Safety Information for Soldiers The Dangers Associated with Munitions 1

What Are Munitions Munitions include: Artillery rounds Bombs Grenades 2

Munitions Components Fuze – contains the most sensitive explosives Arms a munition allowing it to function as intended Can, of itself, cause death or serious injury Booster – contains a slightly less sensitive explosive, can be hazardous Main Charge – explosive, chemical, other Explosive produces a blast wave and fragments Chemical may include toxic chemical agents Body – encases all the components of the munition, usually made of metal 3

What Are UXO UXO stands for unexploded ordnance. Unexploded ordnance (UXO) are military munitions that failed to function properly upon use. 4

Munitions May be hard to identify Come in many shapes, sizes and types, even small munitions can injure or kill Include “simulators” and “practice” munitions, which are also dangerous Can be dangerous regardless of age 5

Which Are Most Likely UXO?

New Projectile 7 Used

New Rocket 8 Used

Munitions can be encountered almost anywhere such as: Active military installations Weapons and/or munitions test sites Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) A home, as part of a souvenir collection Tactical areas 9 Encountering Munitions

WWI training site that is now in a residential development in Washington, DC. UXO from live-fire using the same kind of weapon shown above. 10 Encountering Munitions

The DANGER is real! Souvenirs recently collected or purchased and brought home or even Civil War cannon balls and artillery projectiles can be: Kept for years without incident, until they detonate Believed, incorrectly, to be harmless, until they are proven otherwise Deadly 11

The 3Rs of Explosives Safety When you encounter a munition outside DoD’s military munitions management system: Recognize – that munitions are dangerous Retreat – do not approach, touch, disturb or move it, but leave the area Report – call 911 or tell your chain of command what you saw, and where you saw it 12

Recognize Munitions may: −Not look like a projectile, rocket or bomb −Look harmless, but they are dangerous −Be shiny or rusty −Be clean or dirty Even though a munition may not have been moved for years or has been moved dozens of times, it may still explode. Leave it alone! Leave it alone! 13

Retreat Do not go near, touch, move or disturb a munition or suspect munition. Carefully, leave the area, the same way you entered it. 14

Report 15 Report what you saw and where you saw it to: –Military police or local law enforcement –Your chain of command Trained explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) personnel will dispose of the item.

Be Safe Remember, munitions can kill! –Leave them alone –Get away from them –Report them to law enforcement or your chain of commend immediately Keep yourself and others safe. 16

Remember, if you encounter or suspect you have encountered a munition: 17