US EOD SRI LANKA MINE ACTION PROGRAMME VISIT- 2016
US Army had planned to conduct a 5 year trainingprogrammeto Sri Lanka Army while providing technical assistance to enhance the Mine Action capability of Sri Lanka Army Humanitarian Demining Unit (SLA HDU) during the period of 2014 - 2018. In support of the programme, a training team from US army visited Sri Lanka. \r\n \r\nThe purpose of the visit was to verify and review training of phase 2 and finalize the training programme for phase 3 which will be executedin 2016 and refine concept for next three years with new proposals such as ARC GIS training, Mine Detective Dogs (MDD) Transport and Veterinary Facilities. \r\n\r\nUS Army Training team was consisting with following officers and they all attended the conference held at Engineer Brigade conference hall at Boo Oya – VAVUNIA:\r\n\r\n a. LTC McKannay - 8th MP BDE\r\n b. LTCReynolds-8thTSC\r\n c. MAJ Woods - 8th MP BDE\r\n d. CPT Beck - 8th MP BDE\r\n e. CPT Bloomsburg - 303rd EOD BN\r\n f. SGM Nettles - 18th MEDCOM\r\n g. SFC Jordan - 65th EOD Company, 303rd EOD BN\r\n h. Mr. SanjakaWijemanne- Embassy Rep, Office of Defense \r\n Cooperation \r\n\r\nThe discussion began by emphasizing history of HDM in Sri Lanka and USA assistance to Sri Lanka by Chief Field Engineer and Commander Engineer Brigade. Further, it was mentioned the success of HDM operations Sri Lanka. It was further highlighted thatremaining 54 Km2to be cleared with the assistance of Government of USA.\r\n \r\nThereafter, the discussion was focused on the scheduled Training Programme for Phase 3 is as mentioned below:\r\n\r\n a. Advance Medical Training (BLS and ATLS).\r\n b. Blast Trauma.\r\n c. Veterinary technical educationprogramme. \r\n d. EOD Level III. \r\n e. Mine Risk Reduction Integration. \r\n
