Proud to wear blue beret, says soldier returning from UN peacekeeping duties
A soldier has spoken of his pride at wearing the United Nations blue beret as he returned from the longest ongoing military operation in history.
BFBS Forces News asked Royal Lancers' personnel what it felt like to wear the historic blue beret – as they marked United Nations Peacekeepers Day.
The day celebrates every man and woman who has served in UN peacekeeping operations globally.
The soldiers had returned from Operation Tosca, the British contribution to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
"I was pretty proud, to be fair, because it's like your first proper thing," one soldier said.
"You can wear it, and it's like you're part of something bigger than yourself."
The Royal Lancers' motto of "Death or Glory" is more akin to deploying personnel with sniper rifles and anti-tank missiles than words and diplomacy.
However, they proved they could be both kinds of soldier and were awarded their UN medals at a parade in Catterick.
"When you put on a UN beret, it's very much people-oriented and it's all about peace," another soldier said.
"So, it was very much [that] I'm stepping into a different role, a different job."
Another soldier explained that personnel needed to alter their attitude from a soldier mentality to a peacekeeping mindset.
"You have to go from the warfighting mindset to the peacekeeping mindset," he said.
The Royal Lancers are an armoured cavalry regiment described as the "eyes and ears" of the British Army.
They work as a reconnaissance regiment to give information to commanders so that they can take their next tactical steps.
What is the blue beret, and what does it signify?
The blue beret or helmet dates back to the UN's armed peace operation in the Sinai Peninsula in 1956.
The Canadians covered their helmet liners in light sky blue and their vehicles in white, identical to the UN's colour scheme.
The Canadians' caps were dyed and handed out to the troops.
When did UN peacekeeping start, and what principles underpin it?
Peacekeeping has evolved since it was started in 1948, just after the Second World War.
UN military observers were first sent to the Middle East to oversee the truce after the first Arab-Israeli War.
The next year, they were deployed to observe the ceasefire in the Kashmir region after killings had happened in light of the partition of India and Pakistan.
The UN definition of peacekeeping is that the force provides "security and peacebuilding support to help countries make the difficult, early transition from conflict to peace".
Three principles underpin the peacekeeping process. This trio of principles includes the consent of the parties, impartiality and the non-use of force except in self-defence and the defence of the mandate.
What do UN peacekeepers do?
Peacekeeping has changed from overseeing ceasefires between warring parties during the Cold War to a more complex and multifaceted role since the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The peacekeepers are most often tasked with maintaining the safety of civilians, trying to prevent conflict, decrease violence, improve security in the region, and help national authorities take on these responsibilities.
They are also out in these tricky and dangerous locations delivering field support, supporting human rights, and encouraging women's rights.
Where are they based?
There are 11 peacekeeping operations currently deployed globally.
- United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)
- United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO)
- United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA)
- United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS)
- United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA)
- United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)
- United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP)
- United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO)
- United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
- United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)
- United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)
How many peacekeepers are currently working around the world?
Personnel are seconded to work with the UN from their national militaries.
There are currently more than 50,000 troops from more than 120 countries, with most of the troops originally from Africa and Asia, according to the UN.
What is the UN peacekeeping budget?
The current annual cost of keeping the UN peacekeeping operations running is estimated at $5.6bn.
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