Quang Tri, Vietnam, 26 May, 2021 – Eight senior national staff members from NPA’s projects in Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue began an intensive course on International Mine Action Standards Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Level 3 this week. The course is facilitated by NPA Vietnam in Quang Tri province. Successful graduates will become some of the highest-trained EOD technicians in NPA Vietnam.

“This course is an affirmation of NPA Vietnam’s commitment with the provincial authorities to improve the qualification of selected program staff,” said course instructor Paul Eldred, NPA Vietnam Technical Field Manager (EOD) at Project RENEW in Quang Tri province. “One of the key objectives of NPA is to ensure that Vietnam has qualified personnel capable of dealing with residual explosive ordnance in the long term.”

To help achieve this objective, Eldred has designed a course that includes five days of theoretical training followed by 13 days of practical training and assessment. Live demolitions will be carried out during the course, designed to replicate challenging scenarios that the technicians may encounter in their work in central Vietnam – including explosive ordnance in populated areas, or near important infrastructure like power stations and fuel stations. This will ensure the technicians have the skills required to continue supporting people and communities across central Vietnam for many years to come.

Eldred’s course facilitation is supported by his 25+ years of operational and technical experience. He served in the British Army Royal Engineers for more than 23 years, predominantly in the EOD, search and mine-warfare fields. Having worked with United Nations and different international humanitarian mine action organisations since 2003, Eldred holds a wealth of operational knowledge of mine action including survey, manual demining, clearance, EOD, explosive detection dogs, the use of mechanical assets, and remote bomb cutting.

The eight trainees who were selected to take part in the course have held different positions in NPA Vietnam for many years, including team leaders, supervisors and operations managers. The most senior trainee has worked for the organisation since 2007. Prior to course admission, all trainees have passed a rigorous assessment, and will be observed, mentored and assessed for an additional six months following the completion of the course before receiving their certification.

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