This lesson is about IED or UXO. As you know the military has a million acronyms and abbreviations for things. Unfortunately I do not remember the exact wording for these, but it has to do with explosive devices.
When we first arrived at camp, we had a AAG briefing. Another abbreviation that escapes me at the moment, but it was basically a briefing on what to do and not to do while there. One part of the briefing was devoted to mines. I know there are a lot in the area, but I honestly did not know how many until I left the camp. There are mines and unexploded shells/casings everywhere. Yes and lots of 'accidents'. Lots of locals with only one leg or missing fingers/hand. We were told, that the locals scavage everything. So if we saw say an old tank or vehicle in one piece, not to go near it, as it was likely booby trapped.
There is a picture of mine clearers. They have been hired to move across areas of fields and remove or detonate the ammo.
Another of the pictures shows you white/red rocks. At first when clearing areas, they put up wooden signs to explain the state of the area. Of course the locals being the scavangers they are, the wood signs disappeared. So another way had to be found. Since rocks are in abundance they used painted rocks. The rocks are white and red. You can walk between white rocks, but the red side means the area has not been cleared or there are mines there.
(links fixed now).
IIRC, Improvised Explosive Device
Unexploded Ordance
Unexploded ordnance (UXO) refers to any potentially explosive device or material discovered in a state or location where it represents a hazard. It can include mines, artillery shells that have failed to detonate and of course, aircraft ordnance - for example, the WWII iron bombs that are routinely uncovered in Europe. It could also include a bunker full of explosives that have been improperly stored.
IEDs are rather more specific. These are, as the name suggests, improvised devices deliberately rigged (often using "booby-trap" techniques) to be detonated either remotely or at a stand-off distance.
A BIG problem in Iraq.
If they fail to go off, or are discovered before they go off - then, yep, you guessed it, they're UXO.
Your links do not work for me.
Thanks to the guys who jogged my memory on those abbreviations. Everything is an abbrev. to the military.
Whoops, I'm an idiot. Fixing that now.
It's hard to imagine living around hazzards like that.
Keep your eyes open.
Thanks,
Josh
You haven't lived until you've read an operations order which has been "translated" to maximize use of authorized abbreviations. (OK, maybe you have to be in a certain frame of mind, but if you are it's a surreal treat.)