GPOI conducts a Senior Mission Leaders (SML) Course in Japan
The Center for Civil-Military Relations (CCMR), acting on behalf of US Pacific Command,
jointly conducted with the Government of Japan a high-visibility Global Peace Operations Initiative
(GPOI) Senior Mission Leaders (SML) course October 19-30, 2009, at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
in Tokyo. This significant training event was to prepare senior, experienced international personnel
to be leaders of UN peacekeeping missions. GPOI is the premier US Government peacekeeping training
program; CCMR is a top provider of training within the program.
The SML course directly supports international efforts (e.g., the G8 Action Plan, UN Member States)
to expand the available global pool of peacekeepers; more narrowly, senior leadership available for
consideration as senior mission leaders. Significantly, it was the first SML course taught by member
states. While this represented a departure from prior practice, it was a resounding success and
demonstrated that the US Government -- through CCMR -- had the ability to substantially expand
key elements of UN peacekeeping training.
Course participants comprised 26 military, police, and civilian officials from 13 countries
throughout the Asia-Pacific region. As potential senior mission leaders, they were exposed
during the course to current issues impacting senior mission leaders of UN missions:
public information and the media; disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration; peace
building; rule of law; protection of civilians; gender-based violence; security management;
humanitarian affairs, human rights and integrated mission management among others. As a result
of their participation, they add to the pool of experience the UN may consider when they select
senior management teams. Further, after returning to their home countries, they may serve as mentors
to national efforts to expand peacekeeping capabilities.
CCMR conducts its GPOI training under the rigorous auspices of UN-established training standards.
Its faculty for the event comprised a multinational group of experienced, senior instructors with
broad international peacekeeping experience, including four mentors who were former senior leaders
of peacekeeping missions, a facilitator team with over 50 years peacekeeping training experience
and guest lecturers from Headquarters, UN, Japanese peacekeeping related institutions, and from
on-going UN peacekeeping missions.
The CCMR training event was a tremendous success, met all of its course objectives and resulted in
an increase in senior mission leader availability. At the conclusion, the Government of Japan
expressed its appreciation to US PACOM and to CCMR for efforts of all parties in planning and
conducting this GPOI activity.
NPS Students exercise UN Peacekeeping in Bangladesh
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL, Monterey, Calif." A UN peacekeeping exercise in
Bangladesh in April gave six students from NPS the chance to bridge their academics
to the real world in a multi-national setting.
According to Air Force Major Jim Hackbarth, NPS Student Council Chairman and one of
the six students on the trip, the experience was excellent. "This was a chance for
us to do something in the real world that really connected with our academics. It was
a fantastic opportunity."
The exercise known as "Shanti Doot 2"—which means Ambassador of Peace—was
sponsored by the Center for Civil-Military Relations here. Hosted by the armed forces
of Bangladesh in the capitol city Dhaka and co-hosted by the United States Pacific Command,
the exercise operated in two parts. The smaller section was a command post exercise (CPX)
in Dhaka, while the larger portion was a field training exercise (FTX) in the jungles north
of the city. Five of the NPS students worked in the CPX and one helped run the FTX.
For more information click here.
For a Powerpoint presentation on the program click here.
Garuda Shield 2009: Selection of Articles
Source: The Jakarta Post
Indonesia Conducts Military Exercise With 21 Other Countries
Bandung, West Java (ANTARA News) — The Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) is
conducting a joint military exercise with 21 other nations to intensify cooperation and professionalism
in United Nations (UN) missions. The joint military exercise, codenamed "Garuda Shield 2009", was
officially launched by TNI Chief General Djoko Santoso at the Army`s Infantry Education Center
at Cipatat here on Tuesday. The exercise, sponsored the US Pacific Command (USPACOM,) is the third
held in Asia. The first joint military exercise was organized in Mongolia under the codename
"Khan Quest" (2007),and the second in Bangladesh under the codename "Santi Dhoot" (2008).
"Garuda Shield" is implemented in two stages, namely a command post rehearsal (June 16-22),
and a field rehearsal (June 22-29). The command post rehearsal is being participated in by
nine countries, and the field rehearsal will be joined by 12 countries. The participating
countries include the the United States, Japan, Australia, South Korea, France, Germany,
Italy, Singapore, Thailand and several other Asian countries. The exercise is aimed at
increasing solidarity in the implementation of UN missions, especially among troop
contributing countries (TCC). At the launching of the exercise, an exhibition of main
defense equipment system made by state arms industry PT Pindad was held. General Djoko
Santoso said the exercise was aimed at optimizing cooperation among troop contributing
countries to UN missions, following complex strategic environmental developments marked
by among other things the global financial crisis, swine flu pandemic, terrorism, transnational
crimes, and border conflicts. "Those issues force us to establish cooperation in dealing with
the issues to create regional security especially in Asia and the Pacific," he said. Meanwhile,
USPACOM Representative Major General Miyagi expressed his gratitude to the Indonesian government
for hosting the joint military exercise of UN peace-keeping troops.
