User:Hhaegdorens

Hans Haegdorens (* 17 April 1962 in Deurne, Antwerp) is a Commandant (OF3) of the Belgian Army and Belgian Press Officer at Headquarters Eurocorps in Strasbourg (France). Before from August to December 2006 he was spokesperson of the European Union led mission EUFOR RD Congo in Kinshasa and Potsdam (Germany).

Military Career

After his high school studies of Mathematics at the Saint Joseph College in Turnhout (Belgium) he joined the Royal Military Academy  in Brussels with the 137th Polytechnic Promotion in 1982. He switched to the 123rd Promotion (promotion of Prince Laurent of Belgium) the next year.

After his studies in 1988 he joined the 1ste Jagers te Paard Regiment (1JP) (Armored Reconnaissance Battalion) in Arolsen (Germany) where he served as a platoon commander for two years. This unit was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Van de Borre Rolf. In 1990 he joined the 3ème Régiment de Lanciers (3L) (Tank Battalion) in Spich (Germany) as the military security officer (S2) of this battalion’s staff. This unit was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Moons Daniel. In 1992 after the dissolution of the 3ème Régiment de Lanciers he joined the 4th Régiment de Chasseurs à Cheval (4ChCh) (Armored Reconnaissance Battalion) in Arnsberg-Neheim (Germany) as the assistant operations officer (AS3). This unit was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Driessens. From February 1993 he was acting operations officer (S3) of this regiment during the deployment of 2 recce companies to Somalia (Feb 1993 Restore Hope- June 1993 UNOSOM I) and one recce company to the genocide crisis in Rwanda (Operation Silver Back from April to May 1994).

In June 1994 he joined HQ Eurocorps in Strasbourg (France) as the assistant personnel management officer (AGPB) at the G1 Branch in the Aubert de Vincelles barracks. In this period the G1 Branch was commanded by the German Oberst Uthemann. He participated in the early exercises of this newly formed Army Corps Headquarters (Pegasus 1994, Cigogne 1994, Eurotransitex 1995, Cigogne 1995, Pegasus 1995, Pegasus 1996). After this multinational experience he returned in July 1996 to Belgium to serve at the Study Office of the Armored Cavalry School in Leopoldsburg (Belgium).

From September 1997 to June 1998 he followed the course for superior officer at the KHID-IRSD in Brussels (Belgium).

In July 1998 he joined the Staff of the Army in the General Headquarters in Evere, Brussels to serve as the Public Relations officer of the Ground Staff-Information and Public Relation Division (GS-IRP) where he lead the Exposition Detachment. GS-IRP was commanded in this period by Colonel Van Put, Colonel Moons and Colonel Plasman. He was tasked with the organization of events and happenings to improve the visibility of the Belgian Army. He was in lead of several big events; know as “Days of the Army” (up to 60000 visitors) in Leopoldsburg 1999, Nieuwpoort 2000 and Mons 2001 (Belgium).

In July 2001 he rejoined HQ Eurocorps and became Press Officer at the Public Information Office (PIO) at the Sturm barracks in Strasbourg (France). PIO was commanded in this period by the Belgian Colonel Van den Put, the German Oberst von Seydlitz and the French Colonel Toussaint. After the restructuring of HQ Eurocorps for the High Readiness Force (HRF) certification, he became Chief of the Internal Information cell. He was the driving force behind Eurocorps’ five languages web site (on line since 2001) and internal information products such as the Eurocorps Gazette (5 issues of 36 pages a year). He participated in several exercises for the HRF certification (Cobra 2001 in Cadiz (Spain), Common Effort 2002 in Wildflecken (Germany) and Cobra 2003 in Vogelsang (Eifel Mountains,Germany)). He was involved in the information production and preparation of Eurocorps’ mission ISAF VI, but left HQ Eurocorps in September 2004.

From September 2004 to May 2007 he served as Public Information officer at the General Direction of Image and Public Relations (DG IPR) of the Belgian Defence in the General Headquarters in Evere, Brussels (Belgium). In August 2006 he was appointed to participate in the EU mission EUFOR RD Congo as a press officer in the Operational Headquarters in Potsdam (Germany) under the command of the German Lieutenant General Viereck and he became the spokes person of this mission in Kinshasa (RDC) under the command of the French Major General Damay from 15 November to 31 December 2006.

In May 2007 he rejoined HQ Eurocorps and became again the Press Officer/Chief Internal Information of the Public Affairs Office (PAO) at the Aubert de Vincelles barracks in Strasbourg (France). PAO was commanded in this period by the Belgian Colonel Van Cant Ivan, the Spanish Coronel Suevos Raul and the German Oberst Stumpf.

Commandant Haegdorens speaks fluently five languages: Dutch, French, English, German and Spanish. He is interested in military & European history, military simulation board games and reading in French/English. His favorite sport is wave riding, especially on the spots of Hossegor (France).

Haegdorens Hans is married with Carina and has a son and a daughter.