Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Volume 10 Issue 1 The Journal of Mine Action Article 32

August 2006

RONCO's Response to Explosive Remnants of War in Post-conflict RONCO's Response to Explosive Remnants of War in Post-conflict

Environments Environments

Stacy L. Smith RONCO Consulting Corporation

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Recommended Citation Recommended Citation Smith, Stacy L. (2006) "RONCO's Response to Explosive Remnants of War in Post-conflict Environments," Journal of Mine Action : Vol. 10 : Iss. 1 , Article 32. Available at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol10/iss1/32

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery at JMU Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction by an authorized editor of JMU Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact dc_admin@jmu.edu.

�6| feature |journalofmineaction|2006|august|10.1 10.1|august|2006|journalofmineaction| feature | �7

knowledgeofthelocationandtypeofordnancefound,butbecauseofitsdesire, likethatofRONCO’sownfieldstaff, tobenefitthecom-munitiesinwhichitworks.ThefollowingaccountsofRONCO’sap-proach tobuildinghighly specializeddisposal teams inAfghanistanandIraqillustratethecompany’ssuccessinintegratingthesecapacitiesintomine-actionprogramswhileoperatinginunstableenvironments.

Creating a Specialized EOD Capacity in AfghanistanIn2001,CoalitionbombingthroughoutAfghanistanleftformer

TalibanandAfghanArmybasesdestroyed.Leftunguarded,thesebases and ammunition supply points attracted insurgents gather-ingmunitionsforimprovisedexplosivedevicesandlocalscollectingscrapmetal.

With an increasingnumberof attacksonCoalitionForces andaccidentsattheASPs,theirclearancequicklybecameapriorityforlocalauthorities.FollowingdiscussionswiththeU.N.MineActionCentre for Afghanistan, the U.S. Department of State agreed toformspecializedEODteamsoperatingoutsideofthenormalU.N.structure toaddress theproblem.Under theDepartmentofState’sIntegratedMineActionSupportcontract,RONCOtrainedfive12-man,specializedEODteamscomprisedoflocalAfghanstooperateinKandahar,Herat,KhostandMazar-i-Sharif,aswellasothersensi-tiveregionsofAfghanistan.Inaddition,RONCOtrainedfourotherEODteamsoperatingundertheDeminingAgencyforAfghanistan,anindigenousnongovernmentalorganizationwhosecreationintheearly1990sRONCOsupported,tofocusonclearanceofvillagesintheheavilyfought-oversouthernregionofAfghanistan.

RONCOcoordinatedwithlocalgovernorsandothergovernmentofficialstoidentifymunitionsstockpilescreatingthreatstothepopu-lationandalsotodetermineland-userequirementsandnationalpri-orities.Theteamsthenassessedthetypeofordnance,levelandtypeofdamage,andsecuritythreatposedbytheordnance.RONCOalsoliaisedwithProvisionalRehabilitationTeamsandCoalitionunitsinthearea,whooftenrequestedassistanceindestroyingcachesofmu-nitions,deeplyburiedbombsandotherunexplodedordnance,andotherweaponshinderingtheiroperations.

RONCO’sEODteamsfirstconductedinitialsurfaceclearancetorecoveranddestroyordnancearoundtheperimeterofthebunkersorcaches.Theteamsthenbreachedthedamagedbunkersmanuallyorwiththeaidofmechanicalequipment,clearingcollapsedwallsandde-brissothecontentsofthebunkercouldbeinspectedandsorted.ItemsidentifiedbyCoalitionForcesasathreatorclassifiedtoodangeroustotransportwereimmediatelydestroyed.AftertheRONCOEODteams

emptied each bunker, mechanical equipment was again used to siftthroughanyrubbletolocateandremoveanyremainingUXO.

Due to the security situation inAfghanistan,RONCOtrainedandemployedstaticguards1atitsworksitestosafeguardpersonneland equipment. On duty around the clock, the guards preventedinsurgentgroupsorscrap-metalcollectorsfromstealingmunitions.Thesesecurityelementsprotectedthelocalpopulationbyreducingthethreatofimprovisedexplosivedevicesintheircommunitiesanddecreasingordnance-relatedincidentsamongscrapcollectors,manyofwhomarechildren,gatheringandsellingthemetal.

