Road Watch Security Team trains and locates IEDs

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan– Fifty Six Road Watch Security personnel attended a class on the identification of improvised explosive devices at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Paktika province, May 7.

The Road Watch Security Team secures road construction projects in the Paktika province.  The training will improve on ways to identify and mark IEDs, which are commonly found along the roads they work on.

“This is just a basic course,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Wayne Speek of 707th Explosive Ordinance Disposal Company, Fort Lewis, Wa., a course instructor.  “We want them to be able to identify an IED, recognize what kind it is (pressure plate, command wire, or remote controlled) and understand the various threats to watch for.”  

During the class, various types of IEDs were on display and passed around for the security personnel to handle and observe. The instruction included knowledge on what kinds of small things could potentially set IEDs off.

Last year, Road Watch Security Teams were responsible for finding 84 IEDs across Paktika.

Mike Bowles, a law enforcement professional, said the trained Road Watch guards can prevent explosive ordnance teams from reacting to false alarms and by making the EOD’s task easier once on site.

Mitao, a Road Watch Security Team leader for the past year, has located more than 50 IEDs.  

Using pictures, Mitao showed how disturbances in the dirt and even patterns in tire tracks can indicate the presence of recently emplaced IEDs.

As the class came to an end, U.S. Army 1st Lt. Mike Marietta, an intelligence officer for 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry, presented Ronald Bollin, Road Watch supervisor, with 10,000 Afghani or about $200, a reward for his recent assistance in locating IEDs.  

 “This Road Watch Program is an integral part of securing the roads of Western Paktika,” said Marietta, of Fort Campbell, Ky. “We look forward to the continuing success of the program to defeat Paktika IEDs.”