Orion Peace Operations Training System

1. Introduction

The Orion Peace Operations Training System is an exercise platform developed by the PPC to meet the training objectives of our participants and clients. The system is used primarily by military organizations. The PPC has conducted major exercises for NATO regional headquarters, national and international military formations, and staff colleges. However, a growing number of civilian organizations have also used Orion.

For further information on the Orion System, please choose from one of the sections listed below, or contact the Exercise Development Coordinator at [email protected]

Capabilities
The Orion Scenario
Background Documentation
Mission Documentation
Mapping and Charting
Analytical Mode
Dynamic Mode

2. Capabilities

The Orion system is intended to portray a full range of issues present in a modern peace operation environment. This includes a simulation of the following:

• Military Security Operations aimed at creating a secure environment in which other peace operations activities can be undertaken. These include inter-positional observation and monitoring of peace agreements, peace enforcement and Chapter Vl and Chapter VII peacekeeping operations, disarmament and demobilization of former combatants, force protection and support to other peace operations activities.
  
• Law and Order Operations that focus on the role of civilian police in establishing the rule of law during the transition from violent conflict. Scenarios include community policing activities and the training of national police officials. The platform also covers initiatives with special and military police and private security firms.
  
• Human Rights Operations, focusing on the protection and promotion of human rights, as well as the investigation and prosecution of human rights violations.
  
• Humanitarian Assistance Operations, covering the design and implementation of humanitarian assistance to war-affected civilian populations. These include refugees and internally displaced persons.
  
• Democratization Operations, including electoral support, reform of public security institutions, and good governance initiatives.
  
• Cooperation and Coordination, understanding the roles of different actors involved in a peace operation, mechanisms for promoting Cooperation and Coordination, and developing strategies for maximizing impact through unity of effort.
  
• Media Activity, including working with media and journalists from the full range of domestic, international print and electronic mediums.
  
• Host Nation Activity, working with national governments, non-governmental and civil society organizations, military, paramilitary and populations at large.
  
• International Activity, working with neighbouring states, regional organizations and alliances, force contributing nations, international organizations and the United Nations.

3. The Orion Scenario

The Orion Peace Operations Training System is based in the fictional country of Fontinalis. The system uses the geography of Canada’s east cost, centred in Nova Scotia and the neighbouring provinces and states. Events are not taken from a single real-world situation. Rather, Orion is a composite of various peace operation experiences. The PPC has developed scenarios from these composites, each of which is supported by an extensive documentation package.

Variant One: Internal Conflict

The international community responds in the aftermath of a bitter ethnic conflict between the Government of Fontinalis and its ethnic Truttan minority. While the military creates a secure environment, civilian and police organizations begin peacebuilding activities.

Variant Two: International Conflict

An international war occurs when Fontinalis is invaded by the neighbouring state of Trutta. The invasion prompts the deployment of an intervention and stabilization force by the international community.

Variant Three: Maritime Conflict

An international maritime force deploys to waters off Fontinalis in response to a confrontation between Fontinalis and the neighbouring island state of Clarka.

Variant Four: Humanitarian Intervention

The international community responding to an internal conflict in Fontinalis, marked by grave human rights violations and possible acts of genocide, with a military intervention and humanitarian assistance. The intervention occurs after all attempts at conflict prevention fail.

Customized Variants

The Orion Peace Operations Training System can be adapted to meet your organization's specific training requirements. The PPC has designed scenarios that focus on complex humanitarian emergencies, sanctions, embargoes and counter terrorism.

4. Background Documentation

The Orion Peace Operations Training System has extensive documentation on the conflict in Fontinalis, including:

• Recent history
• Military intelligence documents
• Media articles
• Security Council resolutions
• Cease-fire agreements
• Legislative documents
• Demographic data
• Infrastructure data

5. Mission Documentation

The Orion system has comprehensive documents for international peace operations in Fontinalis, including for:

• The United Nations Mission In Fontinalis (UNMIF - police, civilian and military)
  
• FONFOR (NATO or generic international military force)
  
• United Nations agencies and international and non-government organizations

Each of these documents sets includes:

• Military Operation Plans
• Mission Handbooks
• Implementation Reports
• Intelligence Summaries
• Secretary-General’s Reports

6. Mapping and Charting

The PPC has developed extensive digital mapping and charting at various scales to support exercise requirements.

7. Analytical Mode

The Orion Peace Operations Training System can be used as an analytical exercise in the same format often found at military staff colleges. The system is designed to support training for personnel in command and staff functions. Special emphasis is placed on cooperation and coordination between civil, military and police actors.

The civilian version of our analytical exercise simulates issues found in conflict prevention, humanitarian assistance and peacebuilding scenarios. It also focuses on the dynamic of cooperation between peace operations actors in the military and police. The system is adaptable to on-site delivery at the offices or headquarters of civilian organizations.

In the analytical format, groups of students work together in small staff teams to solve a series of tactical, operational or strategic level problems. They normally present their solutions to a notional superior, represented by the Control Staff.

Orion exercises may take place as independent activities, or may be integrated into part of a larger education and training curriculum.

Analytical Exercise Features

• Classroom oriented
• A focus on analysis, planning and problem-solving
• Low infrastructure, staff and communications requirements
• Web-based distributed learning options

8. Orion in Dynamic Mode

The military version of Orion will support a full command post exercise, from battalion level to the joint command or theatre level. This configuration requires participants to react not only with higher and subordinate commanders in a typical war-fighting situation, but also with other elements of the international community, host nation military forces, government officials and politicians. The exercise takes place in a simulated atmosphere of intense media scrutiny. Exercises may be run at the PPC’s facilities in Cornwallis, at any other equipped training facility, or with the participating Headquarters deployed under realistic field conditions.

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