Mission Success: Bosnia Herzegovina EOD Unit

By U.S. Army Security Assistance Training Management OrganizationJanuary 18, 2011

SATMO EOD
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SATMO EOD
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SATMO EOD
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SATMO EOD
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SATMO EOD
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Over the past five years, the U.S. Army Security Assistance Training Management Organization has assisted Bosnia Herzegovina (BiH) in the formation and training of their first Explosive Ordnance (EOD) Unit.

From 2005 to 2008, trainers employed by AMERICAN SYSTEMS formed several Mobile Training Teams (MTT) who provided training to BiH armed forces deploying to Iraq in support of Coalition Forces.

The training provided was on Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) and Captured Enemy Ammunition (CEA) disposal operations. As a result of the training provided, the BiH UXO Disposal unit completed eight successful rotations to Iraq without incurring any loss of life or injury.

During their deployments, the BiH destroyed more than one million kilograms net explosive weight of CEA, and also disposed of or rendered safe all UXO in their area of responsibility. The training also provided the BiH EOD unit with the capability of examining, identifying, and reporting new and unusual items of explosive ordnance for technical intelligence purposes.

Upon returning from Iraq, the BiH UXO Disposal unit started to instruct the courses alongside the MTT team members. After the sixth rotation, BiH instructors taught all course material and ran the demolition range operations under the oversight of the MTT.

The last three rotations of the Basic UXO/CEA Disposal course were solely taught by BiH armed forces with no oversight from the MTT. From 2008 to present, the effort migrated from Mobile Training Teams to a Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT) to assist BiH with fully incorporating a permanent EOD company into the BiH Armed Forces.

The TAFT is currently serving as an advisor to assist the EOD unit to establish the operating procedures and training to allow them to serve as a fully functional EOD unit. In 2011, USASATMO will be adding an MTT in support of the TAFT to train the BiH EOD unit on newly acquired EOD equipment, and additional EOD skills.

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