An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 15 UNTSI Celebrates 25th Anniversary BY LT COL TIMOTHY C. O'BRIEN, SCH COMDT UNTSI "We live in a complex world. The United Nations cannot suc- ceed alone. Partnership must continue to be at the heart of our strategy. We should have the humility to acknowledge the essential role of other actors, while maintaining full awareness of our unique convening power." – UN Secretary General António Guterres, December 2016 T he Defence Forces marked the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of the Defence Forces United Nations Training School Ireland (UNTSI). The School, located in the Curragh Camp, was established on 16th Sep- tember 1993 by the then Minister for Defence, Mr David Andrews TD. On 23rd August 1993 Colonel Jim Mortell was nominated to be the first School Commandant of what was initially called the United Nations and International Studies School. Minister Andrews inaugurated the School in former married quarters at Pearse House, adjacent to the Military College Officers Mess. Work began to convert the former home into an educational establishment. On 18th November 1993 the School's first visitor was Pres- ident Mary Robinson who was briefed on UNTSI's role: The enhancement of peacekeeping training within the Military College; Debriefing of key personnel on their return from overseas service; Liaison with similar international institu- tions; Formulation of peacekeeping doctrine, and to attract foreign military, as well as national and foreign police and diplomats as students. The first delivery of peacekeeping training was to the Junior Command and Staff Course in December 1993 and once up and running the School ran its first international course for Military Observers and Staff Officers in June 1995, attracting 20 foreign students from the Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America. On completion of the engineering works in 1994, the school was renamed United Nations Training School Ireland (UNTSI), complete with a modern auditorium, syndicate and research rooms as well as a replica of a UN Post. In marking its 25th Anniversary UNTSI opened to the pub- lic as part of Kildare's Culture Night events on Friday 21st September 2018. A lecture was also presented to visitors on 60 years of Defence Forces Peacekeeping, given by Lt Col T C O'Brien. UNTSI's principle role was, and continues to be, ensur- ing that members of the Defence Forces receive up to date mission briefings and training prior to deploying on Peace Support Operations around the world. In addition, the School shares the collective experience of the Defence Forces, gained over 60 unbroken years of peacekeeping, by running international courses for for- eign military, as well as for civilians, police, academics and humanitarian staff and by maintaining close contacts with similar institu- tions throughout Europe and North America. The 2018 programme of In- ternational Courses covers the complex subjects of Civil Military Relations, Human Rights, the Protection of Civil- ians and Security Sector Reform. On average 600 members of the Defence Forces pass through UNTSI each year prior to deploy- ment overseas and the School also acts as a focal point for visitors to the Defence Forces seeking briefings on Ireland's role on Peace Support Operations. This year, Ireland also celebrates the 60th Anniversary of its involvement in Peacekeeping Op- erations, the longest unbroken record of peacekeeping of any nation. This record forms one of the key pillars of Ireland's on- going bid for a seat on the UN Security Council. UNTSI's role in shaping and informing the Irish De- fence Force's approach to peacekeeping, and in maintaining this record, cannot be overstated. "We want the world our children inherit to be defined by the values enshrined in the UN Charter: peace, justice, respect, human rights, tolerance, and solidarity… Our duty to the peo- ples we serve is to work together to move from fear of each other, to trust in each other. Trust in the values that bind us, and trust in the institutions that serve and protect us." – UN Secretary General António Guterres, December 2016 The original UNTSI staff, l/r: Comdt Colm Doyle, Colonel Jim Mortell, Coy Sgt John Lynch, Sgt Paul Longman, Comdt Dermot Earley and Comdt Tadgh Crowe. Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon during his visit to UNTSI in 2015. HRH The Prince Of Wales receives a brief during his visit to UNTSI in 2017.

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