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precisely outline the
course of action that
peacekeepers need
to follow in order
to achieve the given
mandate. Further-
more, peacekeepers
must be aware of
the Status of Forces
Agreement (SOFA)
regulating their pre-
sence, rights, privi-
leges, immunities
and exemptions
while carrying out
their mandate in the
host state(s).
Concurrently with In order to put peacekeepers in the toring of the implementation of
the mission mandate and related best possible condition to operate the mandate many unplanned or
documents, before their deploy- efficiently, their training cannot be unexpected situations can be iden-
ment peace-keepers must receive limited to the vertical transmission tified as lessons, which must then
thorough and detailed lessons on of notions from instructors to stu- be analyzed, elaborated upon,
the host state, including its history, dents. The doctrinal part of training learned and translated into plan-
population, economy, resour- is indispensable, but it is necessary ning instruments and training ma-
ces, religions, customs, ethnicities to complement it with practical, terial. Thorough, inflexible and ho-
and tribes, main political parties no-nonsense, real-life learning nest debriefing at the end of each
as well as background, reasons, modules devised and managed operation and tour-of-duty should
intents and expectations of all by veterans with consolidated field provide a considerable wealth of
factions in conflict. That phase of experience. lessons that, properly processed,
pre-deployment training, some- Most peacekeepers have di- will complement doctrinal training
times neglected, is of the utmost rect knowledge of the difficulties with crucial, much needed field
importance as it helps peacekee- newcomers meet when reaching experience.
pers in avoiding awkward, dange- their AOO: working and living
rous and potentially fatal situations conditions, tasks and duties, lo-
deriving from different habits and cal perception of the mission and
perceptions. Despite increasing of international personnel, the
globalization local customs and actual overall situation never ma-
traditions are still considered in- tch expectations. The best way to
violable tenets, and disrespecting minimize that negative impact is
them – albeit unwillingly – might to share experiences, which tran-
bring to serious consequences. In slates in lessons identified, pro-
that perspective, if the local popu- cessed and learned. Unlike Best
lation does not perceive the mis- Practices, which can be biased by
sion as credible, supportive and in not fully apprised, concurrent ex-
line with their expectations its legi- ternal factors – e.g. uncommon
timacy is at stake. valor/performances of subordi-
In short, pre-deployment training nates, inefficiency of the enemy,
of peacekeepers needs to focus on luck – Lessons Learned (LL) focus Lt. Col. Roberto GONELLA
very clear and well justified DOs on what did not go according to
and DON’Ts while in Area of Ope- plans and on the following reme- CoESPU Peace Support Opera-
rations (AOO). dial action. In the constant moni- tions Chair.

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