Serving in a UN mission: then and now
While serving in a peacekeeping mission for the UN comes with a multitude of challenges, it is also an opportunity to gain unique experiences in an international context. In this interview, Brigadier General Serge Pignat, commander of Mechanised Brigade 1 and former UNTSO military observer, and Captain Andreas Winkelmann, currently serving in the same mission, share their experiences.
What were your first impressions on your arrival abroad?
Brig Gen Pignat: As with all new military observers, my mission began in 2003 with centralised training in Jerusalem at UNTSO headquarters. I was then stationed on the Golan Heights for four months before being sent to southern Lebanon for the remaining eight months. I remember being immediately immersed in an environment that was very different from ours in terms of culture, history, geography and security.
Capt Winkelmann: Due to the tense situation, I flew directly to Lebanon and did not train in Jerusalem. My impressions of the region were correspondingly intense. During the two-week induction training at the headquarter of Observer Group Lebanon (OGL), several explosions in the immediate vicinity shook the training building. It was a first taste of what was to come. I saw the effects of the current conflict for the first time on the way to the patrol base: mortar-ravaged roads, destroyed houses and deserted villages. When we arrived at the patrol base, the first rockets flew over our heads. They were intercepted on the horizon by the Israeli Iron Dome. From the nearest bunker I could hear Israel's response: artillery fire. All this is now part of my daily life.
What were the biggest challenges back then? And what are they now?
Brig Gen Pignat: The first few months in Israel were pretty quiet. This period was marked by the intense presence of liaison officers of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) when their positions were being inspected, and many restrictions on observation times and approved means. The second part of the mission was much more turbulent, with numerous operations carried out on both sides of the Blue Line separating Israel and Lebanon: rocket and rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fire by Hezbollah, and Israeli responses in the form of artillery fire and operations of combat helicopters on Hezbollah positions, which were quite close to UN positions. At the time, the only security in the area was provided by two infantry battalions from Ghana and India, part of the UN's UNIFIL mission. The few joint exercises we carried out to reinforce our observation posts were certainly entertaining, but not very reassuring. The ballistic protection of observation posts, vehicles and military observers was rudimentary. Hezbollah regularly denied us, in a rather hostile manner, access to several critical areas. Having a local interpreter with us at all times was very often an advantage in terms of situational awareness and de-escalation.
Capt Winkelmann: The current challenges are related to the ongoing conflict. We can hardly patrol along the Blue Line at the moment. The danger of mines, unexploded ordnance and booby traps is ever-present in the area. Our operational tasks are also limited in the rest of the operational area. We often have to cancel or interrupt activities because targets are under fire in our immediate vicinity and we need to get to safety. Interaction with the local population is also proving complicated. Large sections of the population have left their villages in southern Lebanon, and the attitudes of those who have stayed have begun to sour towards the United Nations. As a result, we are regularly denied access to critical areas and there is increased hostility towards patrols. In general, however, peacekeepers are not directly targeted in this conflict. Still, there is a risk of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and sadly peacekeepers have been harmed in the past.
What was the reason and motivation for your service?
Capt Winkelmann: Working with UNTSO was the second peacekeeping mission that I've undertaken. I had already spent a year in Kashmir with UNMOGIP as a military observer and staff officer, and really appreciated my work and experiences there. The daily interaction with the local population and officers from all over the world, and the extremely exciting environment were particularly enriching. A follow-up assignment was the logical consequence, and the Middle East with all its facets has always interested me.
Brig Gen Pignat: As a young career officer who was working as a class teacher at the Artillery Officers' School, I felt the need to supplement my experience with a mission abroad. The Middle East, with all its historical, cultural, ethnic, religious and political complexities, seemed an obvious choice.
What has your service on these missions taught you?
Brig Gen Pignat: The international contacts you make on these missions are incredibly enriching. I still keep in touch with friends all over the world. Another thing I took away from the mission was the knowledge that SWISSINT trains and equips its military observers well, and that the training, skills and attitudes of our officers are on a par with those of their international counterparts.
Capt Winkelmann: As a member of the Swiss Armed Forces, my main takeaway is how incredibly important it is to know your area of operations like the back of your hand. In such an unpredictable environment, you have to be able to make decisions in a matter of seconds. There is no time to orient yourself with a map, and technical aids are practically useless due to the jamming transmitters. You need to know at all times where the nearest safe base is or, in the worst case, where you can find the nearest medical facility. It is also important to keep practising procedures, as these skills will be crucial in an emergency. As a non-career officer, it's also great to see that we compare well with international career officers. Swiss officers are highly valued in international missions for their skills and professionalism. Our experience in the civilian sector should not be underestimated in the military environment either.
How did your training for the deployment go?
Capt Winkelmann: Prior to my deployment, I completed the Swiss United Nations Military Observer Course (SUNMOC) at SWISSINT in Stans-Oberdorf, which prepared me extensively for my work as a military observer. This was followed by mission-specific preparation courses and driving instruction. Finally, experienced military observers trained me directly in the field.
Brig Gen Pignat: After successfully completing the selection process, I went on to complete the four-week SUNMOC, which was still being held in Bière at the time. Once I had been assigned a function and region, the pre-deployment course that followed took place back then in Muri.
Brigadier General Pignat, is there anything you would like to pass on to your young comrade here, who is currently deployed?
The conflict in the Middle East needs to be understood in all its complexity, without conscious reasoning, similar to using you intuition in the mountains. Even if there are moments when you feel frustrated with the system as a whole, try to put that aside and keep doing your best. Stay safe!