The UNSOC is sponsored by the Government of the United Kingdom through the British Peace Support Team - Africa, while the UN OP LOG is sponsored by the Government of Canada. The two courses will run from 5th to 23rd May 2025, bringing together participants from Gambia, Malawi, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Botswana,Tunisia, Tanzania, the Republic of Sierra Leone, Zambia, Ethiopia, Jordan, Indonesia and Morocco.

In his opening remark, the Colonel Plans and Programmes IPSTC, Colonel Aritho, underscored the critical role of well-prepared military staff officers and logisticians in modern United Nations peacekeeping operations. He expressed appreciation to the Government's of the United Kingdom and Canada for their continued support and emphasized the importance of knowledge, coordination, and professionalism in peace support missions. He encouraged participants to actively engage and learn from one another.

On behalf of the sponsors, Colonel Todd Braithwaite urged participants to remain focused throughout the course to ensure the knowledge gained will enhance their capacity to serve diligently in peace operations.

Also in attendance were the Deputy Commandant HPSS Lt Col Kaptuway, Head of Training HPSS Lt Col Neukomm, SO1 Peace Support Operations Lt Col Makau, UNSOC Lead Facilitator Maj (Rtd) Chelelgo, and UN OP LOG Lead Facilitator Maj (Rtd) Mark Tum.

The Head of Facilities and Operations, Ms. Joanne Kaittany underscored the importance of staying current with industry trends and continuously building staff capacity to ensure high standards of service delivery.

The Director IPSTC, Brigadier Joyce Sitienei, expressed gratitude to the hospitality team for their dedication and professionalism, which have been instrumental in upholding the Centre’s international reputation. She reiterated the significance of ongoing training and development.

The training will be conducted in partnership with ELS Training Centre, known for its expertise in hospitality education.

This marks the third English-language iteration of the course, following the successful launch of the All Arms Search Course under the United Nations Triangular Partnership Programme (UN TPP) on 17 February 2025 at HPSS.

In his opening remarks, Lt Col Kaptuway welcomed the participants and emphasized the vital role the course plays in equipping personnel with the skills needed to operate in Improvised Explosive Device (IED) threat environments. He highlighted its alignment with the "Prepare the Force" pillar of the Counter-IED (CIED) strategy and stressed the significance of the trainees' future responsibilities as instructors within their units. He urged them to approach the training with discipline and commitment before officially declaring the course open.

The opening ceremony was also attended by Lt Col Alex Neukom (Head of Training, HPSS), Lt Col (Rtd) Joseph Maritim (GICHD Focal Point – East Africa), Warrant Officer Class I Kering (Senior Master Instructor, CIED Wing), and Warrant Officer Class II Paul Hartin from the British Peace Support Team – Africa.