Ordnance Soldiers assist in ammunition demolition

Courtesy Photo | Depicted is the end result of a controlled detonation. Soldiers with 2nd Platoon, 8th Ordnance Company, 110th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), assisted Explosive Ordnance Disposal team members with a controlled demolition of unusable ammunition recently at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Michael Beagle)  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IRAQ

12.04.2010

Courtesy Story

224th Sustainment Brigade

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq — Soldiers with 2nd Platoon, 8th Ordnance Company, 110th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), assisted Explosive Ordnance Disposal team members with a controlled demolition of unusable ammunition recently at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq.

The ammunition supply point often receives ammunition that is not usable by U.S. Forces in Iraq. Every piece of ammunition that is turned in to the ASP is checked for serviceability and placed in the appropriate condition code. Ammunition that is categorized as unserviceable (condemned), or condition code “H,” is destroyed for safety purposes, ensuring Soldiers do not use dangerous or malfunctioning rounds.

Second Plt., 8th Ord. Company soldiers assisted EOD by transporting the ammunition over to the EOD range for disposal. EOD members ensured that all of the soldiers received a safety brief before stepping onto the range. Once the soldiers unloaded the ammunition from the trucks, the EOD experts took over. The EOD soldiers laid out the faulty or unserviceable ammunition in specific patterns to ensure that everything was destroyed effectively and efficiently. All non-essential personnel then moved back to a safe distance so that the final preparations for the demolition could take place.

“It’s interesting to finally see all of the preparation for a controlled detonation,” said Pfc. Keith Gonzalez, Standard Army Ammunition System Modified clerk with 2nd Plt. 8th Ord. Company, and an Oxnard, Calif., native. “You always hear the detonation but never really see everything that goes into it. I’m looking forward to the end result of all this work.”

EOD soldiers usually conduct controlled detonations every week. They will also conduct burns for all unserviceable ammunition that can be destroyed by a simple fire. About 10 minutes before every demolition, personnel on the base hears a voice on the intercom announcing a warning. Shortly after that, Staff Sgt. Michael Hawes, EOD non-commissioned officer-in-charge with the 663rd Ordnance Company yells, “Fire in the hole!”

• Date Taken: 12.04.2010
• Date Posted: 12.04.2010 12:29
• Story ID: 61368
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IQ