US Navy to train Croatian Navy underwater EOD Explosive Ordnance Disposal team.

According to information published by the U.S. Navy on December 29, 2020, US Navy sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) have trained the Croatian Navy’s underwater EOD team at Lora Naval Base in Split, Croatia, from 1 to 21 December 2020.
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The Mine Countermeasure and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Equipment and Members of Croatian Navy and US Army| Photo: HRM (Croatian Navy)

The training was the second of an extensive three-part series ranging from essential ordnance identification to undertaking multiple ordnance threats at once.

The U.S. DoD (Department of Defense) HMA (Humanitarian Mine Action) program aids more than 20 partner nations plagued by landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW). Their efforts include mitigation of hazardous effects of unexploded ordnance (UXO), including incidents of death, serious injury, and obstructed economic development, ultimately returning the land to the people.

Throughout the course, US Navy sailors from Task Group (TG) 68.1 provided both classroom and hands-on practical exercises for the Croatian technicians. For some of the team, it was their first time experiencing training in English.

Upon completing the training, Croatian forces will be better equipped to provide combat support in today’s complex operational environment. U.S. Naval Expeditionary forces ultimately enhance interoperability with partnered forces, enabling improved maneuvering both at sea and ashore.

EODMU (Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit) Eight is a TG under U.S. Navy Expeditionary Combat Force Europe-Africa/Task Force 68 (NECFEURAF/TF 68). NECFEURAF/TF 68 executes operational command and control of assigned and allocated Naval Expeditionary Forces within the EUCOM and AFRICOM AORs to include explosive ordnance disposal, diving and salvage, expeditionary engineering, Phase 0 Mine Countermeasures, expeditionary logistics, and expeditionary security operations in support of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa, U.S. Sixth Fleet, and TF 6 in order to protect U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

In December 2020, The U.S. Government donated $280,000 in mine countermeasure and explosive ordnance disposal equipment to the Croatian Navy to fortify our defense partnership. This initiative was funded by the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) Humanitarian Mine Action Program.