Thailand peacekeeper reflects on his experiences at Exercise Shanti Prayas-2

Photo By Andrea Chaney | Capt. Asaras Lorkongsuk, from the Royal Thai Army, takes a break from a staff exercise during Shanti Prayas-2, a two-week peacekeeping training exercise in Kathmandu, Nepal. The exercise is part of the Global Peace Operations Initiative, a U.S. State Department program executed in the region by facilitators from U.S. Pacific Command. The training addresses major gaps in international peacekeeping operations, which aims to build and maintain capability, capacity, and effectiveness of peacekeepers deploying to United Nations missions. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Andi Hahn, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs)  

KATHMANDU, NEPAL

03.31.2013

Courtesy Story

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command         

By Capt. Andi Hahn, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs

KATHMANDU, Nepal - While attending his first peacekeeping exercise, Capt. Asaras Lorkongsuk said he wants to take home his new friendships from around the world and his new knowledge about peace operations.

Lorkongsuk is a member of the Royal Thai Army in the Kingdom of Thailand. After recently being promoted, Lorkongsuk was selected to participate in Shanti Prayas-2, hosted by the Nepalese army, in Kathmandu, Nepal. The two-week training exercise is part of the Global Peace Operations Initiative, a U.S. State Department program executed in the region by facilitators from U.S. Pacific Command.

The training addresses major gaps in international peacekeeping operations. The program aims to build and maintain capability, capacity, and effectiveness of peacekeepers deploying to United Nations missions.

Lorkongsuk is part of the staff exercise which brought staff officers from 23 different nations together to plan, coordinate and execute peacekeeping scenarios that can be applied directly to real-world situations.

“I love to help people, especially all around the world, not just my country,” Lorkongsuk said. “My country, Thailand, has had a lot of participation in United Nations missions. It's very important”

Lorkongsuk hasn’t participated in peace operations yet, but he hopes to be an integral part of a United Nations operation in Pakistan later this fall.

Lorkongsuk said he has been very impressed with the host-nation and Nepalese army for their professionalism and knowledge in peace operations.

“They are so much better than I thought,” he said. “They have really impressed me with everything they have done for us here.”

“Here now, I get to learn how to be a staff officer in United Nations and work with so many people from around the world,” he said. “I am very happy and really enjoying the training.”

• Date Taken: 03.31.2013
• Date Posted: 04.03.2013 15:08
• Story ID: 104544
• Location: KATHMANDU, NP