Training in Mine Action

During the first six-months of 2011, 15 training courses were conducted at different locations, including CMAC Headquarters, the Training Centre and other Demining Units. In total, there were 217 trainees from all demining units, including 15 participants from Colombia attending the third country training course supported by JICA for PAICMA-Colombia. Some of the key training courses include:

1. Integrated Clearance Platoon (ICP) Training

To further speed up demining activities, CMAC took an initiative to integrate certain clutter rejection tools, such as mine detectors and mine detection dogs, into the clearance platoon. These clutter rejection tools, including ALIS and HSTAMIDS detectors and mine/UXO detection dogs, play a key role in reducing false alarms to allow deminers focus on real mines. Training was provided to a mobile platoon for a week as a trial for the new method. Subsequent the traing, the field trial was conducted with ALIS detector integrated with a mobile platoon to evualate the suitablity and efficiency of the new technique.

2. Baseline Survey Refresher

This training concept is to refresh baseline survey team members with technical practice, especially in the weak areas of report writing and minefield site sketching.

It was found that following the training, trainees were able to demonstrate that they absorbed knowledge and understood how to practically apply skills in technical survey, minefield box procedures, as part of the technical survey process.

The training program also focused on using a GPS to perform minefield marking and transfer data into a computer system via GIS (ArcMap) and drawing minefield site sketch via the 
GIS (ArcMap) program.     

3. Battle Area Clearances by Village (BAV) #2

The training focused on technical survey, coordination, and information collection so that all trainees were provided with knowledge and skills to ensure they could collect information, write reports and facilitate with community. The latter being very important due to the nature of the close contact project personnel had with the local communities. Training was provided on the following topics:

• Communication, Community participation and Community resource usage
• Community sustainability, adaptation to the community and community facilitation
• Participatory information collection and mine and UXO awareness
• BAV concept via SOP: 1300, 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305 and ​1306
• The use of GPS Map 60csX, compass, map reading and location

4. MDD/EDD Refresher Courses

There were 7 MDD/EDD refresher courses conducted in the first six months. This MDD/EDD refresher course were conducted to give MDD/EDD team members with the opportunity to improve their knowledge on new techniques, and is conducted annually so that personnel get out to the field and can apply new knowledge and practical skills. 

Topics taught at the CMAC Training Centre included deep and shallow smell, obedience training and dog care principles.

5. Free Running Dog Training

This is a new concept related to dog utilization in mine action. This training is a trial initiative because of the number of dogs available at the Training Centre, as well as the irregular geographical situation of mine clearance. The purpose of this training is to build the capacity of MDD personnel on how to use skills appropriately to deploy a free running dog team in a given geographical area in the most efficient and safe way, thus saving operational costs. This trial lasts for 6 months, commencing March 2011 and concluding in August 2011.

6. Third Country Training Course – PAICMA Phase 3

This is the third phase international training for 15 Colombian personnel, which was held at CMAC from 6 June to 17 June 2011.  

PAICMA is a Colombian presidential program working on anti-personnel mine action. CMAC reached an agreement to organize a training program for the future bilateral cooperation between Colombia and Cambodia, under a Tripartite Arrangement with JICA, in order to have this international training program.

This international training program consists of the following four important modules.

• Module 1, Introduction to Mine Action Policy and Management, focuses on introduction to general mine action management concept and framework. 
• Module 2, Integrated Mine Action Approach, focuses on mine risk education, victim assistance and community development. 
• Module 3, Survey and Clearance Management, focuses on all on operational and technical aspects of mine action including survey and land release, demining tools and technologies, planning and prioritization, and other operational aspects.  
• Module 4, Information and Database Management, focuses on mine action database, victim assistance system and information management system. 

This training was conducted in cooperation with CMAA, provincial mine action unit (PMAC) and other victim assistance orgations. It both involved in-class training and field visits. 

The training was conducted smoothly and demonstrated that CMAC continues to be an national institution with lots of experiences and human resources in mine action sector to support development of its country and other mine and UXO afftected countries accross the world.