US Army hands over mine clearance training facility to Department of Defense

(NLDO)- Major General Lance Okamura of the US Army is working in Vietnam to discuss continued defense cooperation to overcome the consequences of war.

On March 24, information from the US Embassy said that Major General Lance Okamura, Deputy Commander in charge of civil affairs of the US Army Pacific (USARPAC), is on a working trip to Vietnam from March 22 to 25 and met with Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army. The two sides discussed continued defense cooperation to overcome the consequences of war as outlined in the framework of the US-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the Vietnam-US Joint Vision Statement on Defense Relations in 2024.

Lục quân Mỹ bàn giao cơ sở huấn luyện rà phá bom mìn cho Bộ Quốc phòng- Ảnh 1. — The US Army officially handed over the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training Field in Ba Vi (Ba Vi Training Field) to enhance Vietnam's capacity in clearing unexploded bombs and mines. Photo: Embassy provided

Together with US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper, Major General Okamura delivered a speech and co-chaired the official handover ceremony of the Ba Vi Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training Field (Ba Vi Training Field) to enhance Vietnam’s capacity to clear unexploded ordnance (UXO), marking an important milestone in the US commitment to overcoming the consequences of war and humanitarian mine action between the US Army Pacific and Vietnam in the context of the two countries celebrating 30 years of diplomatic relations.

“Since 2016, the U.S. Army Pacific, through its Humanitarian Mine Action Program, has supported the mine clearance efforts of the Vietnam Mine Action Center (VNMAC). The Ba Vi Training Range provides VNMAC with a dedicated training range to conduct critical mine action training, continue to develop its instructors, and meet the requirements for managing and implementing activities to overcome the consequences of war,” said Major General Okamura.

“Vietnam’s ability to contribute to addressing the challenge of unexploded ordnance around the world will only increase, reinforcing Vietnam’s role as a responsible, active member of the international community and demonstrating the shared goal of making the United States, Vietnam, and the world safer,” Ambassador Knapper said.

The Ambassador also acknowledged the important work of NGO partners including Norwegian People’s Aid, PeaceTrees Vietnam, the Mine Advisory Group as well as the Quang Tri Province Mine Action Centre in carrying out this important work.

According to the US Embassy, overcoming the consequences of war is a fundamental element of the strong relationship between the two countries. This visit also demonstrates the maintenance of the trust that the two countries have built since establishing relations in 1995.

The US Army in the Pacific looks forward to participating in future cooperation activities with Vietnam, including humanitarian assistance/disaster relief training, military medical support, civil engineering projects, and civil-military relations building programs.

The Ba Vi Humanitarian Mine Action Training Field covers a total area of 2 hectares with an investment of 700,000 USD. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2024. The training field complies with the International Mine Action Standard (IMAS) and is designed to train mine action personnel for mine clearance operations in support of Vietnam’s National Program 504. It includes a dedicated IMAS training area for handling explosive ordnance, conducting investigations and surveys, conducting mine clearance operations, testing equipment, and training on demolition procedures.

The United States is the largest donor to survey and clear unexploded ordnance in Vietnam, contributing more than $250 million since 1993. The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on continued cooperation on unexploded ordnance disposal in December 2013 and a plan for enhanced cooperation in 2023. Since 1994, U.S. support for unexploded ordnance clearance, as well as mine risk education programs and community development projects, has significantly improved the livelihoods and safety of people in central Vietnam.

(NLDO)- Major General Lance Okamura of the US Army is working in Vietnam to discuss continued defense cooperation to overcome the consequences of war.

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