Themed “Deployment and utilization of the engineering company with medical personnel in U.N. peacekeeping forces to build and promote positive military relations,” VINBAX 2024 draws the participation of 47 members from Indian and Vietnamese engineering and medical forces engaged in U.N. peacekeeping operations.
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Vietnamese Ambassador to India Nguyen Thanh Hai (left) and Commanding General of Kharga Corps, Western Command, Indian Army Lt. Gen. Rajesh Pushkar beat the gong to launch VINBAX 2024. |
The Vietnamese delegation, led by Senior Colonel Luu Dinh Hien, Commanding Officer of the Training Center under the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VNDPKO), includes personnel from the VNPDKO, the Engineering Corps, the Military Medical University, and the Air Defense - Air Force Service. This is the first time Vietnam has sent two air force officers to a VINBAX as observers.
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Vietnamese and Indian forces at VINBAX 2024 |
The exercise, which lasts until November 24, consists of three stages.
In the first stage which focused on professional skills, engineering troops learned about the personnel organization and tasks of a road engineering company; the process of task performance of an engineering company at a U.N. peacekeeping mission; the arrangement and establishment of official and temporary bases; shelters and safe shelter locations; and visited a shelter model in the U.N. base. Meanwhile, the medical force began specialized training session at Ambala Military Hospital, learned about the organization and personnel arrangement of level 1, 2, 3 hospitals at U.N. missions; and the equipment of level 2-field hospitals.
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Sr. Col. Luu Dinh Hien, head of the Vietnamese delegation, shares experience with participating personnel. |
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Indian instructor talks about the legal framework in U.N. peacekeeping operations. |
In the second stage, on November 9, the engineering force were provided with general knowledge of South Sudan’s history, geography, socio-culture and political security, learned about communication management for an engineering unit, indigenous national culture, types of camps at U.N. missions, construction and maintenance procedures for U.N. facilities undertaken by an engineering company.
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Vietnamese and Indian officers at an exchange activity |
In the upcoming third stage, Indian and Vietnamese forces will join an integrated exercise on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), during which disaster response plans will be devised in a tabletop exercise and the Indian side will perform HADR activities to respond to such disasters as floods, earthquakes, fire, and industrial and chemical disasters.
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Officers in mine clearance training |
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Officers protecting the unit |
Within VINBAX 2024, many cultural and sport exchanges, artistic performances, campfire nights, and other outdoor activities will be held with the aim of boosting understanding, tightening friendship between participating forces of the two sides. Notably, at the end of the exercise, there will be visits to sites showcasing Indian military equipment.
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Vietnamese and Indian officers do exercise in the morning |
VINBAX 2024, the fifth of its kind, is the third field exercise on U.N. peacekeeping operations that has been hosted alternatively by Vietnam and India since 2008. After the two successful tabletop simulation exercises in India in 2018 and in Vietnam in 2019, VINBAX has been expanded and upgraded into a field exercise since 2022.
Reported by Giang Hai from India
Translated by Mai Huong