Source: Antara
Indonesia Hosts UN Joint Military Training Exercise
TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Indonesian military (TNI) opened a joint military
exercise in West Java on Tuesday (16/6) which involves troops from 19 countries. The two-week
exercise called Garuda Shield was opened by TNI Commander General Djoko Suyanto at the Cipatat
Infantry Headquarters training facility in West Bandung, West Java. "The training is to improve
the operational capacity of the United Nations peace force in line with the standard of the
United Nations," said General Suyanto. General Suyanto said that the training was aimed at
improving state capability in peace support operations. Nine countries are participating
in the Command Post Training Exercise: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal,
the Philippines, Thailand, Tonga, and the US. Those taking part in the Field Training Exercise
are Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal,
New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United Kingdom and Vietnam.
Source: TEMPO Interactive, ALWAN RIDHA RAMDANI
Garuda Shield to Sharpen UN Cooperation
US Maj. Gen. Vern T. Miyagi, center, during the opening ceremony of a joint UN exercise, inspecting a CornerShot weapon designed for special forces. (Photo: Tatan Syuflana, AP)
Bandung. The Armed Forces began joint exercises with 21 other nations on Tuesday
in an effort to increase cooperation in United Nations missions and to foster stability
in the Asia-Pacific. Gen. Djoko Santoso, chief of the Armed Forces, officially launched
the exercise, code-named Garuda Shield 2009, at the Army's Infantry Education Center
in Cipatat in West Java on Tuesday. The exercise, sponsored by the US Pacific Command,
is the third such operation to be held in Asia. The first exercise was organized in
Mongolia under the code name Khan Quest in 2007, and the second, called Santi Dhoot,
took place in Bangladesh in 2008. Military officials said Garuda Shield would incorporate
two stages, including a command post operation this week, and a mock field mission next
week from June 22-29. Nine countries are slated to take part in the first phase, while
an additional 12 nations would participate in the field exercise. The United States, Japan,
Australia, South Korea, France, Germany, Italy, Singapore, Thailand and several other Asian
countries, including Malaysia, are taking part in the exercise. The event is aimed at increasing
solidarity among soldiers from countries contributing troops to UN missions. Djoko said
the exercise aimed to improve cooperation among participating forces in light of complex
geopolitical developments such as the global financial crisis and the swine flu pandemic,
as well as ongoing threats from terrorism, transnational crimes, and border conflicts. "Those
issues force us to establish cooperation in dealing with the issues to create regional security,
particularly in Asia and the Pacific," he said. Meanwhile, US Pacific Command representative
Maj. Gen. Miyagi thanked the Indonesian government for hosting the joint military exercise for
UN peacekeeping troops. Under the UN's international banner, Indonesia has deployed personnel
to conflict zones throughout the world, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Egypt, Georgia,
Iraq, Kuwait, Mozambique, the Philippines and Somalia. Indonesian's peacekeeping forces are under
deployment in Lebanon and Congo.
Source: The Jakarta Globe
Indonesia In Joint Army Exercise With 21 Countries
BANDUNG (WEST JAVA), June 16 — The Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI) is conducting
a joint military exercise with 21 nations, to intensify cooperation and professionalism in
United Nations (UN) missions, reports Antara news agency today. The joint military exercise,
codenamed "Garuda Shield 2009", was officially launched by TNI Chief General Djoko Santoso at the
Army's Infantry Education Centre at Cipatat here. The exercise, sponsored the US Pacific Command
(USPACOM) is the third held in Asia. The first joint military exercise was organised in Mongolia,
under the codename "Khan Quest" (2007),and the second in Bangladesh, under the codename
"Santi Dhoot" (2008). "Garuda Shield" will be implemented in two stages, namely a command post
rehearsal (June 16-22), and a field rehearsal (June 22-29). The command post rehearsal will
involve nine countries, while the field rehearsal will be joined by 12 nations. The participating
countries include the United States, Japan, Australia, South Korea, France, Germany, Italy,
Singapore, Thailand and several other Asian countries. The exercise is aimed at increasing
solidarity in the implementation of UN missions, especially among troop contributing countries (TCC).
At the launching of the exercise, an exhibition of main defence equipment systems made by state arms
industry PT Pindad was held. General Djoko Santoso said the exercise was aimed at optimising
cooperation among troop contributing countries to UN missions, following complex strategic
environmental developments marked by, among other things, the global financial crisis;
swine flu pandemic; terrorism; transnational crimes; and border conflicts. "Those issues
force us to establish cooperation in dealing with the issues to create regional security
especially in Asia and the Pacific," he said. Meanwhile, USPACOM expressed its gratitude
to the Indonesian government for hosting the joint military exercise of UN peace-keeping troops.
Source: Bernama
