Europe's Multinational Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Training
What is it'
In today's contemporary operating environment, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) are the weapons of choice for insurgents worldwide, requiring limited resources and basic skills, giving them an ability to conduct spectacular attacks with little investment. The IED is an indeterminate killer, and because every Soldier is at risk, all International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Troop Contributing Nations (TCN) must develop the same understanding of Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) Training (C-IED) tactics and procedures before entering theater to protect the force, and better serve the Afghan people.
Interoperability of C-IED methods between nations is critical to defeat the IED network. On March, 18, 2010, the Secretary of Defense directed U.S. military training facilities to train multinational forces tactics and techniques to counter the devices. Since 82 percent of the TCNs are located in Europe the Joint Multinational Training Command (JMTC), the U.S. Army's only command that regularly trains U.S. forces with multinational partners is U.S Army Europe's premiere training facility.
What has the Army done'
Under the JMTC, the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) developed a C-IED training program based-on the three pillars that the Joint IED Defeat Organization and ISAF use during C-IED operations: Attack the Network, Defeat the Device, and Train the Force. Recently, fifty Soldiers from five-countries participated in the first C-IED Defeat the Device baseline course, the training ranged from IED mitigation techniques to virtual mounted patrols reacting to IED incidents and threats in a Counter Insurgency environment. In addition, the JMRC conducts C-IED Situational Training Lane and IED awareness training at remote locations based on the needs of the host-nation military.
What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future'
The JMRC will continue to expand its C-IED program hosting training events both at the Hohenfels Training Area and at host-nation locations, while maintaining coordination with leading U.S. and NATO C-IED training organizations to ensure the program uses the most current C-IED best practices available.
Why is this important to the Army'
To succeed in C-IED operations, unrelenting pressure must be applied to IED networks. The training provided by the JMTC empowers U.S and multinational units with a common foundation to mitigate the effects of IEDs on today's battlefield. Training U.S. and multinational units to effectively attack the IED network is by far the most challenging of the efforts undertaken in the fight against the deadly weapon.
As U.S. forces continue to serve as part of multinational operations, it is important for Soldiers to maximize opportunities to train with our allies.
Resources:
<a href="http://www.hqjmtc.army.mil" target="_blank"> Joint Multinational Training Command (JMTC)</a>
<a href="http://www.jmrc.hqjmtc.army.mil/" target="_blank"> JMRC home page</a>
<a href="http://www.hqjmtc.army.mil" target="_blank"> JMTC Training Journal</a>
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