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NPA Vietnam and the Vietnam National Mine Action Center (VNMAC) Conclude the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) Funded IMAS EOD Level 1-2 Training in Hanoi and Quang Tri Province

Following the 2024 EOD trainings’ successes, from 18 Aug to 24 Sep 2025, NPA Vietnam continued supporting VNMAC’s capacity development through the USARPAC Humanitarian Mine Action Program by delivering the pre-requisite First Aid Training (Basic Care Provider) and facilitating a five-day Train-the-Trainer module for six VNMAC instructors, as well as an International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) equivalent EOD level 1-2 (L1-2) course for 12 VNMAC trainees.

The first week of support, from 18 to 22 August 2025, saw 12 VNMAC trainees being trained as Basic Care Providers by the NPA Vietnam Medical Coordinator, with oversight from three USARPAC medics. The trainees demonstrated strong commitment and all successfully completed the course, gaining essential trauma first aid skills for mine action operations. Concurrently, a Train-the-Trainer module was conducted, during which the course curriculum, schedules and assessments were adjusted and finalized by the six VNMAC instructors, with broad consensus from three USARPAC EOD instructors who provided individual feedback and the lessons learned of each day were discussed among the instructor team.

243 NPA Vietnam So Me IMAS EOD level 1 2 Photo 1
VNMAC trainees attentively follow a theoretical first aid session led by NPA Vietnam Medical Coordinator Le Khanh, focusing on procedures for managing various types of trauma.
243 NPA Vietnam So Me IMAS EOD level 1 2 Photo 2
VNMAC trainees practicing victim transport techniques under the guidance of NPA Vietnam Medical Coordinator Le Khanh with supervision from three USARPAC medics.
243 NPA Vietnam So Me IMAS EOD level 1 2 Photo 3
VNMAC trainees attentively follow a theoretical first aid session led by NPA Vietnam Medical Coordinator Le Khanh, focusing on procedures for managing various types of trauma.
243 NPA Vietnam So Me IMAS EOD level 1 2 Photo 4
VNMAC instructor Le Quang Trung practicing his teaching skills and receiveing constructive feedback from both USARPAC and fellow VNMAC instructors.

From 25–29 August, the IMAS EOD Level 1 training took place in Hanoi, followed by Level 2 training from 4–24 September in NPA Vietnam Dong Ha office and at the Central Demolitions Site (CDS) in Vinh Dinh commune, Quang Tri province. The 12 VNMAC trainees gradually improved their EO recognition and demolition planning skills, carrying out live single and multiple-item demolitions at the CDS, and ultimately successfully passed the training. During the course, VNMAC trainees safely destroyed 123 items of unexploded ordnance, representing 15 different types.

243 NPA Vietnam So Me IMAS EOD level 1 2 Photo 5
VNMAC instructor Phan Ngoc Tuan introducing and explaining the functions of fuzes—critical knowledge of explosive ordnance composition that trainees must grasp during the IMAS EOD Level 1-2 course
243 NPA Vietnam So Me IMAS EOD level 1 2 Photo 6
The increased interaction between VNMAC instructors and trainees during lessons has significantly enriched the learning environment.
243 NPA Vietnam So Me IMAS EOD level 1 2 Photo 7
The demonstration of det cord setup is shown carefully by VNMAC instructor Le Quang Trung, under USARPAC instructors’ observation.
243 NPA Vietnam So Me IMAS EOD level 1 2 Photo 8
VNMAC trainees applying the key ID features of various types to practice EO recognition on FFE items, guided by VNMAC instructor Nguyen Cong Doan (green shirt).
243 NPA Vietnam So Me IMAS EOD level 1 2 Photo 9
VNMAC trainee Le Dinh Ngoc Anh measuring an FFE item as part of the reconnaissance phase in EOD task management practice.
243 NPA Vietnam So Me IMAS EOD level 1 2 Photo 10
Students’ ID skills of live EO stored at NPA Quang Tri CDS are sharpened during the practice session.
243 NPA Vietnam So Me IMAS EOD level 1 2 Photo 11
VNMAC trainee Dang Tan Sang connecting a detonator to the firing cable during demolition practice at Quang Tri CDS.
243 NPA Vietnam So Me IMAS EOD level 1 2 Photo 12
All VNMAC students have chances to practice calculating and planning for the multi-item demolition method under their instructors’ supervision.
243 NPA Vietnam So Me IMAS EOD level 1 2 Photo 13
Image of a demolition conducted by VNMAC trainees.
243 NPA Vietnam So Me IMAS EOD level 1 2 Photo 14
USARPAC instructors, VNMAC instructors and trainees, along with NPA Vietnam Operations Manager Dmitrii Tychkov and the supporting team, in a group photo following the certificate handover ceremony.

This EOD L1-2 training is part of the agreement between VNMAC and the Office of Defense Cooperation, the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, for 2025 humanitarian mine action trainings.

NPA Vietnam would like to express our thanks to the Government of the United States for the continued opportunity to collaborate in support of Vietnam’s development of its national humanitarian mine action training program.

Thuy Si 2018 2
Linh Do Quy
07 Oct 2025