From 14-15 November 2017 , over 500 delegates from more than 70 countries and international organizations convened in Vancouver for the 2017 UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial conference . Alongside representatives from the African Union , the European Union , NATO , and the Organisation international de la Francophonie , these delegates worked to coordinate and improve UN peacekeeping operations , as well as secure new pledges from Member States .
While there has been no shortage of commentary about U . S . contributions to United Nations ( UN ) peacekeeping missions since the transition to the new administration , much of this discussion has been at the level of strategic engagement and governmental commitment to fulfilling the expectation of the US as a UN member . However , when it comes down to brass tacks , there is less public awareness of who , rather than what , the US dedicates to these peacekeeping missions .
The US currently contributes 55 personnel to United Nations peacekeeping missions , including 4 UN Headquarters ( UNHQ ) staff , and 51 peacekeepers from the U . S . Army , Navy , Marine Corps , and Air Force . These personnel are deployed to 8 countries within 3 Combatant Command AORs , with representation outside of New York in the Central African Republic ( MINUSCA ), the Democratic Republic of Congo ( MONUS- CO ), Israel ( UNTSO ), Liberia ( UNMIL ), Mali ( MINUSMA ), South Sudan ( UNMISS ), and Tunisia / Libya ( UNSMIL ). U . S . contributions to the United Nations are primarily supported by two DoD entities , the U . S . Military Observer Group out of Arlington , VA , and the Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute , out of the U . S . Army War College at the Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania .
The U . S . Military Observer Group ( USMOG ) is a joint organization that provides oversight of all DoD personnel assigned or allocated to the UN and Multinational Force and Observers ( MFO ) to ensure that mission requirements are met . USMOG provides command oversight and administrative control over all DoD personnel serving with the UN as well as administrative and logistical support before and during their assignments . They also coordinate with the U . S . Permanent Mission to the UN ( USUN ) to process nominations and coordinate Mission
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PKSOI ' s Dr . Karen Finkenbinder provides policing expertise to the United Nations African Military and Police Adviser Community ( AMPAC ). They visited PKSOI on Friday 4 May 2018 . They belong to their own country ' s permanent missions to the UN , and are assigned as military and police advisors for the peacekeeping efforts of the UN . The visitors today represent Angola , Botswana , Burkina Faso , Kenya , Niger , Nigeria Senegal , Zambia and Zimbabwe , headed by BG Reginald Odoi , the Dean of AMPAC from Ghana . This meeting also was an unexpected reunion for PKSOI ' s COL Brian Foster and BG Solomon Udounwa from Nigeria , AWC grads of 2013
placement , while also providing comprehensive pre-deployment training for all personnel before deploying to their assignments .
The Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute ( PKSOI ) has resided at Carlisle Barracks for over two decades . PKSOI promotes the collaborative development and integration of peace and stability capabilities across the United States Government ( USG ), international organizations , and the community of interest in order to enable the success of peace and stability activities and missions . PKSOI focuses on peace and stability operations ( PSO ) at the strategic and operational levels , and supports PSO via policy development , the design and review of civilian and military training programs and education , collection and dissemination of lessons learned , and advises the development of requirements and capabilities to plan prepare , and execute PSO . With a footprint of 50 interagency personnel