They will become military observers

Out of the 25 participants of the three-week international training event (International Military Observer Course – IMOC), 17 students have arrived from abroad, namely from Azerbaijan, Canada, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Italy, Ivory Coast, Kazakhstan, the Maldives, Mexico, Morocco, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Serbia, Slovakia, Tanzania and the United States. Hungary is represented at the course by seven soldiers and one police officer.

Besides international instructors coming from Greece, Kazakhstan, Croatia, Germany and Serbia, the theoretical and practical training sessions of the course are also assisted by five Hungarian military officers – active and reservist – having taken part in several foreign missions.

The first week focused on theoretical training sessions, during which the acquisition of negotiation techniques, working with interpreters and the proper handling of cultural differences played an outstanding role, as the course participants are going to perform their later duties as unarmed military observers. They brushed up on their medical knowledge, practiced radiotelephony communication, and took part in media handling training as well. They were introduced to the basics of UN peacekeeping activities, and the task system of UN organizations involved in peacekeeping operations, as well as the activities of governmental organizations, NGOs and volunteer groups.

The training course will finish with a two-day closing exercise, where the course participants are going to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have acquired. Completion of this course is a precondition for them to serve with military observer missions led by the United Nations Organization (UNO), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the European Union (EU) and other international organizations.