Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians with Commander, Task Group (CTG) 56.1 worked alongside French and Danish EOD divers as well as Bahraini forces in Manama, Bahrain this week as part of this year’s International Mine Countermeasures Exercise (IMCMEX).
IMCMEX is the largest international naval exercise, with more than a quarter of the world’s navies participating, including 38 naval ships and 6,500 sailors from every region as well as over 30 commercial merchant ships of various nationalities.
The purpose of the exercise is to promote maritime security and the free flow of trade through mine countermeasure operations, maritime security operations, and maritime infrastructure protection in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility and throughout the world.
As part of the exercise, CTG 56.1 EOD technicians in Manama have participated alongside French, Danish and Bahraini forces to respond to numerous simulated land and shore-side threats, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs), vehicle-borne IEDs, limpet-mine attacks and suicide-vest attacks. They also participated in simulated active shooter drills, conducted diver-casualty drills and practiced underwater search techniques, bomb disposal robot operation and remote rigging.
IMCMEX will run through Nov. 13, allowing CTG 56.1 and French, Danish and Bahraini forces to have a few more days to train together and learn from one another.
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Press release, Image: US Navy