Vietnam launches training course for U.N. military observers

VNDPKO’s Deputy Head Senior Colonel Nguyen Ba Hung addressing the event

The event saw the attendance of functional units of the Ministry of National Defense, and Defense Attachés of participating countries.

In his opening speech, Senior Colonel Nguyen Ba Hung, VNDPKO’s Deputy Head, thanked the U.S. instructors and coordinators, international and Vietnamese participants for their valuable contribution to the course, requesting Vietnamese lecturers to take full use of the opportunity to learn experience from international experts. Meanwhile, trainees should be active during the course so as to acquire knowledge and experience for their task performance in the future.

Harley Alves, Head of the GPOI team of international instructors, underscored the significance of the course and stated that it is one of the most necessary and important courses for countries contributing forces to peacekeeping activities. It provides essential knowledge for real-world mission assignments at U.N. missions.

He also spoke highly of Vietnam’s successful organization of the Competency Evaluation Program for Prospective United Nations Peacekeepers (CEPPP) in last September. Taking place from October 6 to 27, the training course aims to equip military officers of the Vietnam People’s Army with knowledge and skills on carrying out the duties of military observers deployed to U.N. peacekeeping missions. It also provides an opportunity to boost cooperation between Vietnam, the U.S., and international partners in the field of peacekeeping.

Delegates at the event

During the training course, trainees will learn theoretical and practical components covering the legal framework for U.N. peacekeeping activities, the roles and responsibilities of military observers in a peacekeeping mission, civilian-military coordination, human rights, and communications management, among many other issues.

Translated by Minh Anh