28 April 2025
Under the beating sun in Tarlac City in the Philippines, Australian explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) specialists recently exchanged experience and techniques with their Filipino counterparts.
In late February and early March, an eight-person mobile training team (MTT) from Australia delivered training focused on counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) skills.
The MTT comprised members of the Australian Army’s 6th Engineer Support Regiment (6ESR) and 20th EOD Squadron, deploying under the wider Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines (JATT-P) program.
For two weeks, they worked with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Tarlac City, about 100km north of Manila.
A team leader from 20th EOD Squadron, Sergeant Bede Greener, had always hoped to return to the Philippines, after his first operational deployment on Operation Philippines Assist in 2013.
“This was the first time we have conducted a C-IED training activity under JATT-P,” Sergeant Greener said.
“The Philippine Army’s 40th EOD Battalion hosted the training at Camp General Servillano A. Aquino in Tarlac City, where we worked with students and instructors from across the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines].
“Returning to the Philippines in a more positive situation was fantastic – I had always hoped I would have the opportunity to return in a professional manner to work with the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines].”
Previous land-based MTTs have conducted training and exchanges with the Philippines in close combat shooting, urban operations and tactical care of combat causalities.
'Returning to the Philippines in a more positive situation was fantastic – I had always hoped I would have the opportunity to return in a professional manner to work with the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines].'
This most recent MTT allowed Australian EOD specialists to gain a greater understanding of Philippine experiences in the C-IED role.
“The Philippines’ EOD capability and skills base is very well developed,” Sergeant Greener said.
“This allowed us to focus most of our training on more technical EOD techniques and concepts, such as X-ray interpretation, and shot placement based off X-ray imaging.”
X-ray interpretation is a crucial skill for EOD technicians, allowing them to non-intrusively examine and identify the components of an explosive device. Technicians can determine the type, size and configuration of the explosive, as well as any switch mechanisms or power sources.
Shot placement is the process of using an X-ray image to determine the optimal location to place a disruptor charge to neutralise a device. Its placement must be precise to ensure the power source is removed without causing the device to function.
Sergeant Greener said he hoped the working relationship established with the Philippines would endure.
“I found it very professionally beneficial; the AFP’s [Armed Forces of the Philippines] way of conducting C-IED is similar to ours, but also different to reflect the regional uniqueness of the IED threat within the Philippines,” Sergeant Greener said.
The JATT-P program is part of the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Program (EDCP) between Australia and the Philippines, established in 2019.
Under the EDCP, Australia and the Philippines work together to identify training needs.
This includes bespoke packages designed for delivery in the classroom and the field, and covers areas from essential warfighting skills to military planning and logistics, through to maritime sustainment, aircraft maintenance, intelligence analysis and aviation safety.
Under the JATT-P program, more than 20 MTTs and other specialist exchanges will be conducted this year.
