Bogota (Colombia) – On September 26th, the Brazilian military members of the Inter-American Technical Advisors Group in Colombia (GATI-CO), Brazilian Army Lieutenant-Colonel of Engineers Cláudio Santos Bispo and Brazilian Navy Lieutenant-Captain (FN) Gustavo Lopes da Silva Freitas, began training Colombian military personnel who will be employed as National Monitors in Humanitarian Demining.
The Inter-American Advisors from Brazil inaugurated the activities scheduled for the last course in 2022. Six military personnel were selected, one from the Colombian Navy and five from the Colombian National Army, with basic experience and training in demining operations that qualify them to take the course taught by the GATI-CO instructors. The class has a relevant highlight, which is the presence of a female sub-officer from the Colombian Army’s female corps. This participation has been a milestone in the performance of Brazilian officers who have persevered, together with the General Command of the Military Forces, so that more women can exercise the function of monitor in demining operations on behalf of the country.
The course will take place at the Army’s School of Military Engineers and will include theoretical and practical instructions, exercises and events simulated with the reality of the operations that are currently taking place, participation in a seminar on demining in the country, and instruction visits. The Brazilian military will count on the primary support of national and international organizations, such as the representation of the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace in Colombia and Military Institutions, such as the Humanitarian Demining Brigade No. 1, the only one existing in the world, which will contribute to increase the technical knowledge of the new National Monitors.
The participation of Brazilian Military Engineering, in support of the Colombian Military Forces, has contributed to the expansion of the operational capacity of the military in humanitarian demining actions. The graduating students will be employed in the quality management of the operations, ensuring that areas still containing antipersonnel mines are cleared and reused in total safety by the Colombian population.
Source: Aditância do Brasil na Colômbia *** Translated by the DEFCONPress FYI Team ***