NEWPORT, R.I. – A faculty member of U.S. Naval War College’s (NWC) Joint Military Operations (JMO) department traveled to Madagascar this month to take part in a seminar on peacekeeping.
George Oliver was part of five-member team assembled by the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS), part of Defense Security Cooperation Agency, to train military leaders in developing nations on the legal and military aspects of peacekeeping.
Peacekeeping missions have become more common in recent years, and Oliver presented seminars and led discussions on the methods and techniques of increasing their chance of being successful.
“In early 90s there were only about 40 countries that provided United Nations peacekeeping missions around the globe,” said Oliver. “As of right now, I think there are 124 countries involved in peacekeeping all over the world.”
The students were 28 officers from the Malagasy military who were presented with certificates of completion at the end of the weeklong training.
“We had some students who were very eager to learn and understand the subject matter,” he said. “And the entire program was very well organized.”
As part of the JMO faculty, Oliver understands that this training helps advance the mission of NWC.
“The DIILS group helps facilitate a better understanding of what’s going on around the world,” Oliver said. “And one of the things we teach in JMO is helping nations prepare their militaries, and this is part of that.”
JMO covers the concept of theater security cooperation. Combatant commanders work their theater security cooperation programs through American embassies worldwide. The goal is to strengthen international military capabilities. The event in Madagascar was a major objective for U. S. Africa Command and the U.S. Embassy. Through this effort, Oliver brings real world experience into the classroom.
Oliver has extensive experience in international peacekeeping having served as the director of the U.S. Army Peacekeeping Institute in Carlisle, Penn., and as military advisor to the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. He participates in one or two of these seminars each year, and this trip to Africa was particularly valuable, he said.