1.
THW‘s Training System
EFSCA-Conference, Oranienburg, Albrecht Broemme, President THW

2. THW THW: German Federal Agency for Technical Relief
THW
THW: German Federal Agency for Technical Relief
Founded in 1950 as a public agency belonging to the Federal Ministry of the Interior
80,000 volunteers
1,200 full-time employees
700 local sections
Annual budget 340 m EUR

3. Mandate Civil Protection
Mandate
Civil Protection
Local and national disaster relief on request of local authorities (e.g. Fire Department)
International operations on behalf of the Federal Government

4.
Structure
700 local sections across all parts of Germany (only volunteers)
66 regional offices
8 state associations
2 Federal Training Schools in Hoya (Bremen) and in Neuhausen (Stuttgart)
THW HQ in Bonn

5. Volunteers & Paid Staff
Volunteers & Paid Staff

6. Challenges & Chances for Training
Challenges & Chances for Training
Challenges
Specialised training goals
Diverse target group (volunteers with different professional backgrounds!)
Time restrictions, training in free time, weekends or on holidays
Chances
Highly qualified volunteers
Different professional backgrounds lead to synergies
Attractive training keeps volunteers interested & motivated

7. Challenges & Chances for Training
Challenges & Chances for Training
Challenges
Trainings and operations during working hours
Chances
Benefit for employers & employees:
THW offers several qualifications (e.g. licenses for forklift, lorries, chain saw)
Increased competences for employees
THW pays loss of salary

8. Shared Benefit Volunteers acquire skills in the job and in THW.
Shared Benefit
Volunteers acquire skills in the job and in THW.
Employers and THW both benefit from well trained staff.
About 30 certified THW training courses are acknowledged by employers.
THW profits from the volunteers’ excellent professional competences
THW aims at a close and trustful relation to employers.

9. No deployment without appropriate training!
Training as a Key Issue
No deployment without appropriate training!
90 % of training at local level
federal documents & defined standard
10 % of training through courses at THW-Schools
… some Training at other Facilities

10.
THW’s Training System
Basic Training: 120 hrs on weekends and evenings for all volunteers
Specialised training: on weekends and evenings, as well as up to one- week centralised courses
International Training: Centralised one-week courses, Basic Course for Foreign Missions, Logistics, Engineering, etc.
EU & UN Courses, 1 to 2 weeks

11. Training Cycle: Components
Training Cycle: Components
Curriculum
Exercise
Sheet
Handbook
Curriculum: includes subjects, educational objectives, target group, estimated duration
Handbook: reference book for trainers/instructors
Presentation: tool for theoretical training parts (indoor)
Instruction Sheet: for practical trainings (indoor and outdoor)
Exercise Sheet: for monitoring the learning process
Instruction
Sheet
Presentation

12. Dynamic 3-Level Training System
Dynamic 3-Level Training System
Lifelong Learning
1st Level:
Qualification for Deployment
Specialised Training
Leadership & Command
Basic Training
Further Training & Keep level of competence
Training for specific functions
Training for Missions abroad
2nd Level:
Specialisation
3rd Level:
Further Training
Qualification for Deployment: including first aid training, basic vaccinations, health examination

13. Training for specific functions (e.g. chainsaw)
Basic training
Specialisation for technical squads (e.g. search and rescue, lighting, bridge building)
Training for specific functions (e.g. chainsaw)
Leadership and command training
Training for specific functions (e.g. breathing apparatus instructor, boat pilot)
Training for deployment abroad
International trainings
Local training
Training at THW School
Responsible: Section “Development of Competencies”, HQ
Responsible: THW Federal School Neuhausen & Hoya 13 13

14. Basic training at local sections
Basic training at local sections
75 training units, 45 min. each
In the evening or during weekends (off regular working hours)
mix of lectures and practice
common curricula, standardised examination .
In general, training at local level is carried out by volunteers
trained as trainers. They are the target group for all training
material developped by THW for local training.
Basic knowledge on: THW & civil protection, safety and security, rescue basics, operations in general, first aid

15. Advanced training at THW-Schools
Advanced training at THW-Schools
THW Training Centre Hoya Technical Training
THW Training Centre Neuhausen
Leadership training, international training .

16. Training Courses at Federal School
Training Courses at Federal School
Classroom sessions
Practical lessons with equipment
E-Learning and Blended Learning (ILIAS)
online preparation for training courses
virtual classroom
Teachers are not volunteers but full time instructors with professional qualifications in their subject area.
The training facilities at the two schools have all necessary equipment and material to conduct practical training and larger exercises.
E-learning platform ILIAS:
Many courses include an e-learning part as preparation to save time during the courses taking place at school.
Opportunity for exchange between teachers and students or among students
ILIAS also provides students with training material 16 16

17.
Training Centre Hoya .

18. Facts & Figures Hoya 200,000 m² available area (incl. water)
Facts & Figures Hoya
200,000 m² available area (incl. water)
15,300 m² indoor area
Equipment of nearly all THW-Groups
50 specialised vehicles 
320 training courses per year
Capacity to train volunteers each year
Accommodation for 130 students

19. THW Training Centre Neuhausen (Leadership Training)
THW Training Centre Neuhausen (Leadership Training) .

20. Facts & Figures Neuhausen
Facts & Figures Neuhausen
210 training courses per year 
Accommodation for 92 students
7 different course rooms, partly specialised to command and control
Used partly for combined training & exercise courses (e.g. OPEX Bravo)

21. Training Facilities & Exercise Grounds
Training Facilities & Exercise Grounds 21 21

22. Training and Teaching Material
Training and Teaching Material
Packages of training material for training at local level is being provided to all THW units depending on their specific subject.
ILIAS:
all training material is being provided online for download

23. Requirements on volunteers for international missions
Requirements on volunteers for international missions
Development Policy
Cooperation
Security
German Foreign Policy
Emergency Relief
Partners
Different Cultures
Requirements of financiers
Foreign Languages
more complex general framework - increase of requirements
Contract law
Media
United Nations
European Union

24. Training for international missions
Training for international missions
On-line: Basic and Advanced Security in the Field
Basic Course „EGA“/ Expert Database
Training Courses 1st level
Administration & Logistics Course (Basic Module)
SEC
ICT/Admin
Camp building
Teamleader Training
Training Courses 2nd level
Administration & Logistics Course (Advanced Module)
Specialised training for unit
Camp building
UN Training
WFP
UNOCHA
UNHCR
EU Training
MBC
CMI
OPM
AMC

25. Database for intern. Missions
Database for intern. Missions
Around 100 different functions – Terms of Reference (ToR)
social competences (ability to work in a team)
knowledge of languages
age minimum of 25
vaccination status
health status (special examination)
special professional background
special knowledge about civil protection, humanitarian aid, international procedures
availability: at short notice for min. 2–4 weeks

26. Strengths of THW’s system
Strengths of THW’s system
High standards for technical equipment 
Training concept emphasizes practical experience (local, regional, national, international and exercises)
Strong international network (EU, UN)
Basic modular intervention unit is nationwide the same

27.
Training! Training!
Training enables volunteers to do professional work.
Health & Safety is a great issue! “Vision Zero Accidents”!
Exercises are necessary to practise the knowledge and to be prepared for Interventions.
There is e need for “Lesson's learned” after each Exercise & Intervention.

28.
Thank you!
Bundesanstalt Technisches Hilfswerk (THW) Provinzialstr. 93  Bonn  Germany
Tel: ( )