4. • Extremist groups/organizations
INNOVATIVE” EXPLOSIVE DEVICES (IEDs) continue to utilize IEDs to attack
 Can be disguised as anything or hidden anywhere:
Security Forces in an attempt to
discredit security efforts.
 Trash in the roadway, cigarette cartons, trash bags, •
soda cans, milk cans, buckets, burlap bags, cinder
blocks, potholes, tied to telephone poles, in guard rails
and in animal carcasses • Groups will continue to utilize IEDs
and entice Security Forces into
VERY HARD to spot IEDs at high speeds prepared ambushes.
 Slow down, stop, look and listen
 Situational Awareness is critical to the • 90 Day review of IED attacks:
performance of each security team -708 IED attacks
member -599 IEDs found
-298 IED attacks which caused
 Situational Awareness is the most
injury (718 casualties)
important skill you can possess on patrol

5.  When can you expect an IED
 Who are IED’s designed to
take out? attack?
 Up to now, security force/personnel soft
targets, HMMWVs, NTVs.
 24 Hours a day: Because of the reduced
 Any time a group of Security personnel exposure time compared to a traditional
are considered a soft target or unaware ambush, anytime is a good time for IED
is a perfect situation for employing an Strike
IED.  Morning time IEDs are placed under
cover of darkness or periods of reduced
visibility.
 Where are we currently finding
IED’s?  Methods used to detonate IEDs:
 Command detonated devices
 Primarily along the MSRs and main  Hard wired (electrical wires between
routes of travel. devices and/or leading away from the
bomb.
 Why use an IED?
 Remote controlled (battery powered
 An IED is low cost. More Bang for the Buck doorbell devices (Sega brand), pagers, cell
 Easily disguised, and exposes the terrorist to phones
a low risk of exposure when attacking. as senders and receiving units)
 Anonymity after the event to a bomb-maker is  Tall buildings or line of sight Observation
worth the risks of building the bomb. Points will be near by. Many controllers
 Psychological warfare at its most vicious level. require a direct line of sight to activate the
receiver and detonate.

6.  The problem with IEDs is they can look like • “INNOVATIVE” EXPLOSIVE
any common object. EOD has found: DEVICES (IEDs)
 Black plastic garbage bags (with 130mm
artillery rounds wired in series)  Can be disguised as anything or
 A Bus (with a grenade attached to the fuel tank; hidden anywhere:
failed)
 Milk cartons, pepsi cans, cigarette cartons (with  trash in the roadway
plastique or C4)
 cigarette cartons
 Burlap bags ( again using artillery rounds)
 trash bags
 A pothole in the road filled in with dirt and an
explosive charge
 soda cans
 Refrigerator compressor (filled with high  milk cans
explosives and re-welded)  buckets
 MRE bag (bomb platform; common item; easily  burlap bags
disguised)  cinder blocks
 Cars, trucks, vans (older models, worn so as not  potholes
to draw attention)
 tied to telephone poles
 Beware of a beater with worn shocks and
springs; overloaded, trash on seats; good tires on
• VERY HARD to spot IEDs at high
a junk car. This is a one-way trip, driver wants
speeds
no flats.
 Pipe bombs (Some of the most renowned IED
 Where there is A LOT of debris on the
Specialists in EOD have fallen victim to low
side of the roadway or in the parking
yield pipe bombs).
lot…99.9% of it is just trash but give a
closer look and don’t just pass it over
 Dog carcasses filled with explosives

7.  Get in the right frame of mind
 Keep Alert: Make
yourself a “Hard Target”  Intell Reports that a “Blue X” on
Rocks Indicates an IED Site
 Be Prepared for IED  Do NOT Approach the IED
Attack Followed by  IEDs are a Very Real Threat
Ambush  IEDs are Disguised as Almost
Anything
 Be and look vigilant, especially
 Be and Appear Vigilant when “forced” to Slow Down for
 Personnel Who Look a “Disabled Vehicle” or an
Aware/Ready Make Bad accident
Targets  Security Personnel Need the Eyes
 Bad Guys Wait for the and Ears of ALL personnel!
Next helpless individual
or group

8. The rapid evolution of
insurgent tactics, require
Security Forces to develop
and maintain a heightened
state of situational awareness
(SA) while on patrol. Good
SA is key to seeing,
understanding, and then
acting on pre-attack indicators
to deny the enemy the
advantage of surprise. For
example, while on exterior
patrols also be aware of your
surroundings.