As the EU MODEX Cycle 11 came to a close (Cycle 12 started in December) we met two well-known faces and leaders of the exercises over the years. Ahead of their retirement, Alan Pellowe (Main Coach/Trainer of 42 EU MODEX exercises) and René Wagemans (Chief Exercise Controller, who ran 30 EU MODEX) talked to the Knowledge Network about the lessons learned from their years of running exercises.
Alan Pellowe’s engagement with EU Civil Protection training began during his time with the United Kingdom International Search and Rescue Team UK-ISAR, where he mandated that all management-level personnel undergo training through the EU Civil Protection Training Programme. Upon retiring from the fire service in 2010 (he was commander for South Birmingham), Alan became a trainer and consultant, particularly focusing on capacity building in Africa and post-earthquake assistance in Pakistan. This eventually led him to become directly involved in the EU MODEX; first as a trainer, and then as Main Trainer.
Can you tell us more about your role and experiences in the EU MODEX exercises?
I started as a Trainer for EU MODEX in its early stages in 2010, before being brought in as Main Trainer, by Johanniter and the Austrian Red Cross. Over the years I have primarily focused on exercises for USAR and emergency medical teams, but I was also engaged as main trainer for the water-related Modules and for the table top EU MODEX Exercises – so I was kept very busy right from the start of my time with EU MODEX!
I have to say that one of the main highlights of my EU MODEX career has been working alongside my close buddy, René Wagemans. We became known as a strong training duo, affectionately referred to as ‘Statler and Waldorf’ (‘the double act’!). Over the years, we've organised and conducted some major EU MODEX exercises across different locations, often facing unique challenges, from political hurdles to severe weather conditions.
I remember once, when a designated exercise location fell through at the last moment, and we ended up having to pull a major EU MODEX together in as little as six weeks when Romania stepped in as a last-minute host. It meant that René and I did four advance trips over there, working closely with Dr Raed Arafat, secretary of state in the Romanian Ministry of Interior and his staff, who was extremely supportive of the whole process.
We also had the former EU Commissioner Christos Stylianides come and visit us on two separate occasions. He liked to refer to the EU MODEX as ‘the flagship of EU training’, which was a banner that we were very proud to adopt.
How does participation in the EU MODEX contribute to enhancing the capabilities of response teams?
EU MODEX serves as a comprehensive training platform where response teams can not only test their standard operating procedures but also identify and address their own priority areas for development. The Main Coach Trainers in each lot assemble Coach Trainer teams of highly experienced subject matter experts who work closely with Modules and other response capacities that attend EU MODEX to test their competencies against the exercise learning objectives, as well as their own specific learning objectives. Guidance and feedback are provided before, during, and after the exercises. This results in a more coordinated and effective response capability within the UCPM, as it attends the many real-world incidents that it responds to year after year.
Crucially, the exercises are often the first chance that teams have had to work alongside other international teams. They have been able to exercise and prepare in their own countries, but have never had the chance to work alongside one another in a cohesive and coordinated manner. If they haven’t attended an EU MODEX, prior to deploying to an international incident, then it would have been their first opportunity to have worked alongside other international teams. We have had a lot of good feedback from teams and national focus points on how important and beneficial the EU MODEX has been in raising the standards of EU response teams.
As Main Coach Trainer, I coordinated a team of highly experienced coach trainers, who were subject matter experts in their own right. Coach trainers are brought in to create added value in the development of European response assets. The idea of EU MODEX was that teams would test their standard operating procedures against very challenging scenarios; initially on table top exercises, where it is quite easy to make changes without having any detrimental effects, but then to progress to the fully involved field Exercises where Modules really were stretched outside of their comfort zones. The European Commission has now introduced a ‘training of trainers’ programme, which ensures that the quality of EU trainers is consistent, whatever the subject matter, and provides a standardisation of approach in the development of all European response assets.
Have you seen the results of EU MODEX in action?
The Commission desk officers for EU MODEX who deploy regularly alongside these modules have said that they have seen a significant change in the way that teams work together, coordinate with one another, and harmonise in the way they work. That’s good for the reputation of the EU but highly beneficial for the affected country as they get a more coordinated effort. It’s nice to see all of the training coming to fruition!
Trainers, including myself, work closely with teams to focus on their specific learning objectives, providing guidance and feedback before, during, and after the exercises.
Can you share any notable highlights or challenges you've encountered during EU MODEX exercises?
The very first EU MODEX that Rene and I worked on was in Arcevia in Ancona (Italy) where we were all challenged extensively by the weather! We did the whole of that EU MODEX through an absolutely torrential downpour. When the teams are under canvas as well it really stretches their capabilities and gets them to self-analyse the capabilities of their tentage and Personal Protective Equipment clothing. It's not just about how they do things, it's about how they prepare to deploy; thermally-insulated tents or adequate wet weather gear? It's never the wrong weather, it's the wrong clothing, as they say!
We've also conducted exercises in unique settings like the historical earthquake site in Poggioreale, Sicily, which added an extra layer of realism to the training.
What do you see as the future direction or potential improvements for the EU MODEX exercises?
It's crucial to maintain the high standards set by the EU MODEX exercises and to continuously challenge participating teams to improve and work outside of their comfort zone. Additionally, expanding involvement to include third countries and countries in assession to the European Union is always a great move.
Whilst we have already incorporated certification processes for response teams through organisations like the United Nations and the World Health Organization we should build on this further, as all of these teams come together in international incidents.Having common standards across the board should be our goal.
We have always been asked challenging questions on EU MODEX by our Commission Desk Officers. And that’s great, as it keeps us on our toes! We should never stop improving as the main beneficiary out there are our communities dealing with the disaster, and we owe it to them to be the best of the best.
It's crucial to maintain the high standards set by the EU MODEX exercises and continuously challenge participating teams to improve and raise their game.
Any final words for our readers?
I would like to give a shout out to the media team that work tirelessly alongside the EU MODEX – recording all the good work that is done in the EU MODEX as we deliver it. They also interact with the teams by role playing real media - teams must understand that in international disasters they have to deal with the media as well, and this is so important.
More generally, I believe that the thing now is to not let the consortia be complacent, because when you've got to the top of your game, the only way you can go is down. They really need to maintain that high standard. And that is all about making sure that the consortium stays on theme, in focusing wholly on the participants, and it’s down to the Commission desk officers themselves to keep asking those challenging questions of the consortia to ensure that they continually raise their game.
We should never stop improving. We owe it to our communities to be the best of the best!
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