thedrifter
08-22-09, 06:43 AM
Sniffing it out and blowing it up
Lance Cpl. Meloney R. Moses
Sports Editor
Explosive Ordnance Disposal members gave classes on improvised explosive devices and explosive safety Aug. 13 prior to putting on a demonstration at Charlie Demo Range here.
Military Police and Marines from Marine Helicopter Squadron attended the classes and demonstration for their annual training and to hone the sensing abilities of their K-9 military working dogs.
Three military dogs were sent separately to sniff out hidden blocks of Composition 4, better known as C-4, one of the most commonly used explosives. This is training that the K-9s participate in often to maintain their sense of detection.
‘‘The more we do this, the more efficient the dogs get,” said Cpl. Kelsey Cousino, a military police officer. ‘‘Once you stop training them, they lose that sense.”
Aside from their K-9 companions, Marines were trained to identify explosives and the safety precautions takem when faced with them.
The demonstration showed the effects of different types of explosives including dynamite, C-4, plasticexplosive 4 and detonation cord in even the smallest amounts, explained Staff Sgt. Nate Cosby, the operations chief of EOD.
EOD knows about all the new explosives, said Cousino. When deployed we will be faced with the newest explosives techniques, he said.
This training is meant to give a better understanding of the dangers associated with IEDs, said Cosby. ‘‘What you see on TV isn’t always real.”
The concerns that come with dealing with IEDs not only lie in disposal, but also in detection.
‘‘Besides understanding what explosives do, Marines need to be able to detect them so they can take proper safety precautions,” said Cosby.
Cosby also explained how easy it is to make an IED and drop it off almost anywhere.
‘‘You can basically fit 16 blocks of C-4 in a backpack,” Cosby said.
For another demonstration, Cosby presented an envelope with an explosive inside known as data sheet. The data sheet is small enough to fit an envelope, but itsexplosion is almost as large as that of a block of C-4.
‘‘If this ends up on your desk,” said Cosby, ‘‘it’s going to be a really bad day.”
Marines were shown, specifically, the blast of eachexplosive and once the range was clear, were released to view the craters left behind.
— Correspondent: meloney.moses@usmc.mil
Ellie
Lance Cpl. Meloney R. Moses
Sports Editor
Explosive Ordnance Disposal members gave classes on improvised explosive devices and explosive safety Aug. 13 prior to putting on a demonstration at Charlie Demo Range here.
Military Police and Marines from Marine Helicopter Squadron attended the classes and demonstration for their annual training and to hone the sensing abilities of their K-9 military working dogs.
Three military dogs were sent separately to sniff out hidden blocks of Composition 4, better known as C-4, one of the most commonly used explosives. This is training that the K-9s participate in often to maintain their sense of detection.
‘‘The more we do this, the more efficient the dogs get,” said Cpl. Kelsey Cousino, a military police officer. ‘‘Once you stop training them, they lose that sense.”
Aside from their K-9 companions, Marines were trained to identify explosives and the safety precautions takem when faced with them.
The demonstration showed the effects of different types of explosives including dynamite, C-4, plasticexplosive 4 and detonation cord in even the smallest amounts, explained Staff Sgt. Nate Cosby, the operations chief of EOD.
EOD knows about all the new explosives, said Cousino. When deployed we will be faced with the newest explosives techniques, he said.
This training is meant to give a better understanding of the dangers associated with IEDs, said Cosby. ‘‘What you see on TV isn’t always real.”
The concerns that come with dealing with IEDs not only lie in disposal, but also in detection.
‘‘Besides understanding what explosives do, Marines need to be able to detect them so they can take proper safety precautions,” said Cosby.
Cosby also explained how easy it is to make an IED and drop it off almost anywhere.
‘‘You can basically fit 16 blocks of C-4 in a backpack,” Cosby said.
For another demonstration, Cosby presented an envelope with an explosive inside known as data sheet. The data sheet is small enough to fit an envelope, but itsexplosion is almost as large as that of a block of C-4.
‘‘If this ends up on your desk,” said Cosby, ‘‘it’s going to be a really bad day.”
Marines were shown, specifically, the blast of eachexplosive and once the range was clear, were released to view the craters left behind.
— Correspondent: meloney.moses@usmc.mil
Ellie