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Sustainable proficiencies: Humanitarian Mine Action Program ‘trains the trainer’

A U.S. Marine explosive ordnance disposal technician with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Crisis Response - Africa 20.1, Marine Forces Europe and Africa, gives feedback after an improvised explosive device practical application in Kenitra, Morocco, Dec. 10, 2019. U.S. Marines are deployed to Morocco to facilitate humanitarian mine action explosive ordnance disposal level one instructor training for the Royal Armed Forces of Morocco in order to increase their overall explosive ordnance disposal capability by building upon previous engagements. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 2nd Lt. Grace Jenkins)

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Photo by: 2nd Lt. Grace Jenkins 

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Sustainable proficiencies: Humanitarian Mine Action Program ‘trains the trainer’

A U.S. Marine explosive ordnance disposal technician with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Crisis Response - Africa 20.1, Marine Forces Europe and Africa, gives feedback after an improvised explosive device practical application in Kenitra, Morocco, Dec. 10, 2019. U.S. Marines are deployed to Morocco to facilitate humanitarian mine action explosive ordnance disposal level one instructor training for the Royal Armed Forces of Morocco in order to increase their overall explosive ordnance disposal capability by building upon previous engagements. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 2nd Lt. Grace Jenkins)

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Photo by: 2nd Lt. Grace Jenkins 

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Sustainable proficiencies: Humanitarian Mine Action Program ‘trains the trainer’

A U.S. Marine explosive ordnance disposal technician with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Crisis Response - Africa 20.1, Marine Forces Europe and Africa, answers questions after an improvised explosive device practical application in Kenitra, Morocco, Dec. 10, 2019. U.S. Marines are deployed to Morocco to facilitate humanitarian mine action explosive ordnance disposal level one instructor training for the Royal Armed Forces of Morocco in order to increase their overall explosive ordnance disposal capability by building upon previous engagements. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 2nd Lt. Grace Jenkins)

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Photo by: 2nd Lt. Grace Jenkins 

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Sustainable proficiencies: Humanitarian Mine Action Program ‘trains the trainer’

A U.S. Marine explosive ordnance disposal technician with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Crisis Response - Africa 20.1, Marine Forces Europe and Africa, gives feedback after an improvised explosive device practical application in Kenitra, Morocco, Dec. 10, 2019. U.S. Marines are deployed to Morocco to facilitate humanitarian mine action explosive ordnance disposal level one instructor training for the Royal Armed Forces of Morocco in order to increase their overall explosive ordnance disposal capability by building upon previous engagements. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 2nd Lt. Grace Jenkins)

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Photo by: 2nd Lt. Grace Jenkins 

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Sustainable proficiencies: Humanitarian Mine Action Program ‘trains the trainer’

U.S. Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Crisis Response - Africa 20.1, Marine Forces Europe and Africa, pose for a photo during the 2019 Humanitarian Mine Action Program in Kenitra, Morocco, Dec. 10, 2019. U.S. Marines are deployed to Morocco to facilitate humanitarian mine action explosive ordnance disposal level one instructor training for the Royal Armed Forces of Morocco in order to increase their overall explosive ordnance disposal capability by building upon previous engagements. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Brytani Musick)

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Photo by: Staff Sgt. Brytani Musick 

KENITRA, Morocco – U.S. Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen have concluded their temporary joint bilateral humanitarian mine action program here. The training sessions for this program began December 2, 2019. U.S. instructors plan to return for advanced training sessions in spring 2020. The intent of the spring period of instruction is to supervise and pin the coveted EOD badge on new Moroccan Armed Forces explosive ordnance disposal level-one instructors.

During the recent two-week training, the U.S. instructors delivered a “train the trainer” curriculum, covering a variety of topics such as teaching techniques, public speaking, and course preparation. The training also included practical application where students instructed their classmates in the disposal of improvised explosive devices.

U.S. Instructors were all EOD technicians and the training delivered adhered to both U.S. and international safety regulations. U.S. Marine explosive ordnance disposal technicians are all graduates of the Naval School for Explosive Ordnance Disposal where they complete nine months of rigorous training to include locating, accessing, identifying, rendering safe, neutralizing, and disposing of ordnance. The technicians are also screened annually to validate their proficiency in EOD policies and procedures.

The US military has a long history of training with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces. The HMA training further underscores the strong U.S.-Morocco partnership, improves the capacity of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces to train its own EOD personnel, and contributes to greater security on the African continent through Morocco’s increased demining capability.

The Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Africa is deployed to conduct crisis-response and theater-security operations in Africa and promote regional stability by conducting military-to-military training exercises throughout Europe and Africa.