Jordan’s Peace Operations Training Center prepares multinational forces for missions abroad
BRIG. GEN. AMJAD AL-ZOUBI COMMANDER OF THE JORDAN ARMED FORCES PEACE OPERATIONS TRAINING CENTER
Every nation in the world has a uniqueness that distinguishes it from the rest. One may have vast natural resources; another may be known for manufacturing or trade. In Jordan, our distinctiveness is revealed in our commitment to helping people.
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has a long and proud history of participating in peacekeeping operations all over the world. The Jordan Armed Forces (JAF) have participated in more than 20 United Nations peacekeeping missions. This commitment to international security and peace goes even further because Jordan is home to a regional and international training center designed to enable military and civilian personnel to participate successfully in peace operations. This ultimately contributes to Jordan’s principles in supporting justice, peace and security in our shared world.
As commander of the JAF’s Peace Operations Training Center (POTC) in Zarqa, I strongly believe in the noble humanitarian mission the center contributes to by working internally with the JAF and externally with foreign militaries and other organizations. The primary mission of the center is to provide training, both academic and practical, so that participants are qualified to work in global U.N. peacekeeping operations.
History
In 1989, Jordan took part in its first international peace operation by sending 14 military observers to Angola. After the JAF’s initial experience as an observer in Angola, it began training and deploying forces in support of global U.N. missions. Initially, a branch was formed at the Royal Military Academy to train forces for future U.N. missions — this was the early start of what is now the POTC. At the beginning, training focused on predeployment curriculum, but was later refined to include more specialized training for officers.
In 1992, Jordan sent its first peacekeeping battalion to Croatia during the Yugoslavian civil war, and wider participation soon followed. I was part of Jordan’s second peacekeeping battalion to Croatia, where I spent a year and two months as a captain and platoon leader. Working with multinational forces was something new for us, and we learned a lot. I also served in Kosovo as a military liaison officer.
Since 1989, the JAF has contributed about 72,100 troops to U.N. peacekeeping missions, not counting the many police officers Jordan also sends. More than 10,000 have gone to Afghanistan, some for two to three tours. Much of POTC’s coursework involves train-the-trainer-style courses. This allows the JAF to ensure that all its services are equipped with peacekeeping operations knowledge and skills.
In 1999, POTC began training regional and international forces. The first was a military company from the United Arab Emirates. To make training more convenient for foreign militaries and organizations, POTC began sending mobile training teams to other countries.
In 2011, POTC received NATO accreditation and was officially deemed a NATO Partnership Training Center. In 2014, POTC received two other achievements: The United Nations formally recognized two of POTC’s courses, and the International Committee of the Red Cross named POTC as a center of excellence for training in the law of armed conflict in North Africa and the Middle East.
Presently, POTC falls under the JAF’s Directorate of Joint Training and is considered one of the Armed Forces’ prominent schools.
Overview
Participation in POTC’s courses is open to all countries: armed forces, nongovernmental organizations and government departments. The center trains officers and noncommissioned officers, and since 1992, POTC has supported more than 63,300 JAF personnel and almost 8,000 personnel from 25 countries.
Courses cover a wide array of topics such as child protection; gender in peace operations; disarmament, demobilization and reintegration; U.N. military observers; U.N. civil-military coordination; and law of armed conflict. All courses are provided in English, except for law of armed conflict. That course is always done in the native language of the area in question to ensure the language matches that used by local laws and religion.
POTC offers both indoor and outdoor facilities, including an auditorium, library, cafeterias and housing. For practical training, POTC built the “Arabian Village” in 2011. The addition allows participants to gain practical experience of working in a community that has a mosque, library and key leader/sheikh house. This has been a critical component allowing participants to put what they learned in classrooms into practice. Our scenarios are dependent on the needs of the organization or curriculum we are supporting. Our participants can experience practical training in hostage rescue scenarios, building searches, border checkpoints and driving in various peacekeeping vehicles. The Arabian Village also supports POTC’s unique cultural awareness of training for foreign forces operating in the Middle East and elsewhere. It’s important to understand the religion and culture for a mission to be successful. This course covers basic language, women in Arab society, families and relationships, stereotypes, an overview of Islam, dress codes in Arabic culture, the Amman Message and basic cultural do’s and don’ts.
Future
As of May 2015, 152 JAF personnel served in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 36 military observers were working around the world, and 50 were working in U.N. staff offices. The JAF also has military field hospitals deployed in Iraq, Gaza and Egypt — with many other field hospitals being deployed in previous missions.
We are proud of our contributions to international peace and security. We helped the people of Haiti deal with the devastating aftermath of an earthquake and helped the people of Afghanistan against the terrorists who wished to destroy their security and faith.
However, Jordan’s commitment has come with sacrifice. Jordan has lost 36 heroes in peacekeeping and special duty operations. These martyrs are remembered by Jordanians, and we work to honor their memory by continuing our work to uphold our ideals and commitment to international peace.
POTC is eager and willing to share our experience and training with others throughout the world so that together we can create a peaceful future.
Countries/organizations that POTC has supported
Testimonials
“We first went to the center about six years ago to teach a course on Resources Management for Iraqi and Jordanian personnel. In the past two years, we have used the facility consistently — several times a year to teach courses on Resources Management and Human Capital Resources Management. Our overall experience is excellent. The staff are professional and extremely dedicated. The support we are given is incredible. Brig. Gen. Al-Zoubi and everyone at POTC are a joy to work with. The facilities are great.”
Dr. Jomana Amara
Associate professor of economics, Defense Resources Management Institute
“I have always been impressed by the POTC staff’s professionalism and positive attitude, the vast training areas and POTC’s ability to provide requested training aids, such as a variety of weapons, inert mines, IED simulations and role-players dressed up for a variety of scenarios. I think that POTC is a big part of the International Organization for Migration-Security Awareness Induction Training success in Jordan. … If you want to create realism in any security/safety related training, this is the place — square kilometers of land with hills, tarmac roads, dirt roads, desert, urban combat training facilities, etc. The POTC staff is very flexible and has knowledge and understanding for everyone’s needs and limits, especially important when training humanitarian staff members. … The role-players are an excellent addition to the reality in scenarios. They are dressed for each situation (good guys, bad guys, tribal leader, special forces, medics etc.) with a mindset that allows them to react to the students’ actions in a very realistic way.”
Ben Wyke
International Organization for Migration