Ukraine actively participates in peacekeeping operations since having sent its military contingent to accomplish the peacekeeping mission in former Yugoslavia in 1992.
The cooperation of Ukraine and its Armed Forces within the Partnership for Peace context, the participation of military contingents in Peace Support Operations, and the attempts to achieve interoperability with multinational forces put forward the requirement of relevant training and preparation of Ukrainian peacekeepers. Those standing realities were critical for the creation and continuing development of MSOC.
A chronological history of the Multinational Staff Officer Center (MSOC) is as follows:
1999
At a meeting between the Minister of Defense of Ukraine and the NATO Secretary General, the agreement was signed to start a Multinational Staff Officer Courses under permanent NATO instructors support.
2000
As a result, The MSOC (Multinational Staff Officer Courses) at The National Defense Academy of Ukraine was created on the 4th of July 2000 with General Lieutenant Vitaliy Kuksenko as the first MSOC Commandant. A month later, the first Orientation course was conducted.
The students' training started right after the delivery and installation of IT and other equipment.
This equipment formed the MSOC material and technical base. Later on, within the framework of the "Enhance International Peacekeeping Capabilities" Program, according to the Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the USA the time-phased procurement and installation of equipment for MSOC classrooms was fulfilled.
2001
The Operational Course was established for those Ukrainian officers who were to be assigned to UN or NATO elements as multinational HQ staff for PSO.
The Orientation Course was constantly being improved and refined. The structure of MSOC underwent changes as the new departments and cells were introduced.
These important steps significantly improved the quantity and quality of training and served as the launch pad for the future development.
2002
This year was one of the most fruitful for MSOC, as the First Phase of equipment delivery and installation was accomplished.
Owing to this, the conference room with simultaneous translation system and an integrated video presentation facilities, three multipurpose SMART classrooms and MSOC Intranet became fully operational.
This enabled the start of student's training at a new level of quality. The experience of one and a half years of training activities also suggested that it was necessary to establish a set of new courses and specializations. Consequently, during this year the two urgently needed courses were set up: the Military Observer Course and the Logistics Course.
2003
The further development and strengthening of relations between Ukraine and NATO, the introduction of the Euro-Atlantic integration vector in foreign policy and declared intentions to acquire NATO membership encouraged the MSOC personnel to further enlarge the number of courses, and increase the number of students of different specialties.
Ongoing preparation of Ukrainian peacekeeping personnel and military contingents for the deployment in Iraq and Liberia mandated urgent changes in the training process as well. As a result, the Military Interpreters for Peacekeeping Units Course and the On-board Interpreters Course were introduced. and the Operational Course was improved.
Owing to the completion of the Second Phase of equipment delivery and installation, a set of computerized command posts for training of multinational brigade-battalion HQ staff was established.
In the newly created MSOC library there was a lot of information and training materials. Major changes were also made at the structural level.
At the end of the year the MSOC (Multinational Staff Officer Courses) was transformed into the Multinational Staff Officer Center (MSOC) with a wider spectrum of capabilities and tasks. Colonel Serhii Rechych was appointed as the new MSOC Commandant.
2004
The beginning of this year was very productive for the MSOC personnel because of working through the system of interaction and cooperation between cells and departments, and the introduction of modern educational technologies into the training process. Several new highly qualified foreign instructors started their work in MSOC.
This allowed the Center to improve the quality of the training process and to introduce NATO principles and standards into it.
The quality of graduates also was significantly improved, as was indicated in the feedback being received from different Missions.
At the beginning of this year the Multinational Staff Officer Center paid great attention to the preparation of the Ukrainian Mechanized Brigade and Ukrainian staff officers for the Multinational Forces in Iraq (MNF-I).
It was decided that this course would become annual and it could be opened for international participants and other officers who would serve in different multinational HQs.
2005
The Third Phase of equipment delivery and installation was accomplished. Cubic Defense Applications, the US Company, installed and launched the Simulation and modeling system JCATS for the MSOC system of command posts.
The completion of this project enabled the Center to greatly improve the quality and the essence of practical training for staff officers.
Growing demand for qualified UN staff officers revealed the necessity of introduction of a new course. Thus, the UN Staff officers and UN Liaison officers Course was developed and introduced into the MSOC Curriculum.
2006
Although the Ukrainian Peacekeeping Doctrine underwent some changes, the number of students remained the same. This number increased as new priorities arose.
This year MSOC hosted a UN DPKO course with 25 participants from 16 nations, which enhanced international cooperation.
2007 On the 20th of August 2007 the United Nation Department of Peacekeeping Operations officially recognized that the United Nations Military Observer Course delivered by the Multinational Staff Officer Center utilizes the United Nations Standardized Peacekeeping Training materials and accordingly meets the United Nations peacekeeping training standards.
The certificate was signed by the Director of Change Management, Department of Peacekeeping Operations.
Today
The MSOC staff continues to support the glorious traditions of Ukrainian peacekeepers by enhancing their professionalism and providing training in accordance with NATO standards. MSOC is a unique training institution in Ukraine. MSOC graduates serve in many UN- and NATO-led peacekeeping missions.
Current MSOC activity is considered to be a practical implementation of the state policy which aims for Euro-Atlantic integration and the spread of European and international standards in all governmental institutions.