Name : Commodore Roderick Bowe, BSC, CMELI.

Country: Bahamas (Defense Staff)

Attended: “Conducting Peacekeeping and Military Operations in Accordance with the Rule of Law” (PKRL), Fall 2005.

Comment: While studying at the United States Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS), I was fortunate to have experienced instruction by some of the most qualified professionals in their area of expertise.  The ‘Military and Peace Keeping Operations with emphasis on the Rule of Law inclusive of Managing Internal Conflict’ (US Institute of Peace) and ‘Antiterrorism Force Protection Level 3’ (US Office of Security Policy and Management) helped to expand my knowledge and understand my role as a military officer.

I found that the nature and functions of the military are dynamic and that service personnel must be ever-cognizant of the evolving temperament of the global village of which we are a part.  DIILS taught me that the military cannot operate in a vacuum or as an unregulated entity any longer.  The tenets to which I and my fellow colleagues were exposed at DIILS helped my career tremendously, as they gave me a stronger foundation to deal with matters related to national and regional security.

I am grateful to the staff at DIILS, as I recognize that their impetus helped to prepare me for the position I now hold; Commander Defence Force - Chief of Defence Staff.

 Name: Major Zulkifly Bahkhani

 Country: Malaysia (RMAF)

 Attended: “Stability Operations, Legal Aspects of Rules of Engagement/Rules on
 Use of Force: Afghanistan”  (SOLARA), Resident Course 2012.

 Comment: I have just finished a 14 month tour of duty as peacekeeper for the
 United Nations Interim Force in  Lebanon (UNIFIL) under Malaysian Battalion
 850-1, and am safely back in Malaysia, where I was attached as Legal  Officer
 and Advisor to the battalion.  All of the exposure and experiences gained from
 SOLARA really helped me  during my tour of duty in South Lebanon, especially
 the lessons learned discussions led by U.S. troops with recent  deployment
 experience.

 I will be stationed back at Joint Force Headquarters in Malaysia as Legal Officer,
 and I will definitely apply all of the  experiences and improve any legal or ROE
 shortcomings to assist future missions.

 I would like to personally thank all of the staff at DIILS for your guidance, without
 which I could not have executed  the peacekeeping mission successfully.

 Name: Lieutenant Commander Bambang Widodo

 Country: Indonesia (Navy)

 Attended: “Legal Aspects of Combating Terrorism” (LCT), Spring 2014.

 Comment: My job now is staff officer at Tarakan Naval base.  I am very proud
 and  happy to be a DIILS alumnus.

 I not only learned knowledge I can use, but I also developed relationships with
 officers  from all over the world.