Viet Nam’s first-ever peacekeeping training course meets UN standards
VGP - The United Nations Staff Officer Course (UNSOC), organized by the Viet Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, meets the UN pre-deployment training standards.
Director/Chief of Integrated Training Service, under the Department of Peace Operations (DPO), Harinder Sood (second to left) hands over the certificate to Military Attaché Colonel Nguyen Duc Quan at the headquarters of the UN, New York City, March 11, 2026 - Photo: VNA
This marks the first time a peacekeeping training course in Viet Nam has been officially recognized by the UN as meeting international standards.
The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix signed a certificate recognizing the UNSOC.
The certificate was handed over by Director/Chief of Integrated Training Service, under the Department of Peace Operations (DPO), Harinder Sood to Military Attaché Colonel Nguyen Duc Quan at a ceremony held at the headquarters of the UN in New York City, on March 11 (local time).
The recognition also shows advancement in Viet Nam's capacity to organize peacekeeping training course, affirming that the country's professional expertise, training methods, and curriculum system fully meet the UN standards.
The UN reported that there are currently only about 50 countries worldwide with training courses meeting UN standards. Among them, the Asia–Pacific region has 14 countries, and Southeast Asia has four.
The UNSOC training course in 2026 was held from January 3 to 30, at the headquarters of the Viet Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, with the participation of 41 trainees from Viet Nam and several other countries.
The course received support from Canada through the Military Training and Cooperation Program (MTCP).
In the upcoming time, the Viet Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations will continue to organize other training courses to meet the UN standards, including the Comprehensive Protection of Civilians Course, the United Nations Military Observer Course, and several other specialized training programs./.
