First Forward Air Controller Course of 2026 Supported by EUMAM Mozambique Comes to an End

The closing ceremony was led by the Commander of the FAM, Major General Cândido José Tirano, and was also attended by EUMAM MOZ military personnel responsible for the mentorship and supervision of the course. 

Over a period of more than four months, the trainees underwent a demanding training programme designed to progressively develop the technical, tactical and operational competencies required to perform FAC duties. 

The Basic Phase aimed to equip the trainees with the essential skills needed to operate in a combat environment. During this phase, instruction was delivered in subjects including land navigation, Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), survival, combat techniques and tactics, combat shooting, communications, patrolling and other essential skills required for ground operations. 

Upon completion of this phase, the trainees progressed to the Specialisation Phase, focused on developing the specific competencies required of a FAC. The programme covered the principles of Close Air Support, mission planning and coordination, Air-Ground communication procedures, aerial reconnaissance, meteorology, the establishment and coordination of Helicopter Landing Zones (HLZ), as well as the conduct of control procedures in progressively more demanding operational scenarios characterised by high levels of pressure, complexity and decision-making.

European Union Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique, 2026

The course culminated in an operational assessment phase, during which the trainees demonstrated their ability to plan, coordinate and execute Air-Ground Integration missions, applying in realistic scenarios all the knowledge and procedures acquired throughout the training. This phase validated their capability to integrate air power in support of ground manoeuvre while ensuring high standards of safety, coordination and operational effectiveness. 

The successful completion of this course represents far more than the qualification of a new generation of FAC. It constitutes a further step in consolidating an institutional capability within the FADM, enhancing their ability to plan, coordinate and conduct operations in support of ground forces in an increasingly autonomous, sustainable and effective manner, adapted to the challenges of the current operational environment in Cabo Delgado. 

This course is particularly significant as it was delivered entirely by Mozambique Air Force Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) instructors under the mentorship and supervision of EUMAM MOZ, demonstrating the progress achieved in developing a national training capability and the growing autonomy of the FADM in qualifying their own Forward Air Controllers. 

EUMAM MOZ is a non-executive mission, with a mandate until December 2026, focused on the operational training cycle, maintenance and specialised training, with the objective of contributing to the self-sufficiency of the FADM in countering the insurgency in Cabo Delgado.

European Union Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique, 2026