U.S. Enhances Humanitarian Demining Capabilities for Vietnam Soldiers

From August 8th-31st, U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) and the Vietnam National Mine Action Center (VNMAC) conducted humanitarian mine action training at Son Tay town-based Technical Engineering school. Vietnamese explosive ordnance and medical technicians will be certified in accordance with international mine action standards as part of a four-year program. This program aims to collaboratively develop VNMAC as a sustainable training and education center capable of managing, resourcing, and training demining skills. This collaboration will enhance the capacity of future generations of technicians conducting mine disposal operations, both in Vietnam and in support of United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. Trainees were provided with a series of explosive ordnance disposal and medical response train-the-trainer courses in preparation for them to become resident instructors for the VNMAC. The USARPAC training team consisted of nine personnel who worked with 15 explosive ordnance disposal technicians and 15 medical technicians from Vietnam to complete the first phase of training on August 31st, 2016. The second phase is scheduled to start next summer. As the largest single donor to address the threats posed by unexploded ordnance in Vietnam, the US has contributed over $92 million since 1993. (Dangcongsan.vn Aug 31)