EUTM Officer Awarded by General Van der Laan for In-Flight Emergency Response
While on board the aircraft, the officer noticed that the woman seated next to him had lost consciousness. Without hesitation, he laid her down in the aisle and began administering first aid. Thanks to Major Sterner’s timely and professional intervention, the patient’s condition was stabilized, preventing further deterioration of her level of consciousness during the flight.
Upon arrival at the airport, an ambulance was able to immediately take charge of the passenger and transport her to the nearest hospital, where she received the necessary medical treatment.
Major Sterner’s actions were recognized as a clear example of a high sense of duty and professionalism, fully reflecting the values and operational standards of the EUTM mission.
“Major Sterner’s actions demonstrate how training and presence of mind can make a decisive difference in critical situations,” said the EUTM Mission Force Commander, Brigadier General Elio Manes. “His behavior helped save a life and represents a model for all personnel engaged in our missions.”
Established in 2010, EUTM-Somalia—of which Italy, with approximately 150 personnel, is the leading contributing nation—is a multinational effort supported by military personnel from Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, and Hungary, with the addition of two non-EU countries, Moldova and Serbia (the latter contributing a medical support component).
Together, these nations contribute to the mission’s primary objective of training and advising the Somali Security Forces, playing a crucial role in strengthening long-term security and institutional development in the country.
EUTM Somalia
In its 9th Mandate, the EUTM Somalia contributes to building up the Somali Security Forces (SSF) accountable to the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), in line with Somali needs and priorities, providing strategic level advice to Somali authorities within the Security Institutions in the Mogadishu Area as well as specific mentoring, advice and capacity building in the training domain. Furthermore when conditions permitting and pending EU PSC approval, EUTM-S should be prepared to expand their activities to Regional HQ’s. EUTM-S will also provide support, within means and capabilities, to other EU and international actors in the implementation of their respective mandates following PSC guidance and given their values/ principles/ aims and interests aligned with the EU’s.
