French experts share experience with Vietnamese peacekeeping officers

PANO - On October 24, the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VNDPKO) and the French Defense Attaché Office in Vietnam launched a specialized training course on four-wheel-drive vehicle operation for over 30 officers of the Vietnam People’s Army, who will be individually deployed to United Nations (U.N.) peacekeeping missions in 2024.

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This is the first collaboration of its kind between Vietnam and France, marking a significant step in strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the two countries’ armed forces, especially in the field of U.N. peacekeeping.

Running from October 24 to November 7, the course aims to equip Vietnamese officers with essential knowledge and skills, including vehicle handling, towing, maintenance, and repair of four-wheel-drive off-road vehicles, in line with U.N. requirements. The training is led by experienced officers from the French Armed Forces and experts from the European Union.

At the opening ceremony, Senior Colonel Nguyen Nhu Canh, Deputy Head of the VNDPKO, expressed confidence that with the technical support and experience shared by the French instructors, the Vietnamese participants would gain necessary skills and experience to successfully perform their assigned missions in U.N. peacekeeping operations.

French Defense Attaché Colonel Anne Brun reaffirmed that defense cooperation between France and Vietnam is increasingly developing, and expressed hope to further strengthen collaboration with Vietnam in the U.N. peacekeeping field.

The course content includes both theoretical and practical training. The theory sessions cover using winches and speed bumps, inspecting vehicle frame and tires, pre-departure checks, handling vehicles before and after passing obstacles, off-road driving tools, terrain recognition, and vehicle maintenance. The practical component trains participants in terrain recognition, winch operation, towing exercises, and maintenance both before and after vehicle use. They will also engage in off-road driving exercises tailored to real-life scenarios.