On Tuesday, December 3, 2024 the General Directorate of Human Resources (DG HR) awarded its meritorious work certificates to employees, both military and civilian, who were ‘sideways’ committed to an innovative and positive project for Defense. Although the prize has been around for about twenty years, it has been awarded since last year during a ceremony at the Club Prins Albert in Brussels.
Around 9:30 am the Karmeliet room in the Club Prins Albert in the heart of Brussels was full of neatly dressed citizens and soldiers in their service dress. At their side is a corps commander, a proud partner, a mother who comes to congratulate her child. There is a healthy tension in the air when the Director General of Human Resources, Lieutenant General Thierry Esser, is about to officially award the certificates to the laureates. A nice icing on the cake for those who have made extra efforts for Defense in 2023.
Meritorious work drives innovation
For years, the awards for meritorious work have recognized members of the organization who, on their own initiative and outside their duties, have set up and implemented a project that has had a positive impact on the operation of Defense. The areas of work are broad, but must relate to innovation, improvement and/or savings in the areas of (administrative) efficiency, finance or (cyber) security.
“Your presence here today shows that one bottom-up approach works and is necessary,” said Lieutenant General Thierry Esser. “It is important that we put our ideas into practice; Taking initiative is one of the characteristics of Defense that we must continue to maintain. The work you deliver ensures efficiency and we often achieve the desired result faster than when we outsource projects. Moreover, we have been able to save a lot on costs thanks to your projects.”
A clear example of cost savings is the initiative of Karel De Leeuw, citizen at CC V&C: “After I came up with the idea of designing a test set for the helmets of our pilots, we started working like Bob de Bouwer to create something to put together. The result is probably not as beautiful and sophisticated as what an external company would make, but if you consider that we have created a total of three sets and that creating a test kit in the civilian world costs around € 100,000, then we still have saved a lot of money.”
Cash prize and official ceremony
Because Defense wants to continue to stimulate its talents, the laureates will receive a cash prize in addition to a certificate and a ceremony. The amount depends on their ranking, determined by a committee chaired by Lieutenant Colonel Reinhald Sabbe.
The laureates received their certificates with a smile and are proud that they could contribute. Also First Master Chinook POUPAERT, who was able to return to Zeebrugge with his head held high: “During corona, I started making a 3D printed drone in my garage that can operate both on the surface and underwater. I was happy to teach myself everything. There is now a lot of interest in the drone, also outside Defense. I hope it can inspire colleagues to start similar initiatives themselves.”
