Onno Eichelsheim (Schiedam, 1966) began his military career as a cadet at the Royal Netherlands Military Academy in Breda in 1986. In 1990, he completed his basic flight training and was awarded his helicopter pilot wings. Until 1996, he served in a variety of operational positions as a helicopter pilot with 299 Squadron at Deelen Air Base, during which time he was deployed to Bosnia. He subsequently served as deputy flight commander with the first Dutch Apache Squadron to train with the unit training programme in Fort Hood, Texas (USA). Together with the US Army 21st Cavalry Brigade, he developed operational procedures in support of joint operations with the Dutch Apache. His work in Texas laid a solid foundation for the future establishment of the new airmobile brigade in the Netherlands armed forces. Back in the Netherlands, Onno Eichelsheim was assigned as flight commander of 301 Apache Squadron, and was once again deployed to Bosnia. Promoted to the rank of major, he was responsible for planning the first deployment of the AH-64D Longbow Apache detachment to Djibouti as part of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE). He was subsequently assigned as Ops Officer to 302 Squadron and was responsible for developing a new training course for Apache pilots and a training programme for joint operations with 11 Airmobile Brigade and the Commando Corps. His experience in joint operations served him well during his deployment to Kabul, Afghanistan, as detachment commander in 2004. Serving in the rank of lieutenant colonel, in 2005 Onno Eichelsheim was assigned to the position of commander of 301 Squadron, where he further developed the amalgamation of the two Apache squadrons, partly by implementing an entirely new organisational structure. He was also actively involved in the development of the Defence Helicopter Command. In March 2007, he completed a tour of duty as detachment commander in Tarin Kowt, Uruzgan (Afghanistan).