School for Peace Operations 'Always prepared, anywhere in the world'
Soldiers who are sent on a mission need to be well prepared.
That's why, before they're deployed, they are sent to the School for Peace Operations.
Here, on top of their existing skills, they learn how to act in a mission area.
They will deal with questions such as, 'What is the cause of the conflict in the area?'
And, 'What is the political and social situation like?'
As well as, 'What are the consequences of my actions and those of others?'
And, 'How do I respond in a stressful situation?'
The School for Peace Operations is situated in the General Winkelman barracks in Harskamp.
In the central Netherlands.
Every year, around 3000 students from the Netherlands and abroad are trained here.
The students aren't just military personnel...
but also employees from civilian organisations.
When it comes to individual peacekeeping operation courses...
the school works in close cooperation with Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Countries whose military training centres cooperate within the European initiative of 4-Peace Central Europe.
The 4-PCE is the cooperation of the four nations of the four training facilities...
which is going on now for more than 15 years.
We are in close cooperation to prepare and to conduct the training for military observers...
which have the challenging task to survive and to do their mission...
all over the world in challenging situations and in challenging worlds.
For UN and EU observation missions and police missions...
the School for Peace Missions organizes international operational training.
During the Hostile Environment Awareness Training...
employees of civilian organisations are prepared for working in high-risk areas.
Come here. On the ground.
Lie down. Get on your knees. -On your knees.
Quiet. Head down.
We offer this course to prepare people heading to war and crisis zones.
There are a few basic skills that you need to learn...
like bandaging wounds.
But also dealing with road blocks...
and responding to situations that can occur in warzones.
Hopefully when they are out there...
they can use that information. -Walk to the middle.
I will have your right flank.
Get back.
I've been shot.
On visual, confirmed.
Take the victim to the other side.
It is a game, they know that.
But you still feel the adrenaline rising.
Some people freeze, others respond adequately and quickly.
It varies greatly.
When going on a mission...
you need to know the local, political and social situation in the area where you're going.
As well as the cause of the conflict.
It's also important to know more about the local culture and habits.
To learn how to communicate properly and effectively with coalition partners.
And to be aware of local health hazards.
All these topics are discussed during mission orientation training...
which lasts three to six days.
Attention is also paid to international human rights...
safety, cyber threats and dealing with the media.
They killed your brother?
I'm sorry, do you mind not to...
Can you stop making a video, please?
We need it right now, go move.
Help, she needs help, right now.
For military forces participating in UN or EU missions...
the School for Peace Operations offers a special course for international observer.
This United Nations military observer course lasts four weeks.
This course prepares one for the United Nations missions and that is very realistic.
It also helps you network with the participants of the course...
which, later on, you get to interact with in other areas of your career.
For members of the military and civil police, there is the United Nations police course.
This course lasts two and a half weeks.
Both these courses are concluded with a practical test...
and they have been certified by the United Nations.
What if they catch me also?
It's a good tool to create friends and be comrades not just with the Dutch...
but with other countries as well.
Dutch police officers do a five week course before they are mission ready.
We spend two weeks at the School for Peacekeeping Operations.
They learn about basic military skills and drilling, map reading, off-road driving...
and, most importantly, the Hostile Environment Awareness Training.
It's really focussed on what you'll be doing so it's very functional...
and it's very applicable in the mission circumstances.
The Hostile Environment Awareness Training, also known as HEAT training...
offers safety training for employees of civilian organizations...
who are to be sent to high-risk areas.
It is attended by police officials, journalists, researchers for the international court of justice...
and international students at the Institute for International Criminal Investigations.
It's an integral part of our training regime...
we've been working with the Dutch military for over 20 years now.
This is somewhere we come twice a year...
and it's part of our main investigation course...
and this is, for us, the most important area because we get to...
practice the investigation skills but in a realistic training environment...
which we couldn't replicate anywhere else.
The subjects taught here were determined by the European Union and the United Nations.
And they are based on the most relevant threats in mission areas.
To really experience what can happen in mission areas...
the courses are partly held in a simulated mission environment.
During these courses, participants will be confronted with a lack of privacy...
as well as intimidation, threats and primitive living conditions.
For anyone who actively contributes to peace, safety and stability anywhere in the world...
a sound preparation is crucial.
The School for Peace Operations.
Always prepared, anywhere in the world.