Background

Since the Security Council first established peacekeeping missions, the operational environment has evolved significantly, growing both in size and complexity. Military and police units are a key element for mandate implementation in many Peacekeeping Operations. Unit performance has sometimes become the yardstick against which the success of mission is measured, and it is essential to understand units’ deployment and performance is one of the most challenging aspects for both mission leadership and unit commanders. 

The Department of Peace Operations has developed a suite of specialised training materials (STM) and Reinforcement Training Packages (RTP) to prepare military units for their deployment in UN Missions. There are also unique training packages on the Protection of Civilians (POC), Child Protection and Conflict-Related Sexual Violence. These activities alongside other military and police activities enable mandate implementation.

Experience has also shown that force protection tasks, despite their distinct nature, generate significant overlap with other mission activities. This is particularly true at the tactical level, where the assessment of threats, as well as the planning for and response to complex crises, is likely to simultaneously involve elements from the POC, Child Protection and Conflict-Related Sexual Violence realms. In order to reflect these realities and prepare peacekeepers for the multi-dimensional realities on the ground, this force protection training package aims to demonstrate the complex linkages between protection tasks, and provide training guidance on how to prevent, deter and respond to the interrelated threats.

Aim

According to the 2017 United Nations dos Santos Cruz report on peacekeeping fatalities , the peacekeeping environment features armed groups, terrorists, organised crime, street gangs, criminal and political exploitation, and other threat groups that attack UN units and civilian populations. The dos Santos Cruz report notes that some units and personnel lack an appropriate mindset to operate in the peacekeeping environment: “If the United Nations and T/PCCs do not change their mindset, take risks, and show a willingness to face these new challenges, they will be consciously sending troops into harm’s way. ”  The dos Santos Cruz report states that hostile groups do not understand a language other than force. To deter and repel attacks and to defeat attackers, the United Nations needs to be seen to be strong and not fear to use force when necessary. To improve security, missions should identify threats to their security and take the initiative, using all the tactics, to neutralise or remove the threats. Missions should go where the threat is, in order to neutralise it.

This RTP provides troop and police-contributing countries with a training package that combines conceptual, legal, and operational aspects to support the tactical planning of units to operate in peacekeeping operations. The training package is designed for application in both pre-deployment and in-mission training.

Target audience

The target audience of this package is military and police unit decision-makers, leaders, and staff at the tactical level. Also, this material is beneficial for the leadership and staff at the Mission/Force / Sector Headquarters levels and equivalent police command levels. The materials may lend themselves to a wide audience. Also, the audience can include personnel identified as decision-makers and staff officers who may be assigned to train, equip, employ, coordinate, or deploy the Unit. Member state trainers and course directors will benefit from these materials.

Structure of the training materials

Link to download the Force Protection Reinforcement Training Package 

Module 1:            Conceptual Framework

Module 2:            Legal Framework

Module 3:            Operational Framework

• Annex A:              Lessons- PowerPoint Slide Presentations
• Annex B:              Tabletop Exercise (TTX); Scenario-based Exercise (SBE)
• Annex C:              References

Table of Contents

Lesson 1.1:         Introduction

Lesson 1.2           Introduction to Force Protection

Lesson 1.3           Threat/Intelligence-based approach

Lesson 1.4           Decision-Making Process Introduction (military)

Lesson 1.5           Decision-Making Process Introduction (police)

Lesson 1.6           IED Fundamentals

Lesson 1.7           Introduction to Cyber Threats

Lesson 1.8           Introduction to Misinformation/Disinformation

Lesson 2.1           Legal Framework for Force Protection 291

Lesson 3.1           Military Unit Tactical FP Planning Considerations

Lesson 3.2           Police Unit Tactical FP Planning Considerations

Lesson 3.3           Tactical Planning Considerations for IED Risk Mitigation

Lesson 3.4           Cyber Threats / Risk Mitigation

Lesson 3.5           Mitigating Misinformation / Disinformation Affecting Unit Operations