ISSUE 125 : Jul/Aug - 1997 - Australian Defence Force Journal

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DEMINING OPERATIONS – PANDORA’S BOX OR TREASURE CHEST?23to a real threat. Other benefits can be grouped underheadings such as training, cultural and diplomatic.ThreatThe training environment can only expose asoldier to a limited threat due to the OccupationalHealth and Safety issues imposed on the DefenceForce. While such restrictions are necessary they dolimit the realism of training. Such restrictions are lessapparent in an operational environment and there is,in some cases, no control over the threats that exist.The threat is real and puts new pressures on teamsand individuals. These pressures often exposepersonal characteristics that would not be seen in atraining environment. Generally, individuals returnfrom such deployments wiser and with a newperspective on unit training strengths and weaknesses.They also have a better understanding of their ownlimits and strengths which can only assist theirpersonal development.TrainingOverseas deployments give participants theopportunity to evaluate their training “first-hand” andto make recommendations for its development ontheir return. Further, the deployment itself should beviewed as a training and educational experience.Participants are exposed to other armed forces, theirequipment and tactics. They are forced to live inculturally and religiously diverse countries and eatfood that is often different to their normal diet.Basically, they are taken outside their “comfortzone”! Lessons learnt in this atmosphere remain withthe soldier and can be applied again and again intraining.Tactical and strategic training is frequentlyutilised by technical advisers on demining operationsas they are called upon to formulate plans andbudgets at all levels. Further, they are required toteach the indigenous staff these skills to ensure thelong-term viability of these operations. The feasibilityand practicality of our doctrine can be assessed in a“real life” operational environment and the lessonslearnt may be applied within the ADF whereapplicable.These deployments provide an ideal opportunityfor Army trainers to get realistic feedback on coursesand the Army Training System from staff overseasand to examine training techniques used in foreigncountries. This aspect is under utilised and could beexamined further.Culture and DiplomacyIt has been often said that Australian soldiers lackany culture or diplomacy. It would be more correct tosay that Australian service personnel have a uniquebrand of humour and culture that adopts well toadversity and thrives on challenge. The reputation ofAustralian technical advisers worldwide supports thisview and is a compliment to the ADF and ourheritage. Most Australian soldiers develop, after sometime, a cultural tolerance and understanding and arerespected accordingly by the indigenous populations.Past experience shows that the efforts of Australiansoldiers overseas has improved Australia’s diplomaticstanding in the world forum. Continued involvementin humanitarian and operational deployments shouldonly enhance this reputation.ConclusionDemining operations at present are bothdangerous and expensive, yet experts are short onsuggested methods to overcome this. Some treaties toban the future manufacture of mines have beensigned, or are in draft, but there is no easy answer tothe problem of clearing existing mines. Vehicles withflails, rollers and other refinements exist but these aretoo few, too costly and too limited in theirapplication. There is still no economic substitute for aperson with a prodding rod, though ongoingdevelopments in mine detector and mechanicalclearance device technology offers great hope for thefuture.Australian military involvement has encouragedDSTO and companies such as MINELAB to applytheir combined expertise to overcoming the problemsfaced by deminers. These developments arerevolutionary and will bring Australian industryacclaim and financial rewards. Of course, AustralianArmy Engineers can greatly benefit from theknowledge and technological advancements of thesecompanies. This, combined with the knowledgegained from working with other armed forces in anoperational setting, further emphasises the benefits ofsuch deployments.The involvement of Australian service personnelin demining operations has brought the ADFenormous international recognition and appreciation.Aside from the humanitarian and public relationsbenefits, there are considerable lessons to be learntthat apply to the peace and wartime operations of theADF. Further, these operations provide the DefenceForce with an ideal forum in which to evaluatetraining in a “real threat” environment and to developthe skills and knowledge of the service personnel thatparticipate in them.
24AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE JOURNAL NO. 125 JULY/AUGUST 1997Such deployments are not without costs andcomplications but the benefits gained far outweighany conceivable cost. The growing pool of veterans isa yet untapped font of valuable knowledge thatshould be utilised widely by units and traininginstitutions. “The failure to learn from experience isas heinous a crime as any; and is one that may cost,not only your life, but the lives of your men… suchfools should be publicly whipped and disgraced forsuch is the severity of their ignorance.” (CAPTRichard Sharpe, 95th Rifles, after the siege ofBadajoz, Spain, 1812).NOTES1. The use of the word demining has become part of engineervocabulary. Without a clear understanding of the terms,confusion will continue.Here is a proposed simple set of definitions:• Breaching. Neutralisation of mines in a limited area tosupport momentum of offensive combat.• Clearing. Removal of mines before cessation of hostilitiesfor military and tactical purposes.• Demining. Removal of mines over large areas after thecessation of hostilities. This term seems appropriate to marka difference between combat clearance and clearance oncessation of major hostilities.• Explosive Ordinance Disposal. Removal of UXO andperformance of other related tasks by soldiers formallytrained and certified in explosive ordinance disposal skills.2. Complaints on housing, pay and welfare have been made bya number of members of the last three contigents toCambodia and selected members interviewed from otherdemining deployments. In all cases the author was assuredthat these complaints have been made formally to theagencies concerned. The nature of these complaints havebeen treated in confidence but are all severe enough to affectmorale of contignent members and their families.BIBLIOGRAPHYBlagden, Brigadier P.M. Kuwait: "Mine Clearing After IraqiInvasion", UK Army Quarterly & Defence Journal Volume126, No. 1, January 1996.Chant I.J. & Rye, A.R. Overview of Current Radar Land MineResearch at the DSTO, Salisbury, SA, 1996.Chirio, Captain L.M., Lessons Learnt Demining Kuwait, USEngineer Magazine, Volume 25, August 1994.Cornwell, B., Sharpes Company, Harper/ Collins, UK, 1982.Davies, P., War of the Mines, Dah Hua Press, Hong Kong,1994.Hough, R., Mountbatten – Hero of Our Time, Pan Books, UK,1980.Johnson, Colonel R.H., (US Army Retired), The Lethal Legacyof Land Mines, US Army Magazine, Volume 44, No. 1,January 1994.Prior, M., Shooting at the Moon, National Capital Printing,ACT, 1994.Wary, J., Warfare in the Classical World, SalamandaPublishing, UK, 1980.Statistical Data & Brief from the Cambodian Mine ActionCentre, 1996.INTERVIEWS1. Contingent Members – ASC 3,4, and 5 – Cambodia.2. Mr B. Van Ree, Demining Technical Adviser and RegionalManager – Afghanistan.3. Major G. Membray, SO2 Development, Directorate ofEngineers.Major McGuire graduated to the RAE from RMC Duntroon in December 1986 after completing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in theFaculty of Military Studies. He has since completed a Graduate Diploma in Industrial Relation through the University of Canberra.He has had a wide range of regimental postings, the most recent being as a Technical Adviser to the Cambodian Mine Action Centre.Major McGuire is currently the Officer Commanding Support Wing at the School of Military Engineering. This is Major McGuire’ssecond article to be published in the Australian Defence Force Journal.
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ISSUE 125 : Jul/Aug - 1997 - Australian Defence Force Journal

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