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KOROR, Palau - Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit FIVE (EODMU5), Detachment Marianas (DET MARI), were in Palau Nov. 22 - Dec. 1 providing subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE) with the Republic of Palau Bureau of Public Works, National Safety Office unexploded ordnance (UXO) explosive remnants of war (ERW) team, as part of exercise Koa Moana.
DET MARI provided SMEE’s on demolition and basic EOD skills to partner with the US Department of State sponsored UXO program, which is administered by Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) on Palau.
“It has been a pleasure working with our partners in the Marine Corps, NPA, and the people of Palau building relationships, exchanging knowledge, and assisting with the disposal of hazardous UXO,” said Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 1st Class Charles Brown, assigned to DET MARI.
On average, Palau Bureau of Public Works finds UXO, at least once every two weeks. They also do surveys of WWII Japanese sites to locate ERW/UXO.
“We don’t have a military in Palau, so we appreciate all the training and knowledge the Sailors with EOD provide,” said Luke Atkinson, Program Manager for NPA. “We will apply what we’ve learned the last couple of days to cut up or destroy the remaining ordnance we may find.”
An estimated total of 2,800 tons of ordnance was dropped or fired on Palau during WWII. Much of this ordnance failed to detonate or was left behind after the war.
“The EOD guys have been awesome, they gave us a lot of helpful advice we can use to keep the people of Palau safe,” said Lestor Serrilo, a member of Palau Bureau of Public Works. “We’ve exchanged valuable information and all of us have benefited. I love what I do, clearing UXO has saved many lives and I’m glad I get to be a part of that.”
DET MARI and Palau Bureau of Public Works National Safety Office UXO Team destroyed an estimated 370 pounds of UXO during Koa Moana.
DET MARI will also travel to the Federated States of Micronesia, Yap State to conduct SMEE’s with the Yap State Police on identifying UXO and giving a hazard brief on the disposal of ordnance.
CTF-75 has the ability to create adaptive force packages (AFP) with Navy Expeditionary Forces that can be used alone or in support of other CTFs to meet 7th Fleet goals and objectives. The AFP concept is important to bringing the right tailored capability to respond to irregular challenges and contingency operations, creating synergy and the ability to effectively and efficiently command and control forces for non-standard missions.
| Date Taken: | 12.01.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 12.03.2018 22:33 |
| Story ID: | 302109 |
| Location: | KOROR, PW |
| Web Views: | 218 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, EODMU-5 DET MARI Assists Ordnance Disposal Palau, by CPO Kory Alsberry, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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