The creation of this specialized EOD capacity in Afghanistanproduced impressive results in three years of operations. Duringthefirstfewweeksofoperationsin2003,theteamsdestroyedover��,000107-mmrocketsinKandaharattherequestofcommandersatKandaharAirBase,whichwasunderweeklyattack.Afterremov-ingtheseweapons, thenumberofattacksonthebasewasreducedtojustsixintheentirefollowingyear.Intotal,theEODteamsde-stroyedovertwomillionitemsofexplosiveordnance,includinginpart22,000mines,��,000rockets,91�,000projectiles,100missilesand,ofparticularinterest,30man-portableair-defensesystemspos-ingasignificantthreatifobtainedbyterrorists.Thistotaldoesnotincludethedisposalofhundredsoftonsofsmall-armsammunitionalsofoundinbunkersorcaches.

Additionally, Demining Agency for Afghanistan teams ad-visedandmentoredbyRONCOclearedSoviet-eramunitions fromover �00 villages in southernAfghanistanduring this timeperiod.Theseteams,whichpreviouslydidnotknowhowtodisposeoflargebombs,weretrainedbyRONCO,developinganationalcapacity,solandcouldberenderedsafeforlocalpopulations.

Establishing a Bomb-Disposal Training School in IraqIn March 200�, RONCO was tasked by the Multi-National

Security Transition Command–Iraq, through the Department ofState’sIMAScontract,toprovideexplosive-ordnance-disposaltrain-ingandsupportservicestodevelopuptofourIraqiNationalGuardEODcompanies.Forthisproject,RONCOtappeditsinstructionalcadrefromtheIraqiMine/UXOClearanceOrganization,whichwascreatedandtrainedbyRONCObetween2003and200�.

After the initialmobilizationofRONCOand IMCOperson-nel,alongwiththerenovationoflivingandclassroomfacilitiesata compound in southern Iraq,planningandcoordination for thefirst course commenced. The RONCO/IMCO staff developedand implemented training programs, programs of instruction,

Afghanistan’s landscape is littered with stacks of abandoned and unsecured ordnance.

T heireyeswidenandasmileappearsatthefirstsightofapre-cariouslystackedpileofmunitions,newlyuncoveredbunkerofminesorslylymatchedpairofexplosivedevices.Theypose

forpicturesbesiderocketsinIraqandcachesinAfghanistan.BackatRONCOheadquarters inWashington,D.C., it’s prettyobviousthat these guys—our highly trained technical experts in explosiveordnancedisposal—canhardlywaittoblowsomethingup.

Onsecondglance,though,somethingmoreisapparent:It’snotjust about loading thepit,unraveling thedetonation cord,placingthechargesandwatchingthebigexplosion.Itisabouttheprideandsatisfaction thatRONCO’sEODAdvisors take in eliminating thethreatscreatedbyminesandotherexplosiveremnantsofwarandintransferring their skills tohost-nationpersonnel so futuredisposaloperations can continueunabatedonce they’vedeparted.Throughformalclassroominstruction,on-the-jobtrainingandmentoringinthe disposal of varied and numerous munitions, RONCO has en-suredaswiftandsaferesponsetotheERWthreat,mostrecentlyasanaddedcomponent to itshumanitarianmine-actionprograms inAfghanistanandIraq.

RONCO’s

by Stacy L. Smith [ RONCO Consulting Corporation ]

RONCO’s technical experts are dedicated to

eliminating threats created by landmines and

explosive remnants of war. Part of RONCO’s

disposal process is creating local demining

capacities in their host countries. As part of

a quick response, RONCO has most recently

added mine-action programs in Iraq and

Afghanistan, creating a specialized explosive-

ordnance-disposal capacity in Afghanistan

and establishing a bomb-disposal training

school in Iraq.

ResponsetoExplosiveRemnantsofWarinPost-conflictEnvironments

BackgroundInbothAfghanistanandIraq,RONCOwasonthegroundwithin

weeksofthecessationoftheinitialconflict.In2001,RONCOsent1�TechnicalAdvisors toAfghanistan to aid theU.N.MineActionProgrammeforAfghanistaninupgradingitsclearanceefforts,andin2003,theU.S.DepartmentofState’sQuickReactionDeminingForcewasdeployedtoBaghdadtorespondtoemergencyclearancetasks.Thisledtofollow-onrequeststodevelopanationalmine-actioncapacityinIraq.Inbothofthesesituations,RONCOwasaskedtodeployquick-ly,fosteranationalcapacityforhumanitariandeminingandcreateacapacityforindependentEODoperations,withallactivitiesinitiallyfundedundertheU.S.DOS’sIntegratedMineActionSupportcon-tract.Historically,RONCOhasalwaysdisposedofERWencounteredduringhumanitarian-deminingoperations.Inrecentyears,however,theimportanceofdevelopingalocalcapacitytoconductthisworkhasbecomemorecriticalasRONCOhasincreasinglyundertakenprojectsinhostileandfragilepost-conflictenvironments.

