Bundesanstalt Technisches Hilfswerk (THW)

Training a key to a common approach

The national perspective of international civil
protection training

2nd European Civil Protection Forum

Presentation by Sabine Lackner,
Division Development of Competencies
19.12.2007 www.thw.de 1
Structure

The German civil protection system

Consequences for civil protection training
Strengths and challenges of the THW training
system
Experiences or lessons learnt

19.12.2007 www.thw.de 2
The German civil protection system
A decentralized
system Federal
Ministry of the Interior
Berlin

responsible for national civil defence &

protection of the population

supervising respective offices and agencies

16 federal states THW BBK

Federal Agency Federal Office of
(responsible for for Civil Protection and
disaster protection) Technical Relief Disaster Assistance

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 THWs legal mandate

Local and national

disaster prevention
on request of the
responsible authority
Civil protection (police, fire brigade)

International
operations
on behalf of
the Federal
Government

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 THW: Federal Agency for Technical Relief
founded THW-President
in 1950 Albrecht Broemme

headquarters
8 state associations
2 training centers
66 regional offices
1 logistic centre
800 paid staff

668 local sections with appr.

80.000 volunteers

99% voluntary
commitment

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volunteers vs. paid staff (7 : 1)

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 THWs capacities...

...locates ...rescues ...vacates coordinates

...repairs ...pumps ...caters illuminates

...wires ...blasts ...builds ...purifies

but
...cleans not:
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 Volunteers in civil protection in Germany

Germany
Germany has
has aa long
long tradition
tradition of
of
voluntary
voluntary based
based civil
civil protection
R
F

protection
UE H
E

RWE

1,7
1,7 million
million volunteers
volunteers
majority
majority (1,3
(1,3 million)
million) in
in volunteer
volunteer
UT
SCH
fire
fire brigades
brigades
E

E
D

S
Z
RO

NNIT
T HA E
U

ES KRE
JO

R
-
E
UN

FA L
L L - HI

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Structure

The German civil protection system

Consequences for civil protection training
Strengths and challenges of the THW training
system
Experiences or lessons learnt

19.12.2007 www.thw.de 9
Key elements to keep in mind

In Germany:
Civil protection = state (Lnder-) responsibility

THW = only federal organisation in this field,

but not as first responder
THW = volunteer-based civil protection work
THW = nationwide deployed,
same modular system everywhere

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Consequences for civil protection training

In Germany:
Decentralized training
Each organization e.g. fire fighters, Order of
the Maltese, St. Johns Ambulance has own
training system and curricula

At THW:
90% of training on local level, standardized
10% of specialized training at the 2 THW
schools, e.g. international training
(EU-OPM etc.)
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THW training center Hoya

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THW training center Neuhausen

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 Step 1 - National Training
Basic Training Command level
Staff Org. Communication Coordination
Liaison Logistic
(operation
officer officer officer Head
controll)

Team leader (3-5 G)

Public relation Training Center

Team leader Training II Training Center

Team leader Training I Training Center

Group leader (8 P)

Team leader (basic) Training Center

Basic Training II Local Adm.

Team member

Basic Training I Local Adm.

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 Step 2 - National Training (technical)
Basic Training Specialist
Training Center

Machinist/ water purification/ electric generator

truck driver radio comm blasting dredger driver
youth leader breathing protection welding

Special Training I Local Adm.

Basic Training II Local Adm.

Basic Training I Local Adm.

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Structure

The German civil protection system

Consequences for civil protection training
Strengths and challenges of the THW training
system
Experiences or lessons learnt

19.12.2007 www.thw.de 16
Strengths of the THW system

High standards re technical equipment

Training concept emphasizes practical
experience (local, regional, national
exercises)
Strong international network (EU, UN)

Basic modular intervention unit is

nationwide the same

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 The modular system

Local units

are deployed in all 668 local section

are the basis of the THW units
are standardized all over Germany

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 The modular system

Supra-local units,
Deployed in every of the 66 regional offices
Special units for special tasks (for instance Water
Hazards, Search and Rescue, Debris Clearance)

129

69

154

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 The modular system
Supra-regional units,
deployed on the level of the 8 state associations
for very special interventions, in particular international
missions
Water Supply and Treatment, Bridge Construction

24
3

14

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 Challenges for THW
Quantity:
Quantity:

dynamic
dynamic qualification
qualification of
of
appr.
appr. 80.000
80.000 volunteers
volunteers Hoya

Nationwide
Nationwide deployed
deployed

THW HQ,
Bonn

Neuhausen

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Challenges for THW
Quality:

Highly specialized training goals

Very diverse target group (volunteers with

different professional backgrounds!)

Time restrictions, training in free time, weekends

or on holidays

Attractive training keeps

volunteers interested/
motivated

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Structure

The German civil protection system

Consequences for civil protection training
Strengths and challenges of the THW training
system
Experiences or lessons learnt

19.12.2007 www.thw.de 23
Experiences or lessons learnt for THW

Training is the essential motivator for

volunteers

belonging to a cluster of excellence

As a volunteer: handling state of the art
equipment professionally
Through the international network:
participating in EU trainings and exercises

As a result: work is highly appreciated

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Training = link between equipment + intervention

THW
The technical and logistical
Federal intervention agency

intervention equipment training

highly qualified, flexible Modular system

units modern, state of the Modern teaching
successful partner of EU art equipment methods (e-learning)
and UN

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 And this is what we train for...

We train for
efficient,
competent,
well organized and coordinated

interventions for the benefit of

people in need

examples
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 Relief response after Hurricane Kyrill

Germany, January 2007

7.489 THW volunteers in

total

Electricity supply,

clearance of streets and

railways,

illumination...

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 Relief response after ...

heavy floods 2002,

Elbe

desastrous snow
catastrophe 2005,
Mnster
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EU assessment mission to Bolivia

March 2007

Worst floods in 25
years,
appr. 340.000
people affected

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International missions

Hurricane Katrina,
USA, 2005

Floods in Arles
France 2003
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 Thank you very much for your attention!

Sabine.lackner@thw.de
www.thw.de
www.exchangeofexperts.eu

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