EOD welcomes eight newly graduated IMAS level 3 operators

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) has welcomed eight police officers who have completed and graduated with International Mine Action Standard (IMAS) level 3 certificate at the RSIPF EOD Range Faculty, Hells Point on 5 May 2023.
The eight newly graduates were certified to EOD Level 2 in 2022. They have consolidated and developed their skills with on the job training over the past year, which prepares them to meet the training requirements and successfully completed the level 3 course.

The training was long and intensive and provided the students with the skills needed to begin the next step into the EOD team leader’s role.

RSIPF Commissioner Mr. Mostyn Mangau says, “We will need to build a comprehensive EOD capability in order to support future operations and these young graduates will form the capability of EOD. The training is also part of the elevation of EOD from unit to a standalone department.”

Mostyn Mangau says, “Elevating the technical knowledge and skills of our officers is one of the ways we will combat the existing UXO threat in communities and it is a policy priority of the RSIPF.”

“I would like to acknowledge the Australian Defence Force and the Australian High Commission in Solomon Islands, for their continuous support and for providing this very important EOD training to the RSIPF,” says Mr Mangau.

RSIPF EOD team have recently conducted multiple UXO operations in the Western and Choiseul Provinces and have destroyed many UXO. However, there are still more to be destroyed.

This is another step in the development of the EOD team capability and will be an important asset in the upcoming special events and operations.

The four weeks training was facilitated by professional qualified EOD instructors from the Australian Defence Force (ADF).