Page 96 - SyI Quarterly - Q3 and Q4 Edition 2023

Chartered Security Professionals

Optimise Performance and Output of EOD Assets

Michael Brown CSyP

Planning for any search operation is driven by both the TA (and the threat summary) and the overall
mission / task objective. Sometimes the exact outcome may be ambiguous, or the planning could be
immature. At this point the planning team could utilise search assets to explore options to give greater
clarity and understanding of how the task could proceed. This is where ‘gaining intelligence’ comes to
the fore again. The image below shows a Search team moving through a dense urban area of West
Mosul in 2018. The aim of this task was to exploit safe routes to understand the terrain, whilst visually
identifying ERW. Once visually located, the route is marked and recorded, allowing planning to com-
mence for EOD teams to make a start. This long-range reconnaissance is / was fundamental to enabling
the planning team to take the task to the next level. An important consideration was the safety distance
between the team and the Search Adviser in back who maintains visual contact with the whole team
and radio communications with the support elements.

Complex tasks such as these are becoming more and
more commonplace whilst undertaking post conflict land
release tasks by Mine Action organisations. These
predominantly urban tasks are covered by the
previously mentioned IMAS 09.13 First Edition (February
2019) Building Clearance and are exclusively being
undertaken by ex UK Military trained Search advisors now
working in the Mine Action sector.

Building Clearance is well documented with appropriate
guidance and helpfully includes specifics on the
employment and deployment of both Animal Detection
Systems (ADS) (aka - K9s / Arms Explosive Search Dogs
(AES)) and Drones (US).
Image 12. Courtesy of OPTIMA Group, Search
team in West Mosul - 2018

ADS are in my mind a critical and essential part of any
Search task. Having worked with this fantastic
capability for over 3 decades and specifically for 2
years with the Military Working Dog Regiment, I am a
complete advocate. However, consideration must be
given to the threat from victim operated EO, and we
should remember that ADS have limitations, as do
human searchers. IMAS gives additional guidance on
the use of ADS in IMAS 09.40 and 09.41.

Image 13. AES dog and find courtesy of MND (Centre)
photo section, Pristina, Kosovo - 2001
96