RONCO’s approach always involves the training of a local na-tionalcapacitytoperformthiswork,notonlybecauseofitsextensive

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Abandoned ammunition supply points are prevalent across Afghanistan.

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Smith: RONCO's Response to Explosive Remnants of War in Post-conflict Environments

Published by JMU Scholarly Commons, 2006

��| feature |journalofmineaction|2006|august|10.1 10.1|august|2006|journalofmineaction| making it personal | �9

ma

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pe

rs

on

al

n the fall of 2001, Silvija B

ogdany answered a Norwegian P

eople’s Aid advert

isement for m

ine-clearance personnel of both sexes. A

ft

er six weeks of int

ense training, B

ogdany became t

he youngest deminer in C

roatia and began work

ing in the fi

eld

alongside highly experienced male dem

iners. In t

he spring of 2003, she was promot

ed to team

leader. Though she only has about four years of experience, her former project m

anager, Dam

ir Jak

šić, places her in t

he category of “highly experienced dem

iners.” B

ogdany is now both t

he Technical advisor and supervisor to the D

CA

Mine Act

ion Program

Sudan, where she trains dem

ining staff. C

apacity buil

ding is one objective of t

he team

, and the m

ain goal is to help Sudanese deminers becom

e less reliant on int

ernational supervision.

Unsung Hero:

Inthefallof2001,SilvijaBogdanyansweredaNorwegianPeople’sAidadvertisementformine-clearancepersonnelofbothsexes.Aftersixweeksof intense training,Bogdanybecame the youngestdeminer inCroatia

andbeganworkinginthefieldalongsidehighlyexperiencedmaledeminers.Inthespringof2003,shewaspromotedtoTeamLeader.Thoughsheonlyhasaboutfouryearsofexperience,herformerProjectManager,DamirJakši,placesherinthecategoryof“highlyexperienceddeminers.”BogdanyisnowboththeTechnicalAdvisortoandSupervisoroftheDCAMineActionProgramSudan,whereshetrainsdeminingstaff.Capacitybuildingisoneobjectiveoftheteam,andthemaingoalistohelpSudanesedeminersbecomelessreliantoninterna-tionalsupervision.

Nevertheless,Bogdanylikestothinkofherselfas“anordinarygirl.”Shelikestoridehermotorcycleinhersparetime;herfavoritemovieisForrest Gump;andherdreamistohavetwodogs,twohorsesandalargefishaquarium.

The DeminerPoisonoussnakesaresomeofthelessominousdangersBogdanyencounters

inthefield.Belowthesurfaceofthegroundliesamoredeadlythreat: land-mines.“ThereweresituationswhenIwasademinerthatIcanthankonlyGod forbeingaliveand inonepiece,” she says.Suchan inci-dent occurredwhile shewasworking inSlavonia. “Iwas in afightwithmyboyfriend,veryunbalancedandstupid.Iknowthatnow.Ithoughtthatmypersonalproblemswouldn’tinterferewithmywork.Iwaswrong.”

Attheendoftheworkperiod,Bogdany’sTeamLeadertoldherthatshehadtofinishhersectionbeforetheywenthome.FrustratedwithherboyfriendandangrywithherTeamLeader,shefinishedclearinghersec-tionoftheminefield.“ThenextdayIwentovertheareaIclearedwithametaldetectorandfoundmyfootprintinthedirtthatcoveredanAP[anti-personnel]mine.”

“Thatdaychangedmylife,”saysBogdany.“Ihavethoughtaboutthateventmanytimesandeverytimethesameconclusioncomestomymind:‘Yes,IbelievethatGodwatchesoverme.’”

Not many deminers who have had a similar experience have goneback towork thenextday.Bogdany returned towork. “Idon’tknowwhereIgotthestrengthtodothat!”sheexclaims.

