Asia Pacific
Enhanced Peace Operations Capacity Building Program
Seminar
Requirements Based
Training &
Education
for Peace Support
Operations
2-6 July 2007
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
ÒI can't
change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach
my destination.Ó
|
|
Purpose
The main purposes of this
seminar are as follows:
á
To gain knowledge, share
information and exchange experiences on multilateral, multifunctional,
strategic/operational issues that will impact on future UN peace support
operations
á
To gain specific insight into how
to optimize military training and education efforts preparing for the evolving,
demanding environment in which future peace support operations will be
conducted
á
To build peace operations capacity
in the Asia-Pacific Region
Focus
Within the context of a
complex, multi-national and multi-dimensional peace support operation, this
seminar will focus on examining key issues in the process of attempting to optimizing
preparation of military forces to fully meet the demands of future UN
sanctioned missions.
These issues will be
examined from the perspective of the training and education framework which currently
exists for UN peacekeeping missions.
Particular emphasis will
be placed on examining the processes involved identifying operational
requirements or tasks for which training/education is needed, allocating
responsibility for that training/education, establishing the standards of
performance expected and confirming if those standards are met.
Specific Objectives:
á
To create a positive learning
environment for participants in order to enable an effective exchange of information
and an open opportunity to share experiences in preparing for UN peace support
operations
á
To examine the processes
involved identifying/specifying operational requirements/tasks for national
military forces in future UN PSOs
á
To look at the utility of a systemic
PSO lessons learned program
á
To explore a requirements-based
training system model and discuss its utility optimizing preparation of
national forces for future UN PSO
á
To investigate
training/education structures with a view to consistently deploying national
military forces fully capable of participating effectively in future UN PSOs
á
To examine the issues
associated with establishing PSO education/training standards & associated
conditions: What is needed? Who should be responsible?
á
To explore the issues associated
with confirming those PSO task standards are met: What is needed? Who should
be responsible?
á
To enhance interactions and
understanding on these issues among nations and examining potential regional,
UN, PACOM roles
á
To address linkages of these
issues with civilian PSO partners
á
To investigate all issues from
strategic/operational/tactical perspectives
Seminar Concept:
The seminar is a 4
1/2-day, unclassified event. It consists of two main parts: a series of
scene-setting presentations followed by small group discussions on
four key issues related to
optimizing training/education system needs to ensure units are adequately
prepared for the demands of tomorrowÕs PSOs.
Each issue is addressed by
conducting an introductory plenary brief on the topic to be addressed, facilitated
small group discussions and finally a concluding plenary where groups brief the
conclusions of their discussions.
Discussion groups will be formed
in a manner intended to provide balanced experience levels in all groups and as
wide a variety of national perspectives as possible.
Concluding plenary briefs will
be given to and commented on by the Subject Matter Experts and facilitators
present.
Small Group
Discussion Topics
Issue 1
Identifying
Operational Requirements/Tasks for Future PSO
Groups are asked to
examine the current operational situation facing military peacekeepers today and
to identify the evolving/new tasks which will challenge national preparations
for future PSO deployments from an education/training perspective. A particular
challenge for many nations is keeping abreast of the challenges facing current
and future peacekeeping operations. The process of keeping up to date on the
evolution of peacekeeping requirements and tasks is an important one. How to
remain current will be a topic of discussion. A central theme to be explored
will be to identify the mechanisms that need to be in place in order to ensure
that peace support operations training/education efforts are optimized
utilizing a requirements/tasks based approach.
Issue 2
PSO Training &
Education Management Policies & Procedures
In order to ensure
adequate preparations for future peace support operations a suitable
training/education framework needs to be in place. The UN, in concert with interested
member states, has nearly completed the process of establishing compulsory
Standard Training Modules Programs peacekeepers at all levels must complete
before they deploy to a peacekeeping mission. The UN also completes some
strategic level Òlessons learnedÓ analysis which generates UN guidance in
specific areas. ÒLessons learnedÓ will be examined from a systemic point of
view - the value of the process to units will be examined. With minor exception
primacy for preparing military units and individuals for peace support
operations clearly remains a national responsibility. Groups are tasked to
examine all aspects of the current training/education system preparing for UN
peace support operations with a view to ensuring that a coherent approach is in
place - one which will enable military units and individuals deploying from any
nation to be well prepared for tomorrowÕs UN peacekeeping challenges.
Issue 3
PSO Training &
Education Standards & Evaluation
A key aspect of any
comprehensive training & education system is a realistic evaluation of its
effectiveness. In order to measure effectiveness a comprehensive set of
standards must be developed as a foundation for that process. In a requirements-based,
tasks-oriented system, conditions under which those standards are to be
measured also need to be specified. Groups will examine these issues from a
holistic preparation for UN peace support operations perspective.
