Peace Support Training Centre (PSTC), Kingston

Background

Peace Support Training Centre (PSTC) is a Joint, Inter-agency, and Multinational training establishment located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. PSTC supports the intellectual development and training of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members from Other Government Departments, and international audiences. PSTC’s activities fall into two overall lines of operation:

• Delivering training; and,
• Fulfilling Centre of Excellence responsibilities.

With training capabilities varying from civil-military cooperation, headquarters and military observation, and psychological operations, the centre is fully oriented towards training for operational deployements. As part of its effort to keep pace with the contemporary operating environment, PSTC stays connected with deployed personnel to obtain first-hand feedback from operational settings. Moreover, it consults with organizations that identify shortcomings in peacekeeping practices and provide evidenced-based recommendations for strategic improvements. PSTC also maintains active relationships with other international training establishments in the fields of Peace Support Operations, Civil-Military Cooperation, and Information Operations. By maintaining currency and relevance, PSTC maintains a formidable intellectual base and delivers the highest quality of training.

PSTC is also engaged in the development of capacity building training, such as security force assistance and provincial reconstruction teams. These are designed to strengthen the military contribution to a comprehensive approach that sees a whole-of-government team protecting national interests.

History

PSTC was set up in July 1996 and was formally established as a unit in December 2000. The original role of PSTC was to deliver pre-deployment training for CAF personnel and others selected for Peace Support Operations and to provide Peace Support Operations training assistance to Canadian and foreign organizations.

In 2004, PSTC was assigned the Centre of Excellence and Individual training responsibilities for:

• Information Operations; 
• Civil-Military Cooperation; and
• Accredited United Nations (UN) Military Observer Course. 

The majority of personnel who receive training at PSTC are CAF personnel preparing to deploy on operations. This includes personnel on the UNMO Course who deploy on UN missions to Israel, Syria, and Lebanon. PSTC trainees have also deployed as staff officers and technical advisors to South Sudan (UNMISS), Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), and Mali (MINUSMA). Over the years, the trainee pool has evolved to include a greater percentage of students who are civilians from Other Government Departments. With a staff of 60 personnel, PSTC has come a long way from its humble beginnings. Its annual throughput of students is approximately 1 000 people and it continues to develop its capabilities to prepare personnel for any future operations.