| Appendix: Participant Critique Results
1. This seminar achieved its objectives of developing a good understanding of the key issues which need to be addressed in order to properly plan for deploying a national military forces capable of participating effectively in the complex, multi-dimensional, UN peace support operations of today and planning strategies that would be appropriate for use nationally and regionally.
Completely Agree 33
Partially Agree 07
2. This seminar achieved its objectives of developing a good understanding of the key issues which need to be addressed in order to properly train, long and short term, for deploying national military forces capable of participating effectively in the complex, multi-dimensional, UN peace support operations of today and training strategies that would be appropriate for use nationally and regionally.
Completely Agree 35
Partially Agree 05
3. This seminar achieved its goals of developing an understanding on critical pre-deployment/deployment issues within nations and the link between nations to UN HQ and regional assets where appropriate.
Completely Agree 34
Partially Agree 06
4. This seminar achieved its goals of developing an understanding of the pre-deployment and deployment training and planning issues of concern preparing to work with a wide range of civilian peace support operations partners.
Completely Agree 30
Partially Agree 08
Neutral 01
Partially Disagree 01
5. This seminar achieved its goals of developing an understanding of pre-deployment and deployment issues from a strategic/ operational/tactical perspective.
Completely Agree 30
Partially Agree 09
Neutral 01
NOTE: One respondent partially disagreed with strategic perspective, partially agreed with the operational perspective, and was neutral on the tactical perspective. I lumped them together as one ‘neutral.’
6. The scenario provided was realistic and helped attain the seminar objectives as they relate to pre-deployment / deployment planning and training issues related to a national contingent contributing to a UN peace operations mission.
Completely Agree 25
Partially Agree 11
Neutral 01
Partially Disagree 01
No Response 02
7. The subject matter experts were knowledgeable and helpful in developing a better understanding of the subject of pre-deployment/deployment planning and training.
Completely Agree 29
Partially Agree 09
No Response 02
8. The working group facilitators were effective and helped to focus group efforts in areas that were most important.
Completely Agree 27
Partially Agree 09
Neutral 01
Partially Disagree 01
No Response 02
9. The plenary sessions were well structured, well conducted and made good use of time.
Completely Agree 30
Partially Agree 06
Neutral 01
No Response 03
10. I feel more competent to address pre-deployment / deployment planning and training issues than I did before the seminar.
Completely Agree 30
Partially Agree 08
No Response 02
11. Time was well used during the seminar and effectively balanced small group interactions with plenary discussions and briefs by subject experts.
Completely Agree 29
Partially Agree 08
Partially Disagree 01
No Response 02
NOTE: The partially disagree respondent commented “bit too much group work.”
12. The reference materials provided were useful and provided an adequate basis for the working group sessions.
Completely Agree 31
Partially Agree 06
Neutral 01
No Response 02
13. Open discussion improved my understanding of peacekeeping issues.
Completely Agree 34
Partially Agree 03
Partially Disagree 01
No Response 02
14. The number and diversity of participants was a positive element in the learning environment of the seminar.
Completely Agree 34
Partially Agree 03
Partially Disagree 01
No Response 02
15. The facilities were comfortable and conducive to achieving the seminar objectives.
Completely Agree 35
Partially Agree 04
Partially Disagree 01
NOTE: One ‘partially agree’ respondent noted that having two groups in one room was distracting.
16. Administrative support met participant needs.
Completely Agree 40
17. Please indicate below any peace operations subjects or activities that you feel would be of value improving regional capacity for peace support operations and should be considered for a future enhanced peace operations program event.
- Legal basis both on international and national level
- Logistics planning for deployment
- More regional face-to-face staff meetings, particularly between national PKO centres.
- ? this seminar is a very useful and truly a correct way/mean to enhance TCN in improving capability building in deployment and pre-deployment of PSO.
- I am of the opinion that the COE [staff] are in a better position to assess the subjects which will be of importance for discussion in future seminars after having obtained all the necessary feedback and assessment from various questions.
- I believe the training issue is very important. Now that most countries in this region are involved in UN missions, i.e., PKO, it’s about time we have a regional PKO training center in the Pacific region or introduce PKO units in our local universities where a certificate or diploma in PKO is required through UN endorsement.
- Family Welfare Support System; Compensation to TCN in case of death, injuries, etc.
- Understanding the various activities/missions that are covered under PSO, such as peace enforcement, peace building, etc., and perspectives of regional attendees on their PSO planning for pre-deployment and deployment.
- A seminar of this nature could be conducted in future in the home country.
- All.
- Focus on “Information Operations” in UN PSO.
- Sharing information, both international and inter-regional; Regional PSO training institutions; Pre-identified regional/international partnership; Clear governmental policies; Joint exercises on a regular basis; Holistic effort by military advisor or UN HQ front.
- More regional seminars of this kind; Awareness seminar on the UN and its operations and the facilities it has that could be used to the advantage of TCNs; Meeting and planning together for PSO operations.
- Geneva Conventions and international law, with respect to TCN working on foreign soil; Discuss an example of C2 from missions, in particular OPSEC, sharing of intelligence, status of command.
- Regular regional PSO courses on not only planning and training, but also on the organization of the UN but also its procedures and especially logistics, in terms of pre-deployment training.
- Perhaps a presentation from a ‘real life’ UNDPKO planner, or the “current status of planning for a future mission.”
