MAJ. FRED WILLIAMS/U.S. ARMY CENTRAL
Countering improvised explosive devices was one of the major focuses of a May 2014 symposium that brought together Middle Eastern, Central Asian and U.S. military leaders.
U.S. Army Central (USARCENT) hosted the Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (EOD/C-IED) Symposium in Washington, D.C., with the goal of sharing information about how countries can overcome threats from IEDs that kill and threaten civilians, undermine governments and disrupt commerce.
Officers and noncommissioned officers from seven partner nations attended the five-day symposium. These EOD specialists learned about stockpile reduction, humanitarian mine action, counter-IED tools and techniques, forensics, homemade explosives and transborder threats.
“This is the second time I have had such a great opportunity to participate in a counter-IED symposium,” said Lt. Col. Koshkeev Islanbek, Kyrgyz chief of engineering service, Ministry of Defense. “Participation in such events presents the opportunity to exchange views on existing challenges, successes, and possible areas of cooperation in the fight against IEDs.
“After participating in the first symposium, held in Florida in 2011, we decided to augment the combat training program for the engineering units of the Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic to include counter-IED training and, currently, the program has been successfully implemented and serves its purpose,” Islanbek added.
Officials from Oman were also at the symposium. Although they claimed the least amount of experience among participants in dealing with IEDs, Oman expressed an eagerness to engage with other nations at the symposium.
“I have been in this field for about 20 years now, and I have never encountered any of these devices, but we are prepared and operational if there is any threat — we are ready!” said Lt. Abdul Wahid Al Bulushi, an Omani Army staff officer.
The partners agreed that IEDs have been and will continue to be terrorists’ weapon of choice. Although IEDs are tactical weapons, they can have a strategic effect by influencing public opinion and creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. Plans are already in the works to hold the next EOD/C-IED Symposium in 2015.
“Our goal during this conference is to discuss ways in which we can expand our program and provide support, in the form of training, information exchanges, exercises, and hopefully, multilateral exercises,” said Col. Jody Nelson, USARCENT chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives chief.
Soldiers from the U.S. Mississippi Army National Guard, who partner with Uzbekistan through the State Partnership Program, also attended. The program’s goal is to build defense relationships that develop allied and friendly military capabilities for self-defense and multinational operations.
“The IED will continue to proliferate as the weapon of choice for nonstate actors, such as violent extremist organizations and terrorists,” said Lt. Col. Benjamin Lipari, USARCENT explosive ordinance disposal chief. “Conferences like the ARCENT EOD Symposium allow us to develop a regional approach to attack the threat. One nation alone can’t stop proliferation; it takes a responsible, collective effort across the region.”