The goal is to help soldiers prepare thoroughly in psychological and mental aspects before undertaking overseas missions, with a particular focus on stress management and the prevention of potential mental health risks during deployment.
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Delegates and soldiers participating in the opening ceremony of the experience exchange at the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations |
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Members of the Engineering Company Rotation 4 preparing for deployment attend the experience exchange |
Taking place from May 19 to 25, the program aims to raise awareness and share experiences related to mental health care for personnel of the Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 7 and the Engineering Company Rotation 4 before their deployment. It also provides a forum to discuss and evaluate lessons learned from soldiers’ real-life experiences at U.N. missions.
Participants include mental health experts from the Australian Defense Force, officers of the Vietnam People’s Army who have served in U.N. peacekeeping missions, and members of the Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 7 and the Engineering Company Rotation 4.
At the opening ceremony on May 22, held at the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Senior Colonel Nguyen Nhu Canh, Deputy Director of the department, emphasized the importance of both physical and, especially, mental preparation for officers and soldiers before deployment in high-pressure environments with numerous risks.
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Major Caroline Anderson, Australian Army psychological expert, shares mental health knowledge. |
Senior Colonel Nguyen Nhu Canh also highlighted the need for ongoing psychological assessments, support mechanisms during missions, and reintegration support after returning home, to ensure the long-term health and sustainable operational capacity of peacekeeping forces.
He affirmed that the experience exchange offers a valuable opportunity for officers and staff of Engineering Company Rotation 4, who are preparing for international deployment, to gain practical knowledge, professional insights, and psychological support techniques from experienced Australian Army specialists.
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Representatives from the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Australian experts, and delegates in a group photo |
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Representatives from the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Australian experts and members of the Engineering Company Rotation 4 in a joint photo |
Speaking at the opening, Major Caroline Anderson noted that through this program, Australian specialists share insights on mental health challenges faced by peacekeepers, including the physical impacts of stress; mental preparation strategies for deployment, for both soldiers and their families; and methods of self-care and peer support while stationed in mission areas.
Earlier, on May 20, a similar exchange was conducted at Military Hospital 175 in Ho Chi Minh City. During that session, Australian experts and Vietnamese officers who had completed missions with the Level-2 Field Hospitals Rotations 3 and 5 exchanged experience and advice with personnel of the Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 7, who are currently preparing for deployment to South Sudan
Translated by Minh Anh