Detection and Avoidance of Mines and Boobytraps in South Vietnam

Abstract

as part of the Study and Evaluation of Countermine Activities (SECMA) project. HumRRO participation in the SECMA project was directed toward evaluating present training for the detection and avoidance of mines and boobytraps, determining training requirements, and developing recommendations for improving CONUS and in-country training. To fulfill the above-mentioned objectives, five Army training centers (Forts Benning, Gordon, Jackson, Leonard Wood, and Polk) were visited during January 1968 to observe mine and boobyttap training, to discuss this training area with cadre, and to collect training materials; and in February, a HumRRO representative conducted interviews with engineer, infantry and armor personnel of five U.S. Army divisions in Vietnam. Transcriptions of these tape-recorded interviews have been published as Research By-Products, Detection and Avoidance of Mines and Boobytraps in South Vietnam: Training and Tactual Procedures of the (name of division). The results of the analysis of quantitative data extracted from the interviews, along with an evaluation of and recommendations for improving current CONUS and in-country mine and boobytrap training, are detailed in this report. The study was performed at HumRRO Division No. 4

Using Expert Knowledge to Identify Visual Cues for Landmine Detection

“…Second, their existence and persistence is predicted by geological investigations of soil disturbance (Birkeland, 1999). Third, military sources from World War II to the contemporary era, in conflict after conflict, cite use of visual detection as a landmine countermeasure (Birdwell, & Nolan, 1997;Center for Engineer Lessons Learned, 2003;deJesus, 2003;Engineer Agency for Resource Inventories, 1972;Fasulo, 2003;King, 2006;Liddel-Hart, 1953;Magder, 1968;Mine Warfare Center, Engineer Section, Headquarters, U. S. Army Vietnam, 1969;Schmidt, 1951;Schneck, 1992Schneck, , 1994Schneck & Green.1995, 1996, 1997U. S. Army Center for Military History, 1986).…”

“…S. Army Center for Military History, 1986). Several report the utility of training personnel to develop visual detection skills (King, 2006;Magder, 1968; U. S. Army Center for Military History, 1986).…”