The so-called Blue Helmets (or Blue Berets) is a military group in charge of the United Nations (UN) that has the purpose of safeguarding peace in places of conflict, supporting nations in case of disaster, whether caused by nature. or through military struggles, and guarantee the vital security and stability of the UN member nations. If you are interested in joining this select group, here you can find out how.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Find out what the Blue Helmets do
Step 1. Find out who they work with
They work with the local police of the mission sites, civilian and military.
Step 2. See what its purpose is
The creation of the Blue Helmets in 1947 had two main purposes that remain to this day.
- First, to protect civilians, the personnel of the local armed forces and the assets of the country in conflict.
- Second, maintain cooperation with other military entities in the mission area, as well as work both with them and with the local community to foster greater mutual understanding and work for lasting peace, thus promoting stability and security.
Step 3. Think that you are working primarily to protect civilians
Although the Blue Helmets oversee military agreements, such as the cease-fire, and help disarm military groups that are considered harmful or threaten the peace of a country, an area or the world, in general, their work has focused much on more to the protection of civilians.
- Not only from a military point of view, protecting the community, for example, but also, and more importantly, bringing food, medicine, preparing shelters, on rescue or reconstruction missions.
- Hence the importance of this work, since a conflict of any kind tends to have many collateral damage that affects the population of the place. The Blue Helmets try to reduce such collateral damage as much as possible.
Part 2 of 3: Recognize the missions of the Blue Helmets
Step 1. Investigate who decides the missions of the Blue Helmets
The missions are discussed in the same UN and the latter turns them over to the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.
This department is in charge of recruiting the appropriate personnel for each mission, according to its characteristics, the areas or the level of conflict in which it is found
Step 2. Find out where there are currently missions
There are times of conflict, so the Blue Helmets have different missions around the world for different purposes.
- There are currently 16 missions with different characteristics, in some places, such as Haiti, they seek to create a peaceful environment, in others, such as the Middle East, they seek to help the stability of the area, in others, such as South Sudan It seeks to protect civilians, monitor human rights, and support ceasefire agreements between groups from the same country.
- It is important that you know that you cannot always decide which mission to attend, but it depends on your abilities and the type of mission. You can review all missions online.
Step 3. Consider that the Department has a lot on its hands
It is charged with providing political and executive guidance in nations that are in conflict and are members of the United Nations. The Department is also tasked with maintaining contact with the Security Council, with the parties to the conflict, as well as with countries that contribute troops, police forces and financial contributions.
Step 4. Look at the other subdivision of the Department
It's called the Department of Field Support, it specifically supports peacekeeping and political missions on the ground, that is, in the conflict zone.
For example, they transport humanitarian aid from one point to another for refugee camps or safeguard the electoral ballots of a country in conflict or help Red Cross personnel in transport and protection tasks
Part 3 of 3: Be part of the Blue Helmets
Step 1. Take into account that not everyone can be part of the Blue Helmets
As you could already observe, there is a fairly high degree of military, political, logistical and social specialization, so it is not possible for anyone without verification of these experiences to be able to join.
Step 2. Enlist in the armed forces of your country
This UN military group is not properly hers, but feeds on the voluntary cooperation of member countries. In other words, only military and logistics members belonging to the armed forces of a member country can be part of the Blue Helmets.
Step 3. Stand out in the armed forces of your country
The United Nations Office of Military Affairs is seeking highly competent and specialized military officers to serve in peacekeeping missions. You can aspire to be a General Staff Officer or part of a constituted unit of a troop-contributing country.
Step 4. Don't overlook that this is a period job
Staff work as seconded to the United Nations in stages of up to one year on field missions, or two if at Headquarters.
Applications for work in a military position at the United Nations must first be submitted in the applicant's home country
Step 5. See if your specialty is required
Above all, infantry elements are requested for the brigades. But “facilitating or support elements” are also in great demand, that is, engineers for the construction of cities and bridges in places devastated by conflict or by nature, specialists in international politics, in negotiation, helicopter pilots, doctors, cooks., etc.
The invitation is also extended for more women to join the Blue Helmets, since there are only 3.8% in this group. One of the short-term missions of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations is to include a greater number of female military personnel, especially due to the controversies that have arisen in recent years around human rights abuses
Advice
- If you are not in the military and you are not interested, do not be discouraged, there are many ways to contribute to make a better world, joining the Red Cross, for example.
- If you are already in the military and want to join the Blue Helmets, ask your senior officer what personnel are required and find out if you are qualified to join.
- Remember that you must be very committed to social welfare causes before seeking to join the Blue Helmets.