Almost every time I went back home on family visit, having to meet friends and old pal whose not a military personel and knew that I have been assigned under such peace operations like in Liberia, often ask the same question: *What exactly did you do there?*

To best describe and explain our profile and role, a United Nations Military Observer (UNMO) is an observer for the UN. They have been described as, “the eyes and ears of the security council.”

Military Observer, often called as MILOBS, or UNMO, whose duties are as follow:

1. Monitor the various agreements on cease-fires, withdrawals and demilitarization.
2. Patrol both sides of the conflict, including the areas along the confrontation lines.
3. Help resolve local difficulties (social, economic, etc.) by liaison with all sides of the conflict.
4. Investigate allegations of aggression or cease-fire violations.

The UNMO are posted in the regions, conducting overland patrols to sectors, visiting the villages in small remote areas. The terrain could be a great challenge, especially for those whose yet familiar with driving off-road and proficient enough to manuever in rough-gravel-paved roads by not making the passengers vomiting inside the car. :-)

So many great adventures, which to include having stuck in the mud for hours, and worst like a colleague with “excellent” driving skills then lauched the vehicle straight to the fine-wide-with-lots-of-mosquitos-swamp and having to wait for back up shouting at the radio:

_Zulu Base, this is Alpha-Bravo-Ten, do you read? – over! – Crrk! _(keep shouting for about 5 minutes)
Crrk! – This is Zulu Base, come in Alpha-Bravo-Ten and what’s your twenty?, Over..!
Alpha-Bravo-Ten is requesting for transport assistance at coordinate 10-16-06, our transport needs heavy lifting, over!
Crrk! – transmission is breaking up.. please restate, over!(I kept repeating the same over and over again and finally..)
Crrk! – Roger that. Alpha-Bravo-Ten, sit tight – rescue team will be on the spot in 30-45 mikes. Over and out!

You can imagine how my colleagues and I look like (exactly like those swamp-thing) when finished with helping the car out from the mud, not to mention how terrible we smell. Somehow that mud left us with this terrible fart-smell that sticks hard in the uniform/clothes.

Some days we patrol overland, that is so-so. However, the thing I enjoyed most is the helicopter ride, especially the air/maritime patrol around the AOR (Area of Responsibility). with 4-5 personnel, they we fly high above overlooking the thick bushes and seeing little huts of villages, rivers and a lot of times surrounded by the kids once we land. They came out of nowhere and suddenly circling around the chopper with smile and waving their little hands to us.

A heli ride is nothing like that commercial plane comfort or those scene at Airwolf TV series. Just to cure your curriousity, the video below is to give you description on how we are seated and the loud voice we should raise justto talk to a fellow passenger sitting next to us. The engine screams so loud as if you are sitting next to a bid generator.. and feeling the vibration to the butt.. no, I mean to the bone!.

What? I can’t hear you!… say that again? :-) LOL!

Armed with a year-long of field-tested-experience of having served as Milobs under UNMIL, I can only say that it was worth the challenge.

Therefore I have been grateful for the opportunity to have served the United Nations in its peacekeeping operations in Liberia in 2007 – 2008.