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2-2 Infantry searches for unexploded ordnance

USAEUR News Release

01/15/2003

Story and photos by Spc. Matthew Lang, MNB(East) Public Affairs

CAMP MONTEITH, Kosovo - Although the ethnic conflict ended three years ago, the horrible remnants of illegal ordnance and weapons are still found throughout this small province.

The 2nd Platoon ("Ice"), Alpha Company, 2-2 Infantry was out on a three-day mission in their sector earlier this month to locate any illegal ordnance or weapons.

"The main purpose of the mission is to discover any illegal weapons caches in our areas of operations," said Capt. Douglas Jacobs, commander of Alpha Co. "Also, to disrupt any smuggling operations between the borders of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Pristina."

The searches throughout the sector affected local citizens and let them know that KFOR is actively engaged in enforcing UN Security Resolution 1244, said Jacobs.

"It shows them that we are still in the business of keeping illegal weapons out of their communities so that we can continue to promote a safe and secure environment in Kosovo," added Jacobs.

However, if something is found there are strict rules to follow.

Jacobs said, "if it is something illegal as far as drugs or smuggling of other goods not necessarily illegal we call the Kosovo Police Service to let the local authorities take care of it. If it's weapons or ordnance we detain the person, if possible, and confiscate the equipment and give it to the Military Police (MP) or Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)."

However, to find anything the soldiers all line up at a given point with an average of two and a half meters between them and walk in a straight line to search the area. Each search consists of about five to seven people. In each team there is a designated digger, someone to probe and a soldier using the mine-detecting device.

Each squad at some point or another thought they might have had something and dug for what they call the "Jackpot".

When the soldier using the mine-detecting device found something, the prober then began probing the surface until he made contact with the object.

The soil around the buried object was carefully removed to expose the object for closer examination. Once it was visible to the eye, the senior NCO examined the item without touching it, then made the decision whether or not to call EOD.

"The mission was a success even though my men did not find any contraband," said Jacobs.

"We are well-trained soldiers here in Kosovo and we've shown any extremist in the area that is involved in smuggling or weapon caches that we are, indeed, actively involved and engaged to seek them out and disrupt any of their illegal operations," said Jacobs.

"We will continue to perform these missions as long as we are here to ensure that there is a safe and secure environment here in Kosovo," added Jacobs.