Home-Made Explosives course - Advanced

On 12-16 May 2014 the EOD COE organized this year´s first HME class specifically customized to the needs of emergency responders that could be called upon to respond to a possible HME Lab, or assist in identifying, rendering safe and ultimately disposing of suspected HME.

The course, entitled "Homemade Explosives Course – Advanced", was held in the Military Training Area Lest (SVK) and was delivered by the EOD COE´s Training Branch and event partners, namely the US Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Alluviam LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., QinetiQ-NA, Institute of Energetic Materials – University of Pardubice (Faculty of Chemical Technology). Altogether, 12 trainees from 6 NATO countries took this advance-level course.

During this five-day period the students were provided with the knowledge to identify the presence of the HME as well as the precursors and facilities where HME are manufactured. The course included instructions and training on HME characteristics and hazards, recognition of a wide variety of HME precursors, as well as HME manufacturing facilities, HME scene safety and security. The students had an opportunity to utilize a unique hands-on approach to learning that combined classroom instruction, improvised laboratory and range demonstrations, and site exploitation-based exercises.

The second 2014 HME Advanced course will be delivered by the EOD COE´s Training Branch and event partners on 08-12 September 2014 in the same location – the Military Training Area Lest (SVK).

Author: CPT Petr Tomiczek (CZE-A),HME Advanced Course Leader
Photo: SSG Tomáš Kubík (SVK-A)