Austria’s Participation in Peacekeeping and Peace Support Missions
Major General Günter HÖFLER, Commander, Austrian International Operations Command
Increased Focus on Peacekeeping and Peace Support Missions
Peacekeeping and peace support have always been a special challenge for armed forces. Fortunately, with the disappearance of the classical threat emerging from the cold war this sort of military activity could become the main effort for armed forces – especially in Europe. For this reason,
Austria took the opportunity to orient its troops also towards the perseverance and stabilization of peace in conflict areas all over the world- a commitment it had already shown since 1960. This new orientation is clearly being shown by the installation of a separate “Austrian International Operations Command”, which exclusively deals with peacekeeping matters.
Currently Austria has Deployed more than 1.200 Troops
Currently, Austria has deployed more than 1,200 troops and individual soldiers abroad in a total of 14 missions, reaching from the Balkans over the Western Sahara and the Near East as far as to Ethiopia an Eritrea.
Austria’s Part icip
ation in Peacek eeping and
Peace Support M issions
Major General Günte r H
ÖFL ER, Commander, Austrian
Inter nationa l Oper
ations Command
Increased F ocus on Pea cekeeping and P
eac e Support
Missions
Peacek eeping and
peace support have alw
ays been a
special chal len ge for arm ed forc es. Fort
unatel y, wi th t
he om t g fr gin emer hreat cal t assi he cl ance of t disappear
he
cold wa r this sor
t of milita ry a
ctivit y c ould become
the
mai n effort for armed fo
rces – especial ly i n Euro
pe. For this reason,
Austria took the opportunity to orient its troops also
toward s the pe
rse ver ance and sta biliza
tion of pea ce in
conf lict a rea s all ov er t he wor ld- a c ommitme nt it had
already shown since 196 0. This new orientation i
s clearl y
being shown b
y the installa
tion of a sepa rat e “Austr
ian clusively Command”, which ex l Operations nationa Inter
deals with peaceke eping matters.
Curren tly Austria h
as Dep loyed
m ore than 1.200
Troops Currently, Austria has deplo
yed more than 1,200 troops
and individual soldiers abroad in a total of 14 missions,
reaching from the
Bal kan s over the
West ern Sah
ara
and ea. a an Eritr hiopi o Et ar as t East as f the Near
Austria’s largest contingent currently deployed abroad is the KFOR Contingent in the Kosovo with more than 500 troops – a commitment we share in our area of responsibility together with comrades from Germany and Switzerland.
In addition to that, successful Austrian peacekeeping cooperation with soldiers from other countries has also been shown for years on the Golan Heights together with Slovakia or in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR) with troops from Italy and Slovenia. All in all, since 1960 about 60,000 Austrian soldiers have served in more than
70 missions worldwide. 21
Progress Report
Austri a’s lar gest contin
gent curr ently
depl oyed abroad i s
the KFOR Contingent in the Kosovo with more t
han 500
troops – a commitment we shar e in our area
of y an r with comrades from German gethe responsibility to d
Switzerland.
In addition to that, su ccessful Austrian peace
keeping
cooperation with soldiers fro m other countries has also
been shown for years on the Golan H
eig hts together with
Slovakia or in Bosnia and Herz egovin
a (EUFO
R) with lovenia. All in all, since 1960 aly and S troops from It about 60,000 Austrian soldiers have s
erved in m ore than
70 missions worldwide.
21
Prog ress Rep
ort
21 21
In order to maintain and to improve the quality of our peacekeeping troops, the “Austrian Peacekeeping Cycle”
has to undergo a permanent evaluation process. In detail this means that at the end of the pre-deployment training a so-called “progress report” is established which serves as a reference document for the training standards to be reached by the next contingent. After six weeks of deployment, the contingent is again tested in the mission area itself with special regard to its operational, logistical and communications capability. The result of this test also serves as a guideline for the pre-deployment training of the next contingent. Finally, after 6 months (which is normally the end of tour), another “progress report” is compiled, consisting of the impressions and experiences made by the outgoing troops as well as my personal perceptions during the inspection tours in the mission area. These final findings are also taken into account for future peace support activities.
