Skip to main content
To npaid.org

Visit of Col. Eric Larsen, Director, USARPAC Asia-Pacific Counter IED Fusion Center

On the morning of 20 January 2022, NPA Vietnam was honored to receive Col. Eric Larsen, Director, USARPAC Asia-Pacific Counter IED Fusion Center, at the clearance site of the Scorpion team in Gio Hai commune, Gio Linh district, Quang Tri province.

243 USARPAC Visit 08

Ms. Nguyen Thi Dieu Linh, NPA Provincial Programme Manager in Quang Tri province provided the Col. Larsen on overview of mine action in Quang Tri province, and particularly NPA/Project RENEW demining activities.

Upon being briefed by Mr. Tran Chi Thieu, the NPA Chief Operations Field Evaluation (OFE) Expert, on the Bearcat machine and Scorpion detection system that NPA is deploying in Quang Tri, Col. Larsen observed demonstration by the Bearcat and Scorpion teams and was explained on improvements made on the technologies during the OFE.

243 USARPAC Visit 07
During the visit, ms. Nguyen Thi Dieu Linh, NPA Provincial Programme Manager for Quang Tri province, provided an overview of mine action in Quang Tri province and NPA activities in Vietnam. Mr. Tran Chi Thieu, the NPA Chief OFE Expert, briefed Col. Larsen on the Bearcat machine and Scorpion detection system.
243 USARPAC Visit 11
Col. Larsen was very interested and asked for further clarifications on the ongoing OFE from Mr. Thieu and Ms. Linh.
243 USARPAC Visit 06
Col. Larsen observed demonstration by the Bearcat and Scorpion teams and was explained on improvements made on the technologies during the OFE.
243 USARPAC Visit 14
Col. Larsen then had some photos taken with the teams before he concluded his visit with NPA.

The US government has provided a lot of support to mine action efforts in Vietnam and Col Larsen was extremely happy to see the engagement of the US Department of Defense in this specific project.

The field visit by Col. Larsen at this Vietnamese year-end time was a very nice work experience for NPA teams in Quang Tri before our national staff commence a holiday period to celebrate our Lunar New Year.