CCOPAB carries out the Mine Action Course
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - From 03 August to 04 September, the Brazilian Peace Operations Joint Training Center - Sergio Vieira de Mello Center, under the guidance of the Land Ops Command (COTER), carried out the UN Mine Action Course (UNMAC) in order to prepare military personnnel to work as instructors, monitors and international advisors, when it comes to humanitarian demining under the aegis of the Organization of the American States (OAS).
The course, delivered in Spanish, was divided into two phases: the first was a two-week e-learning phase and the second was a three-week on-site phase. At the course, students could have theoretical and practical instructions, based on the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS).
It is important to highlight the VTC participation of LTG LUCIANO José Penna, President of the Council of Delegates of the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB); COL (Armour) Marco Aurélio BALDASSARRI, from IADB; Ms. LINA María Castillo Méndez, from the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Colombia; Brazilian Marines, as instructors at the Colombian Navy Training Center for Peace Operations (CENCOPAZ); Monitors from the Inter-American Monitor Group/Colombia (IMG-CO/IADB); and COL (Corps of Engineers) LUÍS HENRIQUE Santos Franco, Chief of the Mission of Instructors and Advisors on Humanitarian Demining (MIADH) in Colombia.
Apart from CCOPAB members, the course relied on the following guest instructors: MAJ (Corps of Engineers) Hilton Martins Laureano, from Agulhas Negras Military Academy (AMAN); MAJ (Medical Corps) Rogério Santos Silva, from the Military Hospital in João Pessoa (HGuJP); LT (Navy) Rafael Felippelli Dias Bertolo, from the Combat Engineering Bn/Marine Division (BtlEngFuzNav) and COL (Ret.) Márcio Tomás de Aquino, from the Army Command and General Staff School (ECEME).
The course had eight national students during this edition: four from the Brazilian Army and the other four from the Brazilian Marines.
To make the Mine Action Course possible, CCOPAB also relied on the significant support from the Engineering Training Center and the 2nd Railway Bn, both located in Araguari-MG and integrating the Brazilian Army Engineering System (SEEX).
Translation: MAJ ISRAEL.