A Clear View on Topics
All these above-mentioned lessons learned give us a clear view on the topics we have to take into consideration for future peace support operations: Multinationality, interoperability, personnel management, information and intelligence, rapid deployment of forces and operational matters.
The constantly increasing number of countries willing to take part in peace support operations requires increased international cooperation skills. A main challenge in this context is the ability to speak foreign languages,
In o rde r to mainta
in and to impr ove the
quality of our
peacekeepin g troops, the “Austrian P
eacekeepin g C
ycle” In detail uation process. anent eval has to undergo a perm
thi s m eans that
at t he en d of the pre-deplo
yment training
a so-calle d “pro gress rep ort
” is est abl ished whi
ch serves standard ce document for the training as a referen
s to be
reached b y t he nex t cont ing ent . After si
x w eeks of
deployment, the contin
gent is again tested in the mission al reg with speci lf a itse are
ard to its opera
tional, lo gistic al
and c ommunic ations
capa bility.
The result of this te
st
also serves as a g uid
elin e for t he pre-depl oym
ent trai ning
of the nex t conting ent.
Finally, after 6 months (
which is gress re nother “pro end of tour), a normally the
port” is
compiled, consisting of the impressions and expe
riences
made by the out going
troops as well as m
y personal s in the mission inspection tour ing the eptions dur perc
area. Thes e final findings are
also tak en into a
ccount for
future peace suppo rt activities.
A Clear Vi ew on
Top ics
All these above-mentioned lessons learned g ive
us a clear
view on the topics we have to take into considera tion for
future peac e support operations: Multinat
ionality, mat nt, infor nageme el ma rsonn y, pe rabilit interope
ion and
intellig enc e, ra pid deplo
ym ent o f f orc es a nd oper
ationa l
matte rs.
The constantly incr easing number of countries w
illing to
take part in peace support operations requires increas
ed
international cooperation skills.
A main challenge in this y to spe bilit the a xt is conte
ak f ore ign lang uages,
especially English. We therefore have to train our soldiers, particularly those in key leader functions, to speak at least the English language more or less fluently, as this can have a decisive impact on the interoperability and the successful accomplishment of a mission.
Logistics
Logistics has always been a big challenge when deploying soldiers to foreign countries. The logistic burden for a single country can be very heavy, often too heavy. I would therefore suggest a closer international cooperation in this field in order to share the logistical burden and to make it easier for the peacekeeping countries to fulfil their logistical needs, e.g. by the installation of so-called “multinational logistic units”. I am sure that this will boost the motivation especially of smaller countries to show active commitment in peacekeeping operations.
Active Duty Personnel and the Importance of Reservists
As far as the personnel situation is concerned, Austria has to deal with the principle of voluntariness, which means that soldiers can only be deployed abroad if they want to. Fortunately, we have currently some 16,000 soldiers who are willing to be deployed abroad.
Nevertheless, it is sometimes very difficult to find the right person for the right job. However, Austria is rather lucky in this matter as the Austrian Armed Forces consist especially En
glish. W e therefor
e have to train our
soldiers, pa rtic ularl y th ose in ke y le
ader funct ions, to
speak at le ast the English la
nguage more or
less flue
ntly, rabilit rope on the inte impact sive deci ve a an ha as this c y
and the successful ac complishment of a mission.
Logistics
Log ist ics has alw
ays been a bi
g challe nge
when countries. The oreign g soldiers to f deployin
logistic
burden for a single countr
y can be ver
y heav y, o ften too
heavy.
I woul d ther
efore sugg est a cl
oser int ern
ational ogi to share the l cooperation in this field in order stical
burden and to make it easier for the p eac
ekeepin g
countries to fulfil their logistical needs, e.
g.
by the units”. l logistic ultinationa d “m calle tion of so- installa I
am sure tha t this wil l bo
ost the motiva tion e
speci all y o f
smaller countries to show active commitm ent in
peacekeepi ng op
erations.
