Mines Awareness Training (MAT)
The UK MITC provides Mines Awareness Training to all military personnel, supporting governmental organisations and civilian agencies as requested.
The United Kingdom Mines Information & Training Centre (MITC) mines awareness teaching is broken down into four distinct and separate areas; an
The MITC team provides both indoor and outdoor presentations on Mine Awareness.
Introduction to Mines Awareness Training (MAT)
This is where MITC raise the question "Why Mines Awareness" thereby introducing an incentive and educating individuals how to better understand mines awareness so that they can prevent becoming a mine-strike victim themselves.
Introducing the global landmine problem highlights how the issues do not affect just military soldiers but civilian communities throughout the world. In addition how the Ottawa Convention affects UK Domestic and Military law regarding the use of Anti-personnel landmines.
General Mine Information
Although not considered a high priority in MITC's mine awareness training an understanding of the four anti-personnel mine groups aids in identification and an understanding of their function:
- Blast
- Blast fragmentation
- Bounding fragmentation
- Directional fragmentation
Anti-tank or anti-vehicle mines placed as large overt barrier minefields or hidden in a nuisance minefield cause a substantial threat to both vehicles and personnel and fall into the following groups:
- Blast
- Shaped charge
- Off route
Preventative Measures
Considered a higher priority in MITC's mine awareness training are preventative measures, including an understanding where minefields can be found. Avoiding minefields helps in preventing a mine-strike incident.
Utilising Information Management System Mine Action (IMSMA) mine mapping allows individuals to be informed where United Nations Mine Action Centres have identified danger areas, minefields and carried out de-mining projects.
Understanding how military, Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) de-mining agencies and the indigenous local population mark both minefields and individual items allows soldiers and civilians to avoid inadvertently entering a suspect or known minefield.
Reactionary Measures
The highest priority in MITC's mine awareness training is the reactionary measures of what actions to carryout in the event of finding yourself in a minefield or a mine-strike situation.
Immediate actions emphasise the Stop, Warn, Report policy thereby preventing further movement and warning others in the immediate area of the mine threat.
The Personal Minefield Extraction Kit (P-MEK) allows individuals to have the equipment, training and confidence to self extract from a minefield.
To request further details contact MITC direct via phone (01252 863623) or e-mail us via the UK MITC contact form.