Shereturnedtoworkasifnothinghappened,butBogdanybrokeupwithherboyfriend.“Icouldn’tallowmyselftomakethesamemis-takeagain.”HerrelationshipwithherTeamLeaderchanged.“Iusedtoadmirehim,butnowIrealizedthathedidn’tcareforhisteam.Hecared forhowmany squaremeterswecleared.”Bogdany says thatas a result of the experience, she promised herself that if she ever

Silvija Bogdany

by Jennette Townsend [ Mine Action Information Center ]

lesson plans, multimedia presentations,and trainingaids toprovidepractical andtechnicaltrainingtoupto200studentsatany one time in leadership, basic traumalifesupport,andEODLevelsI,IIandIIItraining.2AswasthecaseinAfghanistan,RONCOtrainedandemployedasecurityforceatitstrainingfacilityinIraqtopro-tectpersonnelandequipment.

In 200�, the program graduated over3�0students,including��Iraqiofficersandstaff noncommissioned officers in leader-shippositionsand301Iraqisoldierstrainedinbombdisposalwithbasictraumalifesup-port.Ofthe301Iraqisoldierstrained,2�2weretrainedtoEODLevelIIIand�9weretrained toEODLevels I and II.RONCOalso developed a database of the students’qualifications for use in maintaining re-cordsof studentdevelopment and to assistinidentifyingstudentsforsubsequent,moreadvancedtrainingrequirements.

RONCOaugmenteditsexistingtrainingfacilitiesandstaffinDecember200�follow-ingwinninganewcontracttoprovideEOD,improvised-explosive-devicedisposalandin-structortrainingtotheIraqiArmyandPolicetofurtherrespondtothreatsposedbybombsandIEDsthroughoutIraq.

With technical advice from RONCOpersonnel,theIMCOinstructorcadrecon-tinues to conduct these training courses.In 2006, RONCO expects to train ap-proximately 1�� IED Disposal Specialiststolocate,identify,disposeofandreportonUXO and IEDs, vehicle-borne IEDs and

other explosive threats persisting in Iraq;another 6�0 EOD Level II Operators and30advancedmedicalpersonnelwillalsobetrained. Additionally, RONCO will trainand mentor a �0-person Iraqi instructorcadre inEODandIEDDtoestablishavi-ablehost-nationtrainingcapability.

The Expanding Role ofMine Action

RONCO’sguysareneverhesitantorill-equipped for a mission, whether it’s a taskto destroy mines, empty a bunker filled tothebrimwithrocketsorrespondtoanIEDthreat. In their careers, they have defused,disarmed and destroyed it all and effec-tivelytransferredtheseskills tohost-nationpersonnel. Oftentimes, RONCO Advisorsworkalongsidethesepeopletomentorthemevery step of the way, assisting in stackingordnance foron-sitedetonationorhoistingmunitions onto a truck for transport to acentraldisposalsite.

As evidenced in the company’s recentpost-conflictexperiencesinAfghanistanandIraq,RONCOhascreatedspecializedEODcapacities to address specifically the ERWthreatasanextensionofmineaction.Theex-tremelydangerousnatureofworkinginthesefragileenvironmentshasrequiredthedeploy-mentanduseofsecurity inmineaction,anadded component to safeguard RONCO’speoplewhilefulfillingitscommitmenttothehost nation and a testament to its commit-menttothisexpandingmine-actionrole.

See Endnotes, page 112

Stacy L. Smith is the Communications and Proposal Manager for RONCO Consulting Corporation, where she has worked for the past four years. She held the Frasure-Kreuzel-Drew Fellowship in the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Humanitarian Demining Programs from 2001 to 2002, following graduation with a bachelor’s degree in media arts and design from James Madison University. During her studies at JMU, she worked as an Editorial Assistant for the Journal of Mine Action.

Stacy L. SmithCommunications and Proposal ManagerRONCO Consulting Corporation2301 M Street, NW Suite 400Washington, DC 20037 / USATel: +1 202 785 2791E-mail: ssmith@roncowash.comWeb site: www.roncoconsulting.com

Patent Sought for Explosive-eating Fungus

Robert Riggs of Texas has filed a patent for pellets of dormant fungal spores that could

be mixed with explosives before being loaded into an explosive package. The dry spores

remain dormant until moisture in the air travels down the wick of an unexploded package

and germinates the spores.

The fungus, a white-rot variety of Phlebia radiate, then devours the explosive material inside

the bomb, rendering it harmless. Should the explosive detonate, the fungus disintegrates

with the material.

By allowing manufacturers to control the content of the explosive-pellet mixture, they will

be able to determine how long an unexploded package will be left dangerous.

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Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction, Vol. 10, Iss. 1 [2006], Art. 32

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