From July 28 until August 5, 2015, a group of fifteen LUISS students is visiting Italian soldiers based in Shama, Lebanon. During their stay, the students will come in close contact with peace operations while learning to plan, conduct and manage cooperation missions.
The summer program is open to master’s program students in International Relations as well as students in their final year of the single-cycle master’s program in Law who are interested in participating in the UNIFIL United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. The UN forces have been led by Luciano Portolano under Operazione Leonte since July 2014.
Soldiers and generals involved in the mission will accompany students during their visit to help them get an up-close look at current projects to bring textbook information to life.
During an initial intensive training period at the Centro di Simulazione e Validazione dell'Esercito (Ce.Si.Va) commanded by Generale B. Salvatore Polimeno, the students studied the legal aspects of military operations abroad, coordination between military and local civic organizations in addition to Lebanese culture and information regarding the local communities.
The objective of the second phase of the project is to work closely alongside military personnel and collaborate on projects with the Joint Task Force Lebanon stationed in Shama, one of the most important international cooperation bases in the world.
“We began collaborating with the military one year ago during a visit to Kosovo organized by the Stato Maggiore della Difesa and this year we have continued by working with the Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito,” says LUISS General Director Giovanni Lo Storto. “This program responds to our students’ desire for practical experience to better understand international issues.”