By: The Canadian Training Assistance Team – Jordan, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear capability (CBRN), Technical Assistance Visit

In late September 2018, the Canadian Training Assistance Team arrived in Jordan.

One of their first tasks was to conduct a needs assessment of the Jordanian Armed Forces’ (JAF) Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear capability (CBRN). This capability centered on four themes: employment structure, existing training and courses, equipment, Individual Protective Equipment (IPE), and the corresponding infrastructure.

Based on this assessment, and in close consultation with the JAF Centre of Excellence for all CBRN training, the Canadian team developed a basic training package. The aim of this training was to select candidates who demonstrated the potential to be successfully employed as instructors. This training focused on the fundamental concepts of Immediate Action, Immediate Decontamination drills, and this was combined with training in a simulated environment utilizing CS gas.

Following the basic training, the instructor course followed, that included specially selected candidates, with the training focused on reconnaissance, surveying and surveillance.  This training also proved the ability of the candidates to plan and instruct gas hut training, with a view to enabling them to provide baseline training within their home units. Overall 23 candidates successfully completed this training.

Notwithstanding the initial challenge of introducing a new skill set, while navigating cultural integration and language barriers, the basic and instructor training courses were a huge success. They were a text book example of correctly identifying another country’s requirements, developing the appropriate training curriculum and effectively delivering this training to a very high standard.

This training remains a critical initiative with the Jordanian Air Force, and is continuing to garner increasing interest within the six major contributing countries (France, UK, Germany, US, Canada, and Australia).