Homemade Explosive Course – Basic Train the Trainer in Ramnicu Valcea, Romania

Based on the endorsement of the NATO EOD COE Steering Committee at the 18th meeting in April 2019 and signed Cooperation Programme with the Romanian Land Forces Staff, the Home Made Explosive Course – Basic, Train the Trainer training was conducted by COE Mobile Training Team (HMEC-B T3 MTT) for the Romanian Land Forces.

The aim was to create required capabilities and train ROU instructors to be able to take over the course comprehensive support and to host the HMEC-B in Romania, starting from 2021. 

The course was performed within the premises of the Engineering and EOD Training Centre in Ramnicu Valcea, Romania from 6th to 10th September. In total, 12 participants (with specialisation backgrounds) were fully trained within five days.

The first two days consisted of theoretical lessons on basic chemistry of explosives, precursor chemicals for home-made explosives (HME) manufacturing and processes involved in illicit manufacturing of HME as well as basic properties/characteristics of the most common HMEs.

At the end of the second day, a laboratory demonstration of several processes was performed. On the third day, the role of “first responders“  was given to the course participants and they were tasked to verify the presence of an HME lab in a simulated scenario.

Additionally, the participants were given the opportunity to make several HME mixtures that were detonated on a demolition range to demonstrate their effects.

Last two days were dedicated to improve the students’ skills as HME instructors, especially in preparation, organization, management, delivery of theoretical lectures and practical training during the HMEC-B.

All trainees successfully graduated. The new HMEC-B instructors will provide support not just for Romanian national capabilities in the area of HME but also for future international iterations of the NATO EOD COE’s regular HMEC-B.