An Cosantóir

tac aide 27 | Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) - hid- den, indis- criminate and lethal. They can maim, kill and wreak havoc. Our troops have encoun- tered them at home and overseas. Counter-IED is becoming part of ev- ery syllabus on military courses. Here are a few tips that may save your life some day. C-IED tips • Vary your routes and routines: Don’t let the enemy fix you at a specific location. Vary your intervals, speed, tactics and anything that allows the enemy to predict your movements and target you. • Drive the best line: The centre of the road if necessary. If on un- paved roads follow on local/lead vehicle’s tracks. • Report location: Waypoints and give regular situational updates. • If any stop is made: Conduct five metre and 25 metre checks around your position. Potential IED Indicators • Colours: Enemy may provide clues unwittingly. Detonation cord visible or colour of IED not covered completely. Freshly disturbed earth will be darker in colour. Fresh concrete that doesn’t match the surroundings. • Markings along the side of the road: Use of tyres, piles of rocks, ribbon or tape to identify the IED location or used as aiming references. Freshly dug holes or patches in pavement along, or, in the roadway may indicate possible future IED emplacements. • Shapes: Outlines that are not nor- mal in nature. New dirt or gravel piles. Obstacles in the roadway used to channel the convoy. • Changes in traffic patterns: Lack of vehicle traffic in a normally busy area. Vehicles following convoy for a long distance and are then pulling off the side of the road. • Graffiti: Indicating some type of warning to locals. • Signs: Markers appearing in loca- tions where they have not previous- ly been seen. Dead animals along the roadways. People on overpasses. Signal lights turned on or off as convoy approaches. People video- taping ordinary activities or military movements. THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE What to do when an IED is found • Security: Maintain all-round cover. Scan closely the near ground, then the far ground, up high and down low. • Always: Scan your immediate sur- roundings for more IED’s. • Move: Move away and vary safe dis- tances, but plan for 300m minimum safe distance and adopt 5Cs. • Attempt: To confirm suspected IEDs use binoculars or a range finder while staying back as far as possible. 5 C’s • CONFIRM from a safe distance. • CONTACT higher command and in- form them of the situation and ask for required assets (EOD). • CLEAR the area from the device out- wards. Identify a safe route away from the danger area. • CORDON off the area. Direct people out of danger area. Do not allow any- one to enter. Be out of the line of sight of the device. Be aware of secondary devices. • CONTROL access to the area. Only al- low authorised personnel to enter. WHEN AN IED EXPLODES: TREAT AS AMBUSH

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