A troop of Marines from the Brazilian Navy (MB) has earned the United Nations’ (U.N.) highest certification level for peacekeeping missions, demonstrating that their level of preparation, readiness, and qualification meet all U.N. standards. The MB troop is the first to have earned such status worldwide.
MB’s Peacekeeping Rapid Deployment Force, which was notified of the certification in mid-April, celebrated its achievement on April 28 with demonstrations for government officials and military leaders at the Naval Complex on Governador Island in Rio de Janeiro.
“Our role is really to be ready wherever and whenever as determined by Brazil,” said General Carlos Chagas Vianna Braga, Fleet Marine Force commander. “I attribute this level 3 achievement mainly to the intrinsic characteristics of the Marine Corps within the Brazilian Navy, which is a matter of quick deployment, that is, it’s a troop that in essence works with this, which helps us to be ready, with great speed,” added the officer.
Under the U.N. Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System (PCRS), created in 2015, the police/troop contributing country expresses its willingness to offer a peacekeeping capability for U.N. missions. The PCRS has three levels, under which peacekeeping capabilities are evaluated — level 3 being the highest
The demonstration at the Naval Complex, under the Amphibious Division Command, included simulations of humanitarian operations in a conflict region. There was also a demonstration of an advance in an urban environment with tactical shooting and live ammunition, as well as the use of amphibious vehicles, among others.
The training of the Peacekeeping Rapid Deployment Force is held every six months to keep the battalions at the highest level of operational readiness for peacekeeping missions and others that demand the services of marines.
“I think it’s extremely important to always have exercises like this so that when you really need us, everything can be done with the standard of excellence that the Navy offers,” Marine Corps Corporal Lucas de Souza Brilhantino Silva, 23, with five years of service under his belt, told Diálogo.
Master Sergeant Giselle Bonini Gomes, who has been in the MB for five years, two of these with the Marine Corps serving on the combat line, participated in the demonstration of an advance in an urban environment. “The Navy is already opening another selection process for women for front line combat. I think the participation of women is going to grow more and more,” Master Sgt. Giselle told Diálogo after the exhibition.
Master Sergeant Diego Mello da Silva, with 19 years of service in the MB, said he has already participated twice in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).
“It was very striking because I had never experienced a situation like that: seeing a country in a very devastated state, destroyed […]; we could see how much the people needed us there,” Master Sgt. Diego told Diálogo. “This certification shows Brazil and the world that we have a troop that is well prepared to be able to act in several fronts and situations,” he added.
