Land Release Training Course - 101st Partnership for Peace Course
Within the framework of the PfP Partnership Work Programme, the Swiss Government, through the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), and in partnership with the GICHD, has the honour to invite participants from the National and International Mine Action Organisation and from National Mine Action Authorities (NMAA) to the above-mentioned course.
The course will take place from 05 to 16 August 2024 at the training centre of the Swiss Armed Forces International Command (SWISSINT).
The “Land Release” practical training course is a 10-day intensive course which aims to improve the operational capacity of mine action community such as National Mine Action Authorities, national and international implementing organisations and actors such as the Military or Police where applicable.
The training course is aimed at field staff, primarily Team Leaders, but it is open to other field operations managers
Disclaimer: The course is subject to final funding confirmation.
Topics
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00Objective
This course aims to provide field staff and Team Leaders with the necessary skills to carry out effective LR operations: identify, gather, analyse and record evidence of EO contamination, and plan, conduct and monitor clearance operations.
This will be achieved through:
- Introduction to Land Release
- Evidence, Explosive Ordnance (EO) Basic Recognition and Ground Sign Awareness
- Information Management, Geospatial Information Systems and Mapping
- Introduction to NTS - including field exercises
- Community engagement and information gathering
- Data analysis and prioritisation of areas for further investigation
- Communicating in NTS – Gender, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion
- Process Mapping
- Remote data collection
- Introduction to TS - including field exercises
- TS principles
- Focus on planning and management of manual, mechanical and ADS-supported clearance methods
- Exercise QM of LR operations through the whole operational cycle
- Understanding the concept of ARE and its application in LR operations
- Practicing decision-making processes based on ARE principles
00Program and Method
The course entails theoretical and practical elements, focusing on evidence–based approaches to LR in various contexts and environments.
Before coming for a practical part of the training in Stans, participants will complete the online theoretical part of the course. During the training, participants will acquire the hard and soft skills required for effective LR and apply relevant methodologies and technologies.
The course will be in a real-life environment with practical exercises, scenarios, and role-plays to test methods and techniques. This includes surveying for landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war and making operational plans for conducting and monitoring clearance operations.
The training will also serve as a platform to exchange views and good practices in LR between the students coming from different operational contexts.
This training course will be held at the training centre of the Swiss Armed Forces International Command (SWISSINT). The centre is in Oberdorf at Stans, Canton of Nidwalden, which is especially suited to the practical exercises for LR scenario-based training.
00Participants
The number of participants is limited to 20. Preference will be given to individuals charged with managing and conducting field–based operations, including surveys, or involved in training personnel for LR. The GICHD will seek to ensure gender and diversity-balanced participation and encourages women, minorities, persons with disabilities and persons of all sexual orientation or gender identity to apply for the course.
The course will be conducted in English. Good working knowledge of English is therefore a requirement.
Participants must have the following English proficiency standards (as described in STANAG 6001): 3221.
▪ Listening (good / 3) ▪ Speaking (fair / 2)
▪ Reading (fair / 2) ▪ Writing (elementary/ 1)
Language requirements are compulsory and must be confirmed by applicants’ superiors - No interpreters are provided for this course.
In addition to national and international staff of mine action organisations, the course is also open to NATO/PfP, MD, ICI and Contact States.
Course participation is limited to 20; as far as possible 2 slots per nation will be accepted.
Registration deadline: 28th March 2024
Allocation will be on application basis. The application outcome will be communicated by 5th April 2024.
00Cost
The Swiss Government will cover participant expenses for food and accommodation while in Stans (arrival date 04 August 2024 and departure date 17 August 2024).Train tickets Zurich Airport – Stans – Zurich Airport will be reimbursed to the participants (only second-class tickets). In addition, a limited number of subsidies for transportation to and from Switzerland are available. It is imperative that applicants wishing subsidies for transportation send a letter signed by their supervisor, stating that they are the person in charge of the programme and that they do need sponsorship for travel expenses to pfp@gichd.org as soon as possible before making any arrangements, and not later than the application deadline on 28 March 2024.
Note: The Swiss Armed Forces do not cover health care expenses. All participants are themselves responsible for adequate insurance (health, accident and liability) or need a Governmental guarantee to cover any health care expenses in Switzerland.
More Information
Modality
Location
Kompetenzzentrum SWISSINT
6370 Oberdorf Nidwalden
Switzerland