In the seventh mobile education team (MET) program conducted by DIILS in Mauritius, more than 40 attendees participated in lectures and practical exercises designed to strengthen and enhance peacekeeping skills.

Mauritius is working toward the development of its United Nations peacekeeping force, and this program explored real world scenarios which assisted the attendees with the challenging complexities faced by those forces today.

The DIILS team presenting the MET included LTC Allen Goshi, US Army Office of the Judge Advocate General, and Mr. Mike Smith, Director of the Global Peace Operations Initiative International and Operational Law Division. Additionally, Mr. Chris Decker from the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe provided his subject matter expertise addressing UN police operations and UN Secretary General reports.

The Mauritians also provided important and valuable program instruction, with Lt Coondye discussing the possibility of creating a “Lessons Learned Center” in Mauritius, and Major Ramjeet speaking about international conflict management in the 21st Century.

Highlights of the program included an address by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Jhugroo, who discussed peace operation management, and at the closing ceremonies, remarks by United States Ambassador Cesar Cabrera.

Mr. Mike Smith GPOI (Global Peace Operations Initiative)

DIILS conducted an IMET funded Peacekeeping Operational law seminar for the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) at the British led International Military Assistance Training Team (IMATT) facility in Freetown between 18-22 August 2008. The seminar had some visibility with the opening ceremony attended by the Deputy Chief of Mission as the keynote speaker and legislative aides for Senators Biden and Feingold. The team also met with Brigadier General Powe, the IMATT Commanding General, who stressed the importance of future colaborative efforts with DIILS in helping the RSLAF achieve their goal of building a disciplined and professional military. The team consisted of Colonel Folsom (USMC), Captain Allred (USN), Lieutenant Colonel Jenks (US Army), and Captain Chelluri (US Army) and was attended by 39 RSLAF and Ministry of Defense personnel.

More photos: http://www.diils.org/file_gallery/5/685

LTC Jenks presenting Case Study of Bosnia and his experience there

IMATT legal officer with almost the entire current and future RSLAF legal personnel. Absent is LTC Koroma, the senior legal RSLAF officer.

Closing Ceremony with Colonel Folsom Sierra Leone August 2008 Peacekeeping Operational Law Seminar for the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (

On 8 August 2008 DIILS graduated 11 students from 8 countries from its Peacekeeping Latest Developments (PKLD) resident course taught at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island. As a result of close coordination with Security Assistance Officers almost all the students were associated with Peacekeeping training and the development of national policy for peace operations. PKLD provided these national leaders and peacekeeping educators with the latest developments in UN and international peacekeeping and stability operations.

Participants discussed these developments, their impact on future peacekeeping involvement throughout the world, and how to help prepare participants at all levels for those operations. The course included a visit to United Nations Headquarters in New York and prominent guest speakers including Mr. Matthew Cordova, Deputy Director Civil-Military Affairs and Strategy, U.S. Department of State who spoke on "Forging a Whole of Government Approach to Reconstruction and Stabilization Operations." The Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units (COESPU) Vicenza, Italy provided an instructor for the course. Inviting an instructor from another peacekeeping training institution was a new innovation for the PKLD course.

More photos: http://www.diils.org/file_gallery/5/671

Peacekeeping Latest Development 2008 General Assembly United Nations New York City

Although Turkey has sent participant’s to DIILS resident courses; this was the first time DIILS held a MET in Turkey. The MET built on Turkey’s experience and enhanced the knowledge of the participants in the latest topics relating to the legal aspects of combating terrorism.
27 Turkish military and several people from various government agencies attended. The participants were provided with current scenarios, hypothetical problems, and examples of pragmatic and lawful ways to help cope with the challenge of combating terrorism.
The seminar provided framework of legal responses to terrorism including an explanation and discussion of the definition of the word “terrorism” as it appears in international and domestic legal sources, as well as how law enforcement tools are utilized in response to terrorism.
DIILS International Operational Officer Major Nathan Kearns, USAF and subject matter experts, COL Puleo, USMC, CDR Cunningham, USCG and Mr. Breinholt US DOJ CT. instructed the seminar.

A presenter from Turkey's COE DAT (Center of Excellence Defense Against Terrorism).

Fifteen Azeri military members participated in the DIILS program on terrorism, computer crimes and the internet in Baku, Azerbaijan from 23 – 27 June 2008, assisting  their efforts to combat terrorism.
The program included subject matter experts from the Department of Justice National Security Division, Mr. Michael Taxay, and from the Department of Justice Computer Crimes Intellectual Property Section, Mr.Thomas Song.  Major Richard Ladue, the U.S. Air Force’s Deputy Staff Judge Advocate and Chief of Cyber Crimes at the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, rounded  out the faculty, which was led by DIILS International Operations Officer, Major Nathan Kearns (USAF).
During the five day program, the participants had the opportunity to apply the legal principles related to the investigation of  terrorist activity in cyber space and using the internet, engaging in exercise scenarios which incorporated many of the current real-world issues being confronted in the Global War on Terror.
This was the 7th program DIILS has conducted for Azerbaijan since 2000.
For more photographs go to the following url: http://www.diils.org/file_gallery/5/850 

DIILS Team in Azerbaijan