The Instituut voor Defensie Opleidingen (IDO, Institute for Defence Training) officially opened the 2026-2027 training year under the central theme ‘From knowledge to readiness: practice-oriented, professional and boundary-breaking’. With this theme, the institute aims to emphasise strengthening the practical skills, professionalism and operational deployability of military personnel. In the past training year, the IDO produced 196 graduates.
According to IDO commander Colonel Justus Hew A Kee, the institute has a solid organisational foundation to achieve its training objectives. This includes clear policy plans, a clear organisational structure, updated curricula and well-developed regulations.
The 196 graduates from the past training year come from the Militaire Academie (MA), the Militaire School (MS) and the Militaire Specialistische Opleidingen (MSO). The programmes are aimed at producing knowledgeable and professionally trained military personnel, with international educational standards serving as the point of departure.
International cooperation strengthens military education
Hew A Kee stressed that high-quality military education is not possible without expert instructors and teachers. Thanks to the updated curricula, the IDO was able to draw on both national specialists and international experts from Brazil and the Netherlands during the past training year.
According to the commander, another friendly nation has also expressed interest in contributing to the institute’s programmes. The country concerned was not disclosed.
Programmes must align with security challenges
Commander of the Nationaal Leger, Brigadier General Mitchell Labadie, underscored the strategic importance of the IDO during the opening. He described the institute as Defence’s central knowledge centre and an important pillar of the armed forces’ operational readiness.
According to Labadie, the training needs of the Nationaal Leger are continuously analysed and evaluated. This includes basic training and further instruction, as well as specialist programmes and leadership courses.
The commander considers it essential that the programmes offered are not exclusively theoretical in nature, but directly align with practice and the security challenges facing Suriname. He stressed that the knowledge and skills acquired by military personnel during their training must ultimately contribute to a better-prepared and more capable Nationaal Leger.
Discipline and perseverance central
The new group of trainees was called upon to approach the training year with discipline, commitment and perseverance. Colonel Hew A Kee warned that the programmes will place high physical, mental and intellectual demands on participants. He encouraged them to make optimal use of the available training facilities and the expertise of instructors and teachers.
According to the IDO commander, the new training year should contribute not only to individual knowledge development, but above all to shaping capable military personnel and future leaders able to serve the armed forces and Suriname.
