Logistics
Training
Coordination
Unity of Command and Control

The changing context of Peacekeeping, the new multiple tasks, the difficulty in defining clear mission goals and rules of engagement, and the difficulties and failures met by previous missions all make PKOs complicated and controversial, not only at the political/institutional level but at the operational level as well.

Often in missions, military personnel are called upon to perform tasks that are different from the ones for which they are trained. To perform such tasks they are provided with limited means and have to abide by rules different from the ones that guide traditional military operations. The difficulties met stimulate two different kinds of reactions: on the one hand an effort is made to adapt the training of military personnel and to ameliorate the definition of appropriate terms of engagement; on the other hand there is an effort to limit the expansion of Peacekeeping, in order to keep the tasks assigned to military personnel as close as possible to the traditional military operations.

Besides these two different attitudes some fundamental issues that influence PKOs? operational effectiveness are: organization of logistic support, unity of command and control chains, training of personnel; and the coordination between military and civilian personnel.

Logistics

Logistic organization in PKOs is problematic due to the difficult environment in which missions are deployed and the complexity of the operations. The challenges that logistics have to face are: the readiness for a rapid deployment and the sustainability of operations in the field for a long time.

The rapidity of the deployment depends on the successful integration of the operational and logistic planning. Logistic structures are fundamental for the deployment of all the components of the mission and the arrival of troops and personnel. Quick budgetary allocation and early procurement action are necessary for a rapid deployment. Military contingents often provide the first logistic structures, nevertheless in many cases troop-contributing nations lack sufficient logistic support for their own troops and full deployment of the mission requires UN independent logistic capability. The first permanent Peacekeeping logistic structure is the UN Logistic Base in Brindisi, Italy.

Once deployed, the logistic structure of a mission bases its sustainability on its responsiveness to the operational needs of the units on the field. The inefficiency of procurement mechanisms and the insufficient delegation of budget spending are a cause of difficulty in the managing of PKOs. Maintenance of permanent stocks of equipment, flexible and decentralized procurement through civilian contractors, and adequate supply by troop-contributing countries are necessary to ensure the sustainability of logistic structures.

Training

The need for specific training is recognized both by international institutions and national military authorities. Specific programs have been developed at different levels to train both military and civil personnel. A established in the UN Secretariat's Department of Peacekeeping Operations provides direct instruction, expert assistance and information to Member States. National military schools have developed specific courses for troop and officers both as part of routine training and in preparation for mission deployment. Institutions specialized in preparing Peacekeeping personnel are present in many countries and cooperate with military colleges, International Organizations and NGOs. Military training for peacekeepers is subdivided in three different phases: basic training included at all levels of military education; contingency training which is Peacekeeping-specific and concentrates on the tasks to be performed and the problems to be met in PKOs; and mission-specific training focusing on the specific cultural and political context of an operation.

The specific training focuses on two kinds of skills: functional and contact.

Coordination of Military and Civilian Personnel

The need for strong coordination with the civilian components of the mission is fundamental due to the multifunctional nature of Second Generation PKOs. Different International Organizations, UN agencies and NGOs perform diverse tasks that often require the support of military personnel. The kind of support needed falls into two main categories:

In a situation of conflict, anarchy and destruction, military structures are often the only ones able to provide transport and communication facilities. Military personnel are often directly involved in the first phases of the reconstruction of transport, energy, hydraulic and communication infrastructure, as well as the provision of emergency housing and medical aid. A clear definition of the common goals of the mission and a comprehensive institutional framework including all the components of the operation are fundamental for efficient coordination. A joint military-civilian staff should define the areas of cooperation, the military resources to be devoted to common purposes, and a common definition of security priorities.

Unity of Command and Control Structures

The problem of coordination does not only apply to military and civilian personnel but also to the many military units that are contributed by separate states. Different standards of training, different equipment and different cultures constitute obstacles to efficient interoperability. To ensure the efficiency of the whole mission, the respect of common goals, and coherence in the attitude toward the parties to the conflict, common command, control, communication and intelligence structures are fundamental, both in the field and between the institutional and operational level.

The problems of coordination at the operational level are exacerbated by the necessary interaction of military personnel, NGOs, and Humanitarian agencies, as well as by the interference of national governments. The contradictions and divergences in fragile chains of command increase considerably with the use of force and the perception of physical danger.

The coordination between Headquarters and the field mission is fundamental to guarantee consistency with the political purpose of the operation, guide its role in the conflict management process, and respect the original mandate, or change it accordingly to the evolution of the situation. Absence of clear chains of command and allocation of responsibility is often due to scarce coordination between different UN Agencies and Departments involved in the operation.