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PRE-DEPLOYMENT TRAINING - LESSONS LEARNED

PEACEKEEPING

PRE-DEPLOYMENT TRAINING

“Peacekeeping pre-deployment bulk of training must be underta- and in UN specific training, which
training: a shared commitment ken prior to arriving in theatre—as focuses on the knowledge, skills
and responsibility” pre-deployment training. Indeed, and attitudes specific to peaceke-
robust pre-deployment training is eping. A recent training needs
By Lotta Hagman a critical com-
ponent in the “there is need for scenario-ba-
successful per-
Deficient pre-deployment trai- formance of sed training exercises to practi-
ning is one of the main causes of peacekeeping ce in-mission coordination
fatalities and serious injuries in personnel. As
the field. was pointed and rapid response to real si-
“Improving Security of United Na- out in the Cruz tuations peacekeepers face in
tions Peacekeepers” also termed Report , inade-
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the “Cruz Report” quate pre-de- serving to protect civilians”.
Adequate preparation is a prere- ployment trai-
quisite for implementing the com- ning results not
plex mandates United Nations only in poor performance and the assessment of Formed Police Unit
(UN) peacekeeping missions recei- lack of mandate implementation, it command staff conducted by the
ve from the Security Council. As may also have fatal consequences. Integrated Training Service (ITS) in
such, training is a strategic invest- Despite this realization, pre-de- DPO, found the need to strengthen
ment in peacekeeping that enables ployment training remains un- pre-deployment training in both
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police, military and civilian staff to der-resourced and is often in- these areas. While there is a need
carry out their tasks in what are in- sufficient. Reviews conducted by to improve training in the pro-
creasingly challenging and often peacekeeping missions and by the tection of personnel and property,
hostile environments. Given that Department of Peace Operations crowd and riot control, community
peacekeepers do not have the lu- (DPO) have found that there are policing and weapons handling,
xury to take their time to settle in several gaps in pre-deployment there is also need for increased
but instead often have to literally training. These gaps arise both emphasis on how to implement
hit the ground running, the vast in national general skills training, the mission mandate as it relates

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