Active Du ty P
ersonn el an d th e Impo
rtance of
Reservists As far as the personnel situa
tion is concerned,
Austria has to deal with the principle of voluntariness, which
means t hat
soldi ers c an only be d epl
oyed ab road i
f t hey
want to. Fortunatel y, w
e have currentl
y some 16,000
soldiers who are willing
to be de ployed
abr oad
. cult to find the diffi s very less, it is sometime rthe Neve
right person for the ri ght
job. However, Austria is rather
lucky in this matte
r a s the Austr ian
Arm ed F orc es c onsist
of both active duty soldiers and reservists, which gives us a bigger selection to find the right person. To be honest, it is not only manning that counts but also the know-how reservists bring from their “civilian life”. “Civilian know- how meets and enriches military skills” – this is the, until now, successful motto of our personnel management for missions abroad. And we strongly hope that it will go on like this in the future. So, the Austrian Army needs reservists in order to be able to contribute to peace on earth. Nevertheless, the principle of voluntariness could sometime turn out as a limitation in the fulfillment of peacekeeping tasks.
Another limitation could be seen in the fact that Austrian soldiers have not been confronted very much with typical peace support techniques so far, e.g. negotiation, patrolling, house searching, crowd and riot control etc.
As a consequence, these skills have to be trained during the pre-deployment phase, making it longer.
The same it is with the equipment. There is nowadays less need for heavy armament like tanks or classical artillery. We now need more mobility in form of lighter, hard-skinned or protective vehicles like wheeled APCs etc. And we of course need non lethal weapons in order to be able to suppress or deescalate riots (like last year in the Kosovo) without heavily wounding or even killing people.
Information gathering and the production of useful intelligence are crucial for the successful accomplishment of a mission as well as for the force protection. Austria does not have highly-sophisticated
of both active duty soldie rs and r
eservists, which gives us
a bigger selection to find the right person. To be
honest, ow-how g that counts but also the kn y mannin it is not onl
reservists bring f rom thei r “civilian life”. “Civilian know-
how meet s and e nri che s milita ry skills”
– this is the
, until ment for manage ersonnel f our p now, successful motto o
missions abroad. And we strong ly hop
e that it will g o on
like this in the future
. So, the Austria
n Ar my nee
ds e on able to contribute to peac reservists in order to be
earth. Nevertheless, the principle of voluntarines
s could
sometime turn out
as a limita
tion in the fulf illme nt of
peacekeepi ng t
asks.
Another limita tion could be
seen in the f
act that Austr ian
soldiers have not been co nfronted very mu
ch with typical g. n ues so far, e. peace support techniq
egotiation,
patrolling, house s earchi
ng, crowd and riot control etc.
As a c onseque nce, the
se skills have to be tr
ain ed dur
ing it longer. e, making ent phas ym the pre-deplo
The sa me it is with the equipme
nt. The re is nowa
day s
less need for heav y ar
mam ent lik e tanks or cl
assical of lig orm y in f e mobilit mor now need ry. We artille
hter,
hard-skinned or prote ctive vehicles
like wheele d APCs
etc. And we of cou rse n
eed non lethal weapons
in order ast ike l ots (l ate ri ress or deescal o supp e t to be abl
ye ar in
the Kosovo) without heavil y woundin g or
even killing
people.
Information gathe
ring and the production of useful
intelligence are cr
ucial for the successful
accompl ishm ent of a m
issi on as well as for t
he force y-sophi have highl protection. Austria does not
sticated
intelligence assets like satellites etc. But what we can do is to employ traditional assets on the ground, like for example human intelligence teams. This has an effect on both operational and force protection matters. Therefore, it is a standing procedure for us that wherever we send a larger contingent we also deploy a so-called “national intelligence cell” (NIC). This NIC is usually part of the big “NIC family” in the AOR and cooperates with intelligence installations from other countries.
Rapid Reaction Forces
If the worst comes to the worst, it can be necessary to deploy forces immediately. At the moment in Austria brigades are providing the framework structure for the deployment of battalion size task forces. Nevertheless, in our opinion, it takes much time to form a battalion out of a brigade and to train it for a mission abroad. We therefore started last year to build “forces for international operations” consisting of standing and non- standing units.
The standing units consist of active duty soldiers
and part-time soldiers deployable within 5 days, if necessary.
Non-standing units need 30 to 60 days to be ready
for deployment.
We already deployed such units as reinforcement to the Kosovo contingent in March this year and we will do so again for the currently deployed contingent. By the end of this year we expect to have 1,000 troops for intellig
enc e a ssets like sate
llites e tc.
