scope:

GENERAL

Each Nation that transports and stores ammunition understands the need to train their own workforce. However, deployed missions or operations with two or more Nations contributing to the forces are increasing. This Multi-National environment (which may be further complicated when two or more land, maritime or air components are committed) highlights a serious concern of all Nations regarding whether allied forces provide the essential explosives training needed to ensure the safety of personnel and property that is critical to mission success. Each Nation solves this problem differently according to their needs; there is neither a correct nor an incorrect method. 

Nations that transport, store and use munitions understand the need to train their own workforce to accomplish those tasks safely. They do this by providing a training curriculum (whether civilian or military) or by attending another Nation's technical ammunition training courses. Those training courses can vary in terms of specialty, depth (e.g., the technical level of training), and breadth (e.g., the competencies taught) and in the timeframe set aside for formal training. While training is a national responsibility, Nations leading or contributing personnel to a NATO Mission/Operation involving munitions related tasks must be qualified to the associated tasks. In the absence of qualified explosives safety personnel, formal arrangements (e.g., Memorandum of Agreement) must be established with other munitions-contributing Nations to provide qualified explosives safety personnel to ensure compliance with NATO requirements described in other chapters of this document.