Shanti Prayas III improves multinational interoperability

PANCHKHAL, Nepal - A common theme amongst U.N. peacekeepers participating in Multinational Peacekeeping Exercise Shanti Prayas III is improving multinational interoperability.

According to attendees of the exercise, the phrase 'multinational interoperability' means developing the common tactics, techniques and procedures required to effectively support real-world U.N. peacekeeping operations.

For Shanti Prayas III, which is taking place March 20 - April 3 at the Birendra Peace Operations Training Centre in Panchkhal, Nepal, this multinational interoperability is being developed through several phases that include a the field- training event (FTE).

Throughout Shanti Prayas, the FTE allowed 100 platoons from 99 countries the opportunity to train on tasks that improve the way they work together to accomplish the peacekeeping goals of the U.N. These tasks included cordon and search, patrolling, protecting a U.N. designated site, checkpoint security, convoy escort and supporting a humanitarian distribution site.

Each training objective presented U.N. participants with engaging, realistic training that tested their knowledge of collective peacekeeping tasks.

"This is the place to think creatively and maybe make a few mistakes - learn from those mistakes and let your training take you to that next level," said Adm. Harry Harris, commander of U.S. Pacific Command. "This is how we grow and get better for future peacekeeping missions."

Aligned directly with Harris' command priority of 'Having Unity of Purpose', Shanti Prayas allowed participants the opportunity to train on rehearse peacekeeping tasks with a focus on exercise rules of engagement (ROE), understand and demonstrate their responsibility in the protection of civilians, and properly respecting other nation's customs, traditions and laws through platoon level lane training.

The FTE gave participants an opportunity to carry out challenging scenarios and add their own nation's tactics, techniques and procedures, which promoted familiarity amongst partner nations.

"We bring different types of tactics that they don't usually use for the instructors to add into the training modules," said Sgt. 1st Class Roland Carnahan of the 57th Military Police Company, 728th Military Police Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade. "The concept is that the different nation's instructors take this training back to their host nation to implement their own training plan and develop TTP's."

Overall, the leadership involved with Shanti Prayas III and the FTE have been pleased with the progress of the participantsparticipants. As the training progresses, multinational interoperability will increase as each nation becomes more comfortable with the way each other operate.

"It's a great opportunity to influence and develop our capabilities with our partner nations at the operational level, which impacts down into the tactical based scenario training that is being delivered here," said New Zealand Sgt. Maj. Murray Nelson, the senior enlisted leader for professional development and coordinator for the Global Peace Operations Initiative program at U.S. Pacific Command. "It's quite good that everyone at both levels, operational and tactical, understand the strategic outcomes of this training."