Issue 4
Exploiting Training
& Education Platforms
Although troop
contributing countries still bear primary responsibility for preparing their
own forces for UN Peace Support operations, there are possible opportunities
for some of this effort to be achieved using other training/education platforms
- regional arrangements, PACOM activities, and UN related-activities. Groups
will be tasked to examine this issue with a view to expressing their opinions
on ways in which the utility of these other training/education platforms could
be optimized in the Asia Pacific region.
Schedule of Activities
Asia
Pacific
Enhanced
Peace Operations Capacity Building Program
Seminar on
Requirements Based
Training & Education for Peace
Support Operations
BRIEFINGS
Issue 1 Group
Discussion
Identifying Operational
Requirements/Tasks
for Future PSO
ÒNeither a wise nor a brave man lies
down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over
him.Ó
Dwight
David Eisenhower
34th US
President
The majority of todayÕs
peace support operations take place in failed or failing state environments.
Typically these environments are characterized by spoilers - insurgents,
criminal elements, corrupt officials, etc. - with little or no interest in
having the peace building process succeed. Frequently their actions generate violence
and consequently serious security concerns for all the peace support operations
partners involved.
Efforts to put a nation
having difficulty back in a position where it is capable of looking after the
needs of its own citizens and those citizens have the opportunity to adequately
provide for themselves and their families are being seriously hampered. Coincidently
UN military forces, UN civilian staff and the staff of IOs/NGOs have increasingly
become targets for attack. In some mission areas humanitarian and development efforts
have even been brought to a standstill.
Without adequate security,
essential humanitarian, governance, development and other essential
post-conflict peace building work cannot take place. How to successfully
handle these security related challenges has become a major issue for all
stakeholders in the peace restoration process. Military forces whose operations
have been authorized by the UN are the principle providers of security in failing/failed
states operations. How they address this significant new security challenge, in
concert with the efforts of their peace operations partners, will play a key
role in determining how successfully this issue can be handled.
Issue 1 Requirement
Identify
the evolved/new military tasks you feel your nations must carefully prepare its
military forces for, in order to perform effectively in any future peace
support operations.
From
a systemic perspective how can all involved in the system of providing troops
for UN sanctioned military operations be best keep abreast of the evolved/new military
tasks forces will need to prepare for, before deploying to UN authorized
operations?
In your discussion groups
address the preceding matters and prepare a 15-minute brief to highlight your
general conclusions.
Your brief can address any
topic you consider pertinent but must include the following:
á
Identifying what current/future
military PSO requirements/tasks you see as being significant different - tasks
which would generate considerable change in how you would prepare national
forces for deployment.
á
Placing those tasks in priority
á
Addressing the question of how
we link up with our NGO & other civilian peacekeeping partners in the
process of identifying evolving tasks/requirements which the military need to
address
á
Using current practices as a
benchmark comment on how effective your group thinks the existing principles
dealing with these issues - the UN, Regional Organizations, and Member States -
are in generating constructive analysis of current operations and utilizing that
to identify new/evolving tasks for which military forces must be prepared.
á
Using current practices as a
benchmark identify any changes you think would be necessary in the role
and responsibilities of the UN, Regional Organizations, Member States in the
following areas:
¯
Gathering appropriate
information from current operations
¯
Analyzing that information
¯
Confirming the evolved/new tasks
for which military forces must be prepared in order to be effective in
UN-sanctioned peace support operations
¯
Communicating the results of
the process in a timely manner to all involved
¯
Ensuring an efficient,
effective process which properly connects all parties concerned
¯
Ensuring that the information
gathering, analysis, task identification, and communication process is
conducted effectively and on a regular basis
Extracts from the Canadian
Publication
ÒThe Force Employment Concept
for the ArmyÓ
31 March 2004
Our Army must be prepared to fight and win in the 21st Century
land battle. Indications are that the future security environment will continue
to be volatile, lethal and ambiguous, with more operations being conducted in
an urban environment. Political and societal expectations are for operations
that inflict the minimum number of friendly, civilian and even enemy
casualties. There is a growing expectation that operations can be accomplished
relatively quickly and with little tolerance for error.
This force employment concept provides a conceptual foundation
ÉÉÉÉ..It highlights the significant changes in capability or concepts from
those of today's Army and provides the basis for Òunity of thoughtÓ across the
Army and its supporting elements. In addition, it provides a tool for
communication, professional military education and training. Finally, the
concept reflects the vision of our Army as being knowledge-based,
command-centric and soldier focussed.