But w hat we c an do
is to employ traditional assets on the ground, like for
exa mple human inte
lligen ce te am s. This has a
n ef fec
t on Therefo ers. att ection m rce prot both operational and fo re,
it i s a st anding
procedure for us t hat
wherever w e send a
larger contingent w e al
so deplo y a so -called “
national rt of the lly pa IC is usua ). This N NIC ll” ( e ce enc intellig big “N IC famil
y” i n t he AOR and cooper
ates wi th
intelligence installations from other countries.
Rapid Reaction For ces
If the worst c
ome s to the wor
st, it can be ne cessa ry to
deplo y f orc es imme diate
ly.
At the moment in
Austria
brigad es are provi
ding the fr amework st
ruct ure for t
he less, in the ver . Ne ces sk for size ta ttalion nt of ba yme deplo our opinion, it takes muc
h time to form a b attalion out of
a brigade and to train it for a mission abro
ad. We
therefor e star
ted l ast ye ar t o bui ld “fo rces fo
r nd non- of standing a consisting international operations”
standing units.
The st anding unit
s consist of active
duty sold
iers ays, i 5 d ithin le w loyab iers dep e sold rt-tim pa and
f
necessary.
Non-standing un
its need 30 to 60 days to be ready
for deploym ent.
We al ready d
epl oyed su ch units
as reinforcem ent t
o t
he we will do so year and Kosovo contingent in March this
again for t he cur
rent ly d epl oye d cont ingent . By t
he end
of this ye ar we expect to have 1,000 tro
ops for
international operations available, scheduled for the whole PSO spectrum.
Talking about operational matters I clearly want to stress that, even though peacekeeping operations are multinational, they require the principle of unity of command to be fulfilled. So, when for example a nation sends reinforcements to a mission area it is absolutely necessary that the commander of the multinational forces can freely dispose of them. I therefore want to underline that as little national caveats as possible should be imposed on a peace support operation in order to ease the freedom of action for the multinational force commander.
The same it is with the acceptance of the rules of engagement established for a certain mission.
Conclusion
As you can see, in Austria peacekeeping and peace support operations have become a core task for the armed forces, and it is situated at the same level as the need for home defense. In the future - and this is being clearly reflected in the current reform of the Austrian Armed Forces - our troops will even be more oriented towards international operations. So, in Austria we are all confident that by 2010 the preconditions for the deployment of a multinational framework brigade under Austrian command will achieved, i.e. a headquarters battalion and at least two maneuver battalions. This requires of course thorough training and preparation in order to meet the needs for multinational cooperation.
Austria will do it’s best to succeed!
intern ationa l opera
tions a vailable, scheduled for the
whole P SO spectrum
.
Talking about oper ationa
l matters I clearl y want to stress
that , even thou
gh peacekeepi
ng op eratio
ns are of unit iple princ ire the equ l, they r multinationa
y of
comma nd to be f
ulf illed. So, whe n f
or e xam ple a nation
sends r einf orc em ents to a mission a
rea it is absolute
ly es orc tional f r of the multina mmande co t the ssary tha nece
can freel y dispose of them
. I ther efore w
ant to u nderline
that as little national cave ats as possible should be
imposed on a peace support operation in order to ease the
fre edom of action f
or the multinationa
l for ce c omma nder.
The sa me it is with the acc
epta nce of the rule s of
engage ment established f
or a certain mission.
Conclusion
As yo u can see, i
n Au stri a peac ek eeping and peac
e
support ope rat ions have be
com e a c ore ta sk for t
he
arm ed f orces, and it is s ituated at the
sam e leve
l as the this is be - and uture n the f . I fense e de hom need for
ing
clearl y re flect ed in t
he current reform
of the Aust rian
Arme d F orc es - our tr oops will e
ven be more
orie
nted re a e a ia w l operations. So, in Austr ationa s intern toward
ll
confident that by 20 10 the preconditions for the
deployment of a multinational framework b
rigad
e under quarters .e. a head eved, i ll achi and wi an comm Austri
battalion and at least t wo
maneuver b attalions. This
requires of course thoro ugh
trainin g and prep
aration in
order to meet the need
s for multinational cooperation. Austria will do it’s best to succeed!
