About 600 soldiers from the units of the National Army, the General Inspectorate of Carabineers, the armies of Romania, the U.S. and other countries since June 24 are taking part in the multinational exercise “Peace Shield 2024”. The event opening ceremony took place on Monday, IPN reports.

Brigadier general Sergiu Cirimpei, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the National Army, said that “Peace Shield” is not only a training exercise for the personnel of the National Army, but also a test to check the preparedness of the army subunits in accordance with international standards.

According to colonel Sorin Bacalu, “Peace Shield” director, the exercise comes to evaluate Peacekeeping Battalion No. 22 “Blue Helmets” in accordance with the Operational Capabilities Concept (OCC). Under the procedure, the servicemen are assessed by national and international experts when carrying out actions specific to international peacekeeping missions, such as patrolling, escorting, searching car equipment at checkpoints, ensuring security of strategic facilities, medical evacuation, as well as providing first aid.

According to a press release of the Ministry of Defense, OCC certification is a mandatory condition for the participation of the National Army in peacekeeping missions under the aegis of the UN, including KFOR in Kosovo and UNIFIL in Lebanon.

The National Army joined the OCC program in 2007.

Training within the “Peace Shield 2024” exercise will last until June 28.