Page 94 - Wish Stream Year of 2017

16th Annual Law of Armed
Conflict (LOAC) Competition
for Military Academies
OCdt Debbage
This year marked the 16th Annual Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC) Competition for Military Academies at the International Insti- tute of Humanitarian Law in San Remo, Italy. Between the 12th and 17th March 2017, Officer Cadets from military academies across the world competed against each other in mixed national- ity teams to develop their knowledge and prac- tical application of LOAC. The LOAC scenarios used to challenge the cadets were based around actual events, which really brought the competi- tion to life.
OCdts Colquhoun (Juniors), Allen (Inters), Deb- bage (Seniors) and CSjt Cox RIFLES from Luc- know Platoon represented the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the British Army. To ensure the Cadets stood the best chance of success, they engaged in several intense ses- sions of LOAC training led by a head legal advi- sor to Army HQ, Andover and supported by Miss Melancon from the Defence and International Affairs (DIA) department at Faraday Hall.
The competition took place over three days, with one day of refresher training provided at the start. The competition was led by current and former colonels and generals from a range
The RMAS Contingent at the LOAC Competition
of militaries, to ensure
the content and con-
text of the competition
accurately reflected the
complexities of warfare,
and the legal environ-
ment within which the
OCdts will operate in
once they commission.
The competition itself started with a natural dis- aster that progressively escalated into Interna- tional Armed Conflict, coalitions, and a variety of human terrain challenges that states face on a daily basis, such as civilian websites posting sensitive, secret and compromising data, but conducting their business in neutral states.
There were a variety of lessons and key takea- ways from this week, particularly the practi- cal application of LOAC and how the law isn’t designed to reduce the military’s ability to oper- ate. Instead, it is intended to ensure that states and forces act responsibly with careful con- sideration for reducing the costs of war, and ensuring that at the end of hostilities there is a greater opportunity for peace because partici- pating nations have acted ethically towards one another.
The competition was led by current and former colonels and generals...
The British stand at the cultural evening
92 SANDHURST