Memorial Day: Military Contributions to Global Peacebuilding Efforts

• USIP President Dr. Richard H. Solomon's Statement on Memorial Day, USIP Commemorates Nation's Sacrifices

On Memorial Day, Americans honor those in the military who have died in service to this country. This year, Memorial Day – May 28 – is the day before the International Day of UN Peacekeepers on May 29. Today, men and women in uniform play significant roles in peacebuilding and peacekeeping operations in conflict zones around the world. USIP has made important and lasting contributions to training U.S. and international military in effective means of conflict management and thereby enhancing national security. The Institute’s efforts at supporting military operations currently include:

• At the request of the U.S. State Department’s Africa Contingency Operations and Training and Assistance Program (ACOTA), regularly training African military personnel deployed as peacekeepers by the United Nations and African Union.

Alison Milofsky of USIP’s Global Peacebuilding Center and Academy for International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding leads a session during ACOTA training for Malawian military members.

• In partnership with the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS), holding seminars for senior government officials and military officers of various countries. The seminars focus on conflict management skills useful in conducting international humanitarian and peace operations.
• Holding briefings for U.S. military from service academies, military bases, and officer training programs on the ways in which conflict management and peacebuilding can contribute to their efforts.
• Enrolling U.S. and international military in USIP Academy courses designed to improve peacebuilding efforts and civilian- military operations in zones of conflict.
• As part of its Jennings Randolph Senior Scholar program, hosting an Army Fellow, who while at USIP focuses on exploring ways in which the U.S. military can improve conflict management outcomes. USIP’s current Army Fellow is Lieutenant Colonel Brian J. Stokes.
• Hosting an interagency professional-in-residence through a program open to officers from all the military services. U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Aaron R. Austin is currently at USIP.

The Global Peacebuilding Center at the U.S. Institute of Peace works to better inform young people about the many ways in which peacebuilding takes place around the world, including the contributions made by the military – both U.S. and international. The Global Peacebuilding Center features five “Witnesses to Peacebuilding” as part of a multimedia exhibit, which showcases individual stories of peacebuilders of various types from around the world. One story that is featured is the Marshall Legacy Institute’s Mine Detection Dogs program. This effort trains dogs to search for anti-personnel mines, which are frequently a challenge after a war has ended. After rigorous training, these dogs are partnered with military working to remove land mines so that land can safely be traveled and developed, and farmers can use fields for planting.

For more information on USIP’s work with military and civilian partners around the world, see www.usip.org.