Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Sheldon | Senior members of the Hawaii National Guard pose for a photo with Soldiers of Charlie...... read more read more
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SENTUL, Indonesia - The Global Peace Operations Initiative Capstone Training Event held at the Indonesia Peace and Security Center ended on Sept. 1, 2014 in Sentul, Indonesia. A total of 21 countries participated in the largest peacekeeping training event in the world. Special guests included in the ceremony: U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Darryll D.M. Wong, The Adjutant General of Hawaii; U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Bruce E. Oliveira, Hawaii Army National Guard Commander and Indonesian Brig. Gen. AM Putranto, commander of Indonesian Peacekeeping Mission Center.
Organizing a plan to incorporate more than a dozen countries in a complex training regimen, you quickly realize that change is constant.
“Planning and execution of a large training event like this is fairly complex, we have been planning this event for over a year now,” said Scott Weidie, U.S. Pacific Command, Branch Chief of engagement exercises and multi-national programs. “We have had at least four face-to-face meetings with the Indonesians during planning conferences throughout the year.”
As the planning phase continues, more situations arise and you need to take into consideration the sensitivity of the issue because it involves so many individuals and organizations within the governments of the participating countries.
“We have to be very flexible in how we plan, execute and adjust to everything,” said Weidie. “You have to be flexible to adjust everything from the top of the chain, the people running the exercise down to the personnel preparing the lanes for training.”
Mr. Weidie has directly managed GPOI for the past three years, but wouldn’t compare this year’s event to any other because it’s different.
“I wouldn’t say the planning has become easier or harder, but different,” said Weidie. “It’s been different every time since the GPOI program began.”
The GPOI program is a security assistance state department program where subject matter experts provide training and equip countries that are participating in UN peacekeeping missions. Most of the primary focus has been on helping countries build an indigenous self-sustaining training capability.
“We have been able to embrace the need to change and adjust the GPOI program into a learning program so we are constantly looking at ways to improve it,” said Weidie. “Improve it in a manner that helps troop contributing countries not only establish a well founded, well functioning training system in their own countries so they can train peacekeepers, but also a learning program so we can adjust as the changes in UN missions occur.”
The program is important for the current mission going on in the world right now, as well as, important for future missions. It also serves as a unification of standards between many countries.
“This is a great opportunity to learn how to work well with many other countries and this isn’t something you are going to get if you stay at home,” said Weidie. “We have 21 different countries here and they are able to get an understanding of what it’s like to work with other countries. They may have different tactics, techniques and procedures for how they do things, but the ultimate goal is the same.”
BG Putranto ended the ceremony with these words: “I would like to deliver my appreciation to participants for enthusiasm and contribution. Hopefully these activities performed be regularly conducted and through these we manage to further strengthen our relationship and promote a better understanding and everlasting harmonious friendship between us in the future.”
| Date Taken: | 09.01.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.02.2014 11:27 |
| Story ID: | 140950 |
| Location: | SENTUL, ID |
| Web Views: | 416 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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