Photo By Sgt. 1st Class James Wilt | Ben, a mine dog with the 49th Mine Dog Detachment and his handler, Army Pfc. Thomas...... read more read more
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Story and photos by Sgt. Jim Wilt
Combined Joint Task Force-82 PAO
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan –For most people, running over a landmine equates to a bad day. For contractors working with the Mine Action Center, it is just part of the job.
On any given day, Casspir operators drive through mine fields as a part of the de-mining process.
A Casspir is a purpose-built, South African-designed vehicle, with a V-shaped hull and steel wheels that can withstand repeated mine strikes. It is only one of the many tools used by the MAC to make Bagram Airfield and Afghanistan a safer place.
The MAC is currently working to clear land mines, unexploded ordnance and scrap metal on BAF and works in conjunction with other organizations, such as the U.N. and other non-governmental organizations, to eliminate mine threats in other parts of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan is one of the worlds most heavily-mined countries, according to E-MINE Electronic Mine Information Network, http://www.mineaction.org, the U.N. Web site for mine information.
"More than four million Afghans, or 17 percent of the population, are living in one of 2,374 contaminated communities," the site said.
"The MAC removed more than 25,000 pieces of unexploded ordnance to include small-arm munitions, hand grenades, cluster munitions, rockets and 250-kilogram (550-pound) bombs within BAF during 2007. We also removed hundreds of anti-personnel mines and in particular seven anti-tanks mines," said Australian Army Maj. Michael James Wilson, the MAC officer-in-charge.
"The cost here at Bagram is very expensive. At the moment, it costs over $50 million for a contract period of five years. As my [executive officer] quotes 'demining costs an arm and a leg but at the end of the day, it will save people's arms and legs,'" Wilson said.
The MAC also works with an Afghan demining organization called Afghan Technical Consultants, Wilson, a native of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, said. Operation Good Neighbor, an ATC operation, cleared approximately 7,000 anti-personnel mines just north of BAF's perimeter.
While the MAC is actively trying to remove the mine threat from BAF, there is still a threat to coalition servicemembers. Since coalition forces began occupying BAF, landmines have maimed four service members, Wilson said.
One of the predominant anti-personnel mines found on and around BAF is the Soviet-era PMN-2.
"The PMN-2 is intended to maim and wound soldiers," said Army Pvt. Kenneth L. Skenette, a combat engineer working on BAF. Skenette, a native of Columbia Hights, Minn., along with other members of the 70th Eng. Bn., 36th Engineer Brigade, 1st Armored Division, conduct manual mine clearance.
According to Wilson, the MAC also provides mine risk education to service members on BAF. When service members arrive here they receive a briefing from the MAC on mine awareness and safety, he said.
The MAC, in conjunction with Operation Good Neighbor, works with tribal elders to educate Afghans, Wilson said. The elders are made aware of de-mining sites and the locations of minefields.
Any area cleared by the center is certified that over 99 percent of the mines and UXO are removed; this is in accordance with U.N. standards. The center uses quality assurance measures to help ensure the removal of possible dangerous munitions. Any area cleared is checked by a separate de-mining team and supervised by MAC staff in order to ensure the area is certified clear, Wilson said.
Though the MAC has access to equipment such as the Casspir, in some critical situations they bring out the big guns. In support of the demining contract, A Company, 70th Eng. Bn. from TF Rugged provides up-armored and blast-resistant dozers, trucks and excavators to assist the demining contract.
Working with the 49th Mine Dog Detachment, dogs are used to detect mines.
A dog can smell .025 grams of explosives, said Army Sgt. Martin McNally, a dog handler with the 49th.
Under the proper conditions, a dog can clear approximately the same amount of land in a day as a person can in a month, McNally said.
One critical situation the dogs can be used in is the extraction of a casualty from a minefield, said Sgt. 1st Class Stephen White, non-commissioned officer in charge of the 49th MDD and a native of Waynesville, Mo.
The dog can quickly clear a path to allow for rescue personnel to reach them.
The MAC team is tasked by CJTF-82 to clear contaminated areas in order to establish landing zones and drop zones, as well as, conduct site reconnaissance missions to clear areas for forward operating bases, Wilson said.
Safe bail-out zones have also been identified by the MAC to aid Air Force pilots who may have to eject from their aircraft during takeoff or landing in an emergency situation.
MAC has the ability to conduct a mine threat assessment for anywhere in Afghanistan. The information is sourced from mine data collected by the U.S. and the U.N., Wilson said.
"In 2006, almost 723 million square meters (867,600,000 square yards) of land are thought to be infested with 56 different types of anti-personnel and anti-tank mines ... or littered with countless pieces of UXO, ranging from bullet casings to 500-pound bombs," the U.N. site said.
Being one of the most mined countries in the world, the MAC and other organizations work to remove the threat. Using equipment, personnel, dogs and education, the humanitarian workers strive to protect the people.
| Date Taken: | 09.17.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 09.17.2007 10:02 |
| Story ID: | 12379 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 621 |
| Downloads: | 525 |
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