Unexploded ordnance: When fighting stops, hazards remain

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Dustin Heines
  • 514th Civil Engineer Squadron
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  The dangers associated with a conventional attack do not end when the weapons stop firing. Immediately after an attack, Airmen must deal with the hazards of unexploded ordnance.

Though the duty of discovering and controlling unexploded ordnance typically falls on post-attack reconnaissance teams and other first responders, every Airmen should be familiar with the procedures for dealing with unexploded ordnance. The procedures are broken down into steps known as the Five C's: confirm, clear, cordon, check and control.

Confirm: When Airmen discover what appears to be unexploded ordnance, they should do their best to safely confirm that it is not debris, garbage or an unrelated piece of equipment. Improper identification can waste the vital time of other first responders. Airmen should also try to get a good look at the suspected ordnance so they may properly report its classification by referencing their Airman's Manual. Accurately reporting the ordnance location using building numbers or the military grid reference system is also important. Classification and location information allows the ordnance disposal specialists to prioritize post-attack hazards.

Clear & Cordon: The next two C's are handled in conjunction. Airmen should clear all personnel from the area surrounding the ordnance and cordon off the ordnance so other personnel will stay clear. For ordnance that are five inches in diameter or less, which includes most mortars, Airmen should be clear and cordon off areas 300 feet from the location. A 500-foot cordon should surround ordnance between five and ten inches in diameter, and a 1,000-foot cordon should surround ordnance between ten and twenty inches in diameter.

Check: Airmen must be sure to thoroughly check the surrounding area for more hazards. Just because one unexploded ordnance was discovered in an area doesn't mean there isn't a second or third awaiting discovery. Post-attack reconnaissance teams should proceed with their sweeps, checking inside and outside the cordon distance.

Control: If the cordon distance is blocking a roadway, the road must be blocked off and closed. This may entail assigning Airmen to ensure the road stays blocked to non-essential personnel.

Once the five C's are completed, it is imperative to not remain in a danger area that has been cleared and cordoned off. Remain on scene long enough to provide information to ordnance disposal specialists or other emergency responders.

The quicker these first responders can attack the hazard, the faster the base can return to normal operations. Proper reporting, coordination, and following the five C's guarantee this happens as efficiently as possible.