NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894
June 1, 2004
Release Number: 04-06-02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOLDIERS GET TONS OF WEAPONS FROM REWARDS PROGRAM
BAGHDAD, Iraq - More than three tons of ordnance was turned into Coalition forces during a weapons rewards program in the Thawra district. The program, which began May 15, was aimed to disarm the local populace while infusing money into the economy.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment provided security for the weapons turn-in sites while the 1st Brigade Combat Team was inundated with thousands of weapons and tons of explosives and munitions.
The task of handling, sorting, transporting, and destroying the large amount of ordnance was shouldered by five specialized explosive ordnance disposal teams and the soldiers of the 20th Engineer Battalion "Lumberjacks."
Ordinarily, the 1st Brigade Combat Team is allocated two Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams. However, for this undertaking, the brigade requested assistance from the Air Force and Navy.
The EOD teams disposed of most of the weapons turned in; however, the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps redistributed a large number of the weapons for their use.
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