from all the African nations will take an indelible impression of University of Defence and Brno hospitality and environment.
Text: Col. Ing. Jaroslav Průcha, photo: Ing. Stanislav Poráň