Memorial Day and the International Day of U.N. Peacekeepers
On Memorial Day, Americans honor those in the military who have died in service to this country. This year Memorial Day – May 28 – is the day before the International Day of U.N. Peacekeepers on May 29. Today, men and women in uniform play significant roles in peacebuilding and peacekeeping operations in conflict zones around the world. USIP has made important and lasting contributions to training U.S. and international military in effective means of conflict management and thereby enhancing national security.
The Institute's efforts at supporting military operations currently include:
- At the request of the U.S. State Department's Africa Contingency Operations and Training and Assistance Program (ACOTA), regularly training African military personnel deployed as peacekeepers by the United Nations and African Union
- In partnership with the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS), holding seminars for senior government officials and military officers of various countries. The seminars focus on conflict management skills useful in conducting international humanitarian and peace operations.
- Enrolling U.S. and international military in USIP Academy courses designed to improve peacebuilding efforts and civilian- military operations in zones of conflict
- As part of its Jennings Randolph Senior Scholar program, hosting an Army Fellow, who while at USIP focuses on exploring ways in which the U.S. military can improve conflict management outcomes. USIP's current Army Fellow is Lieutenant Colonel Brian J. Stokes.
- Hosting an interagency professional-in-residence, a program open to officers from all the military services. U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Aaron R. Austin is currently at USIP.
- Holding briefings for U.S. military from service academies, military bases, and officer training programs on the ways in which conflict management and peacebuilding can contribute to their efforts.
The Global Peacebuilding Center (GPC) works to better inform young people on contributions that the military – both U.S. and international - can make in peacebuilding. The GPC features five “Witnesses to Peacebuildng” which showcase individual stories of peacebuilders of various types from around the world. One story that the GPC features is the Marshall Legacy Institute's Mine Detection Dogs program. This effort trains dogs to search for anti-personnel mines, frequently a major issue after a war has ended. After training these dogs are partnered with military working to remove land mines so that children can used open space to play and farmers can use fields for planting.
