From 12-16 February 2023, the NATO-Istanbul Cooperation Initiative Regional Centre in Kuwait (NIRC) hosted the CBRN Awareness for First Responders Course; delivered by a mobile training team from the JCBRN Defence COE.

The course was planned by NATO’s Arms Control, Disarmament, and Non-Proliferation Centre as part of NATO’s partnership and outreach efforts. Twenty CBRN defence experts from Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia attended this course to receive tailor-made theoretical and practical CBRN training.

This course provided the students with an understanding of the required interagency organization needed to conduct an effective response to potential chemical, biological and radiological incidents. Additionally, the students acquired an understanding of how to implement CBRN Consequence Management procedures to enhance interoperability among first responders when dealing with a CBRN incident.

The course helped participants to improve their current preparedness and to enhance the ability of their emergency response organizations.

The interactive course consisted of both theoretical training and syndicate tasks. During the course the participants actively worked on a potential real-world scenario, like a complex coordinated attack in central city, learning how to process and derive specific information needed to manage the different tasks performed by a crisis response planning staff team.

Student responses were very positive, they appreciated the course’s practical and realistic scenarios, which led to the development of an effective Incident Action Plan which allowed them to manage combined chemical and explosives incidents.

During the closing ceremony, the Acting Director of the NIRC, Mariam Al-Jiran recognized the participants and the JCBRN Defence COE’s team for the successful completion of this cooperative event. Additionally, Nora-Elise Beck, Head NATO Office at the NIRC, expressed her gratitude to the JCBRN Defence COE’s team for their support to the capability development process and the desire for continuing this fruitful cooperation in the future.

For additional information on courses organized by the JCBRN Defence COE, please visit the COE’s training portal (https://www.jcbrncoe.org/index.php/courses-link-page).

Author: MAJ František PAVLÁSEK (CZE-A)
Photo: NATO-ICI Regional Centre, Kuwait