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The Colombian Marines Corps, one of the world's most experienced riverine forces, is integrating its riverine warfare training capabilities into the syllabus of a new international advanced training centre. Source: Erwan de Cherisey
The Colombian Marines Corps is establishing a new 200-hectares international advanced training centre in Turbo, Antioquia. The project totals USD32 million and is being implemented as part of the Colombian Navy's 2020-30 development plan.
Major Carlos Andrés Castellanos, commander of the existing Riverine Combat School (ESCOFLU) told IHS Jane's the new centre is to concentrate a number of training capabilities in one specific place, instead of having these spread throughout Colombia. "We want this to be a place where our personnel can learn and strengthen specific capabilities as well as allowing us to offer such capabilities to partner countries," he said.
The plan is to have the centre begin operating in 2017, when the first of the new facilities are finalised. It will initially offer training capabilities in riverine operations, jungle, and coastal combat training for riverine assault groups, as well as water survival training. The new centre will integrate the ESCOFLU and its current training syllabus. Several facilities are being constructed, including a number of combat boats simulators and virtual and live firing training polygons.
Maj Castellanos said it is hoped that the tactical diving school will be integrated into the centre in 2018, although construction of additional infrastructure will be required, most notably to house a hyperbaric chamber.
Longer-term plans include adding air assault and amphibious operations training capabilities around 2020, for which further facilities would need to be built.
The exact number of trainees the new centre will be able to receive yearly has yet to be defined but will be at least 600 personnel, which is the number projected for the 2016 intake at the ESCOFLU, Maj Castellanos said.
The international advanced training centre is to be under the authority of the Marine Training Base (BEIM), in Coveñas, Sucre, and will complement the International Amphibious Training Centre (CIEAN) that is in charge of all basic training for the Colombian Marines and also receives trainees from several partner countries.
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http://www.janes.com/article/65601/...eate-new-international-combat-training-centre