- TES programs and such seminars and workshops to be conducted on an annual basis.
- Continuing involvement and interaction with NGOs and civil society organizations on matters that need their perspectives for successful deployment.
- Use of regional expertise in ? to support deployment initiatives; TES to train trainers/supervisors who could be deployed to member states preparing to deploy. There could even be external personnel to tap lessons learnt to build up ? (TES’s?) ability to assist in training.
- • I feel there is a need to consider how we should tackle MOU, as in a seminar package team, so that we are on a level playing field with the others.
- • It would be much appreciated if a few facilitators are invited from South Asian region for the fact that most of them have many experiences is PSO conducted in various missions. They may have a lot of things to throw out.
- • Family Welfare Support System; Post Deployment Training; Mechanism for information sharing, to include knowledge and expertise; Understand the UN operational and logistical system; list of area/sites to source information for peacekeeping missions.
- A separate civilian police seminar of such kind on how to interact with military UNPKO.
- Strategic level education for national politicians and defence planners (civilians).
- A good overview of peace support operations (conducted by UN, its planning process, etc.) to level up the knowledge of all participants prior to the discussion session will be good.
- UN to be proactive in training and when setting up of any new missions. Just sending an invitation letter is not enough. Sudan is an example: advising on mandate, security threat, etc.; We also should have a police advisor to have the police perspective.
- The problem of logistics must be given careful consideration so as to address future UN missions.
- Discussion on issues encountered during the mission; Past missions.
18. Please add any additional comments you may wish to make regarding the content and execution of this seminar below.
- Number of persons in small groups was too many. Thus meaning some difficulties to listen to everyone’s opinion and reach agreement on certain issues.
- Future direction of ‘COE’ – To enhance TES build up its capability on assisting TCN’s pre-deployment training, COE may be able to ? some PSO field-experienced experts to join TES or help conduct in specific training or certain TCN. This due to knowing a number of PSO seminar participants/attendees.
- Asia-Pacific region is well organized and skilled in that matter so seminars like that should be welcome in African continent, now that African Union will begin its peace operations by itself.
- This seminar has been a very fruitful one. It has helped to discuss subjects of importance respecting PSO. It has also helped to point out, may be, certain shortcomings. If we may call it like this, respecting the contacts and cooperation between the regional countries on a permanent basis. On the whole it has been a help to show the mechanisms respecting peacekeeping organizations and the way it operates and it has also shown the keen interest every country is showing on matters concerning peacekeeping. A big thanks to everybody who has put effort to make this seminar a resounding success. Good luck in your future appointments for the future forthcoming seminars.
- This is my first PKO seminar and I enjoyed it heaps. My gratitude to all the COE staff for successfully organizing this seminar. I have now a clear idea of the details of PKO, even though I was part of UNIFIL and MFO missions in the past years. I appreciate the fact of being a part of this seminar.
- Group discussion was very well contributed from the participants who had contributed to PKO/PSO but others were a little bit confused or lost. The group facilitator has good depth of knowledge in the issues discussed and contributed well to the total outcome of the group discussion.
- Well done.
- The content of this seminar was perfectly organized. All the facilitators did very well and are full of experience in disseminating the information to the participants. Looking forward to meeting the team in a future seminar.
- The seminar was well equipped. It was great learning different kinds of views within the Asia Pacific Region, who have a lot of experience in global peace operations. Thanks.
- The aspect of logistics planning could have been incorporated in some detail.
- A very well conducted seminar.
- Involve more civilians who are either directly or indirectly in PSO as participants.
- Vinaka (thank you).
- I personally would like to have received the reading material before arriving at the conference/seminar. Perhaps these readings could have been available through the COE-DMHA website.
- Fair enough, given the time/space for execution. Could have been better participation if assignments were given out to participants.
- I feel that the requirements for the discussions could have been written in a clearer way. The way it is, it is a little ambiguous.
- Thank you. Another great event.
- Execution of the seminar by the staff was well done. Staff members were well prepared and very professional in their approach. A great team effort and congratulations to the COE.
- Critique questions too long! E.g., trying to spot the differences between questions 1 & 2, especially for someone not strong in English.
- Request that the next Asia Pacific Enhanced peace Operations event be conducted in Sri Lanka in order to enhance knowledge, experience, and interaction with friendly nations. Thank you.
- The depth of the facilitators was pleasing. I wonder if the objective of this seminar was achieved for all participants. Some were confused while some were lost from the beginning to the end. The facilitators may want to tailor the seminar to allow maximum benefit for the participants. Also a big thanks to the facilitators for this seminar.
- Well done. Excellent and thank you for everything that has been made available during this seminar.
- This type of seminar will continue to help TCN to be updated on changes affecting UNPKO. Activity must continue.
- Grouping of participants, to consider the experience and knowledge level. This would allow more in-depth sharing and learning from each other.
- Fiji police wish to thank the facilitators, COE, and the UN for their effort. Our vinaka vaka levu and safe journey home.
- The seminar has been an eye opener for me, especially being a civilian. It provides me an understanding of what goes on before a deployment. It provides ideas that civilians at strategic level should be closely involved in the planning strategy – this is especially time for smaller developing countries where more the “left hand does not know what his right hand is doing.”
- Great experience, good learning, hospitality excellent.
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