The European Training Center of Active Forensic Sciences (ETAF)

are delighted to announce the new curriculum for 2023.

Beginning in September 2023 at our training centre in Weeze, Germany, this is a unique opportunity for those involved Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) to test their skills in challenging scenarios, where the use of body donors will push delegates to the limit in a safe training environment.

Because of ETAF unique collaboration with Europe’s leading experts in the art of Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) we are proud to be able to offer a full training package with access to all 14 forensic specialties in one multidisciplinary training. We are alone in being able to deploy a joint team with practitioners’ expertise in the DVI medical, Police and sciences arenas. ETAF are also able to offer full Family Liaison training, based on the New Scotland Yard and Belgium Police model, to ensure that the modern DVI team is fully capable to deal with the complexities that a DVI incident will cause to those family members left behind.

Our training programme consists of 8 modules under two areas of expertise

Necrosearch and Recovery                            Police / Law Enforcement response

Forensic Anthropology                                    Fingerprints

Forensic Pathology                                         DNA                           

Forensic Odontology                                       CBRNe                                     

Forensic Radiology                                         Family Liaison   

Each module will be split between a theoretical delivery of, on average 30%, with the rest of the time involving practical hands-on simulations, where cadavers will be used at scenarios that include

Helicopter crash          Plane crash including fire         Train accident

Earthquake scene       Terrorist attack                          Armed conflicts / Massgrave

Additionally, there will be practical exercises that include, DVI in armed conflicts zones, CBRN inputs and dealing with Family Liaison matters from strategies to family briefings, collation of Ante Mortem material, through to face to face, one on one conversations with family members to accurately reflect the professionalism of the DVI Team speaking for the dead and caring for the living. 

Each scenario is structured to provide an interdisciplinary approach to each module, so every team member knows the challenges that each other face, promoting a unified, cohesive approach in future, real-life deployments.

Delegates will see the value of their own occupational safety and learn how to effectively protect themselves and their team. They will be able to operate effectively in all environments from high-tech settings to destroyed infrastructures. ETAF trainers will show students, both theoretically and in practical scenarios, how to triage large numbers of bodies, how to gather Ante Mortem data and, most importantly, examine and treat the deceased with respect and dignity whilst maintaining an open, honest, transparent, and professional relationship with the family.

At the end of this unique learning experience, delegates will be qualified for deployment as full members of any DVI Team in the world. Using knowledge from training deliveries on processes and protocols from Interpol, ICRC, The Bournemouth, and The Minnesota protocols and those from the United Nations,

delegates will be able to apply and integrate the different guidelines and international standards in all DVI situations regardless of where it occurs in the world. Completion of the ETAF curriculum will guarantee each delegate will fit into the team, knowing their own role and that of their colleagues. ETAF trained delegates will ensure gold standard, uniform policies, procedures, and practical applications are implemented allowing scene managers to concentrate on the evolving incident, safe in the knowledge their team is highly trained and capable of facing ever changing circumstances, often in hostile environments.

ETAF is dedicated to building DVI Teams, compliant with international standards and protocols, with experience of challenging scenarios, able to deploy immediately having learned to communicate with other DVI professionals and having a deep understanding of the overall process.

ETAF ability to offer delegates exposure to world class experts in their field, a desire to make training as practical as possible and an ethos that ensures DVI teams around the world are enhanced by highly competent, ETAF trained individuals, makes this opportunity one that cannot be missed.