Field Operator/IMAS Level 1 & 2 EOD Course (FO2)
The Field Operator/IMAS Level 1 & 2 EOD Course (FO2) provides the required knowledge, skills & attitude necessary to perform the duties & tasks of a field operator, so that they can plan & manage Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) field operations in accordance with International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) and the recognised National Mine Authority (NMA).
Level of competency training meets IMAS (http://www.mineactionstandards.org/) Level 2 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) criteria. There are no pre-requisites for attendance on this course.
Included in the syllabus
- History of Landmines & Mine Warfare: Refer to GICHD Guides and the history of Mine Action (MA), Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) & the study of Manual Mine Clearance.
- Introduction to HMA: Those agencies and organisations involved in MA from commercial to NGO, including the five pillars of MA & their core activities.
- HMA Standards: Introduction to standards, including IMAS which follow the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) definition of standards. NMA Technical Standards and Guidelines (TSG’s) & Organisations Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
- Information Management System Mine Action (IMSMA): Introduction into IMSMA Database as a management tool, IMSMA reporting & GIS mapping system & Global Positioning System (GPS). Map reading and use of compass and handheld GPS systems.
- Theory of Explosives: Classification, application, and types of detonation.
- Land Service Ammunition (LSA): Recognition of LSA by groups, subgroups, role, hazards, and methods of disposal, functioning actions, firing mechanisms & fusing. LSA covers mines, grenades, rockets, mortars, projectiles and submunitions doctrine.
- Introduction to IEDs & Booby-Traps: Types, firing mechanisms, methods of operation and actions to be taken when encountering a device or any of its indicators.
- Implementation of the Quality Management System: Administrative and operational quality assurance and quality control.
- Mine Risk Education (MRE) & Community Liaison (CL): Introduction to MRE & CL best practices. MRE goals & activities. The roles of MRE & links with other MA activities. Target groups & implementation strategies.
- Minefield Marking: Fundamental understanding of onsite requirements, marking and safety distances for setting out, marking & mapping of a confirmed hazardous area (CHA), working, administrative, storage and demolitions sites. Practical conduct of mine clearance operational site setup.
- Demining & Battle Area Clearance (BAC): Introduction to mine clearance & operational systems, detection technologies & systems for humanitarian clearance and land release such as manual, mechanical, and sentient clearance capabilities. Practical use of locators and detectors for subsurface and deep buried UXO detection, clearance team compositions, roles, and capabilities. Multiple training exercises for the conduct of manual clearance procedures and techniques, including explosive disposal techniques on live demolition ranges.
- Technical Survey: Non-Technical and Technical Survey (TS) conduct, roles, and capabilities of each type of survey. Utilization of IMSMA impact survey confirmed hazardous area (CHA) and technical reporting. Practical exercises where your skills will be assessed in planning, conduct, documentation of findings and recommendations made. TS will include survey planning, area reduction techniques, including the use of mechanical, canine assets and drone technologies on practical exercises.
- Clearance Assets: Introduction to mechanical, canine, and other emerging technologies in HMA; including but not limited to mechanical, canine, sentient, and electronic detection. Clearance resources, clearance methodology & their integrated approach.
- Minefield Management: From data collection, risk assessment to land release you will be introduced to the processes and methodologies used in the conduct and management of onsite clearance operations. The ability to read and understand minefield mapping and reports, compiling onsite documentation, briefings, reports and returns. Implementation of SOPs, safety, Quality Checks (QC) and Quality Assurance (QA) including medical requirements, casevac drills, daily routines, briefings, recording & reporting requirements & overall management of a task site in support of a technical field manager (TFM). IMSMA Quality Assurance (QA) forms. Accident reporting & investigation. External Quality Assurance (QA) & Quality Control (QC).
- UXO and AXO Recognition: Ref IMAS 09.30, & relevant EOD publications. UXO/AXO recognition, generic aids to identification of UXO, projectiles, mortars, rockets, grenades (IMAS EOD Level 2). Submunitions, area denial munitions, landmines, anti-personnel & anti-tank mines.
- Demolitions & Use of Explosives: Ref IMAS 10.50, 11.20, Manual. Explosive storage & transportation rules & regulations. Types of explosives & accessories, initiation sets (electrical, non-electrical). Single item disposal techniques. Demolition safety rules. Practical demolition training, (using drill and training aids “NO LIVE”). Live demolition training (to IMAS EOD Level 2 criteria).
Confirmatory Exercises & Formal Tests
- Basic UXO recognition & identification tests
- Single item disposal techniques assessment (IMAS Level 2 EOD Standard)
- Demolition initiation set fault finding test