Army Provides Engineering Training to Troops from UN Peacekeeping Troop-Contributing Countries

28 Soldiers from 5 Countries, Including Cambodia, Receive Training

The Republic of Korea Army has begun providing engineering training to troops from troop-contributing countries in order to fulfill South Korea's pledges to support United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations.

The Army announced on May 15 that it is conducting the "2025 UN First Half Peacekeeping Triangular Partnership Program (TPP)" engineering training at the 1115th Engineer Brigade in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, from April 7 to May 16. The Triangular Partnership Program is an initiative in which the UN, financial supporters, and troop-contributing countries cooperate to strengthen the mission capabilities of troops from these countries by providing one or two annual training sessions and education programs related to engineering equipment.

Previously, at the "2021 UN Seoul Peacekeeping Ministerial," South Korea pledged five major contributions: providing decommissioned helicopters, supporting Triangular Partnership Program engineering training, donating equipment to Cambodia, constructing the Hanbit Smart Camp, and other commitments. The military noted that, in particular, this training is significant because, unlike previous years when it was held abroad, such as in Cambodia, it is being conducted domestically for the first time. This demonstrates South Korea's increasingly active role in the field of UN peacekeeping operations.

A total of 28 soldiers selected from five countries?Cambodia, Mongolia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines?are participating in the training. They are receiving systematic education on the operation, equipment, and management techniques for five major types of engineering equipment commonly used in peacekeeping missions.

The Army aims for all trainees to reach a level where they can pass the national technical qualification examination of South Korea. To this end, 15 outstanding instructors with overseas deployment experience and English proficiency have been assigned as engineering equipment experts. In addition, English-language training manuals for the equipment have been produced and distributed to trainees in booklet form, and an English-speaking interpreter has been assigned to each piece of equipment.

Colonel Noh Kyungyeon, head of the training control unit in charge of the program, stated, "We are doing our utmost in education and training with pride in applying our Army's engineering capabilities to peacekeeping missions around the world," adding, "We will ensure that the trainees are effectively educated so they can perform peacekeeping operations in various parts of the world."

Second Lieutenant Markerson Arellano Bagnas from the Philippines, who participated in the training, said, "It was a meaningful opportunity to learn not only the Republic of Korea Army's advanced engineering technology and equipment operation methods, but also the value of teamwork. Based on the skills and knowledge I have acquired here, I will contribute to international peacekeeping operations."