ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (June 13, 2014) -- 20th CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives) explosive ordnance technicians (EOD) from the 79th Explosive Ordnance Battalion supported the U.S. Army Central (ARCENT) Explosives Training Center May 22 through June 8 in Tajikistan.
The training was part of an effort to establish an explosive hazards training center in Tajikistan to develop regional humanitarian mine action capabilities led by the Tajik Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the Tajikistan Mine Action Center (TMAC).
"Our Fort Hood soldiers represented us extremely well earning accolades from the ambassador to Tajikistan, as well as the Tajik MoD," said 20th CBRNE Commander, Brig. Gen. JB Burton.
Eighteen students from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan attended the training course - the first of its kind in Central Asia. It marks the beginning of a comprehensive train-the-trainer program in accordance with international standards on mine action.
The training program will benefit four states in the region, which will receive certified EOD trainers, training curricula and materials that will enable them to disseminate the information further.
"This action compliments our proposed regional alignment of CBRNE Brigade Task Force 48th (Chemical Brigade) with III Corps," Burton said. "Under our proposed task organization, 79th EOD would work for 48th brigade who is regionally focused on U.S. European, Africa and Central Commands."
ARCENT is leading the effort in cooperation with the Department of State and the program manager for Weapons Removal and Abatement. The program is also facilitated by the Office of Security Cooperation in Europe, the Tajik MoD and TMAC.
"This provides a great example of Phase 0 activities that CBRNE forces can support to build partner capacity in this very complex mission area," Burton said.
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