Background
The world remains a
dangerous place. Trends indicate that future conflict will be persistent,
violent and increasingly unpredictable. It has been widely accepted that
intra-state rather than inter-state war will be the norm. Failed states will
continue to flounder in anarchy and violence fuelled by conflict based on
ethnicity, nationalism and religious fundamentalism.
This is not to say that
inter-state conflict will disappear. Territorial concerns, sponsorship of
terrorism, weapons programs and conflict over
social issues such as human rights, over-population, mass migration and the
depletion of natural resources will continue to provide potential catalysts for
war. Moreover, trans-national crime and global terrorism will remain a 21st
Century fact of life. Disenfranchised groups and failed states within the
global order will continue to turn to asymmetric means and increasingly violent
terrorist tactics to advance their causes and to strike at those states and
societies perceived as being opposed, or a threat to, their beliefs and way of
life.
Canada is not immune to these trends and threats. Conflict and
inequity around the world will necessitate Canada's economic, political and
potentially military assistance to help stabilize the global order. Inevitably,
as a result of our geographic location, cultural mosaic, and participation in
coalition operations, conflict may be brought to or emerge within Canada.
Furthermore, globalization and rapid scientific and technological innovation
are spawning the proliferation of cheap, accessible and highly effective
weapons that could provide even the smallest of terrorist movements with a
potent arsenal. This has made domestic security more challenging than ever.
The Changing Face of Warfare
Equally significant, the changes in the geo-political security
environment are compounded by significant corollary adjustments to the
methodology of warfare. Conflict scenarios are expected to vary in severity and
intensity, with the level of violence likely to remain toward the lower end of
the scale. However, the probability of large-scale conventional conflict, while
low, remains. Conflict will become increasingly complex due to the asymmetric
nature of the threat, the use of complex terrain and the expansion of areas of
operation. This demanding battle space will encompass the realms of land, sea,
air and space, as well as the electro-magnetic spectrum and the cybernetic
domain. Urban terrain will increasingly become the setting for conflict.
Operations will often be characterized by what has become known as the
Òthree-block war,Ó where forces can expect to be providing humanitarian
assistance in one part of a city, conducting peace support operations in
another and fighting a lethal battle in yet a third. Moreover, the requirement
to transition from one type of activity to the next could be measured in
minutes.
In sum, the traditional, attritional approach to warfare that
focused on physical mass and firepower against a predictable, symmetrical enemy
on an open, linear battlefield seems highly improbable. In its stead, the conduct
of war has changed to emphasize precision engagement and manoeuvre, with an
increasing emphasis on urban operations. However, the transformation is not yet
complete. War fighting is further evolving into network- enabled and
effects-based operations.
Network-enabled warfare will shift the traditional emphasis on
platforms to focus on a system of highly integrated networks. Such a shift will
allow for the application of the full range of non-lethal and lethal effects,
including joint, interagency and multinational. These networks will fuse the
available information using leading-edge technology to provide commanders with
the best possible situational awareness so that specific effects can be brought
to bear in a precise and discriminate manner. This will continue to drive
changes in how the Army fights at all levels of command.
Complementary to network enabled warfare is a shift to effects
based operations (EBO). This shift continues the departure from the
attritional-based approach of attacking physical targets to meet military
objectives and amass quantifiable results to one of attacking an opponent's
will and capacity to wage war. Reliance will not necessarily be on physical
means of destruction, although such means must remain in the arsenal. Information
operations will become a powerful enabler, wielded not only in war but also in
crisis and peace, both defensively and offensively. Such an approach demands
the integration of a wide variety of capabilities such as public affairs and
psychological operations within a consistent and coordinated approach.
To operate in this demanding environment requires a
reorientation of how we think and operate. A clear understanding of the
national interest and policy is key. During operations, it will be essential
for commanders to use all tools at their disposal. To wage combat operations,
they will need to develop situations out of contact, engage targets with
long-range, stand-off precision effects, overmatch the enemy and stand ready to
engage in the close fight, if and when necessary. In some situations, integral
capabilities may be sufficient. Others situations may demand a coordinated
effort of integral and coalition assets to provide for those capabilities not
in the inventory— for example, heavy armour, multiple launch rocket
strikes or attack aviation.
Source: http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/ael/pubs/reference/
fe_concepts_eng.pdf
An Extract from
Canadian Directorate - Land
Strategic Concepts
Report Number 99-2
ÒThe Future Security EnvironmentÓ
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A NATO paper titled ÒNature of the Battlespace
in 2020Ó envisions two general conflict scenarios which it describes conceptually
as a ÒviewÓ.
View 1 describes
the characteristics foreseen in any future conflict between modern, well
equipped, well trained, mechanized forces. View 2 describes those foreseen when
a modern force is opposed by organizations that do not necessarily represent
states and are not structured in the normal manner of most armies.
