Photo By Sgt. 1st Class April Davis | Lt. Col. Tushar Mittal (left), a staff officer in the sector headquarters of the...... read more read more
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By Capt. Andi Hahn, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
KATHMANDU, Nepal — Lt. Col. Tushar Mittal, a staff officer in the sector headquarters of the Indian army, is preparing for a United Nations mission in South Sudan, but not before gaining a wider perspective in peacekeeping operations at Exercise Shanti Prayas-2 in Kathmandu, Nepal from March 25-April 7.
As a representative and observer from his country, India, Mittal participated in the staff exercise, which brought officers from 23 different nations together to plan, coordinate and execute peacekeeping scenarios that can be applied directly to real-world situations.
The two-week training exercise is part of the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI), 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.
“We have conducted similar training in my country but not at an international level,” Mittal said. “Now I can take what I learned and apply it to UN missions and I’ve gained a better perspective of that.”
India has been involved in UN missions in the past and they continue to engage in peacekeeping missions around the world. Though Mittal has no prior peacekeeping experience, immediately after the exercise he will take part in the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS). Coincidentally, five other Shanti Prayas-2 staff exercise participants will also be assigned to the mission in South Sudan with Mittal.
Mittal said working with so many different cultures and multinational military staff officers widened his perspective on how to tackle peacekeeping missions.
“I have never interacted with an Australian or Mongolian officer before and it’s a good thing to come to really get to know each other,” Mittal said. “The thought processes we use at the operational level and technical level are similar; but I’ve come to understand their issues, their processes and how their military operates in United Nations operations.”
“This is a very good initiative; the material presented and the way it has been conducted has been really great,” Mittal said.
| Date Taken: | 04.06.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 04.11.2013 02:02 |
| Story ID: | 104985 |
| Location: | KATHMANDU, NP |
| Web Views: | 254 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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