U.S. PM/WRA Quick Reaction Force

In March 2015, Cyclone Pam struck the South Pacific, uncovering deadly unexploded ordnance remaining from WWII. When the governments of Kiribati and Tuvalu requested assistance, the United States deployed the QRF to survey the extent of ordnance contamination and assist local authorities in an effort to save lives and prevent injuries by disposing of the ordnance.

It is precisely for emergencies such as this that PM/ WRA established the QRF, a versatile team of more than 60 experts in the fields of EOD, UXO remediation, and PSSM. In 2013, Golden West Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S. based nonprofit organization, took over responsibility for administering the QRF. The range of expertise and experience inherent in the QRF served it well in Kiribati and Tuvalu, where it deployed throughout 2015 to remove hazardous UXO.

The Republic of Kiribati (formerly known as the Gilbert Islands) experienced extremely intense fighting during WWII, with UXO still presenting a modern-day hazard. The QRF deployed in May 2015 to conduct an assessment focused on the recovery and disposal of up to 800 Japanese 8-inch armor piercing high explosive projectiles known to be buried at Tamakin Point, Betio, South Tarawa. The QRF conducted a pre-deployment assessment in Kiribati, with disposal operations scheduled to commence in January 2016.

Following the Kiribati assessment, the QRF again deployed in July 2015 with a three-person team to conduct UXO recovery and disposal on Funafuti, Nukufetau, and Nanumea Atolls in Tuvalu. On Funafuti Atoll, the QRF recovered and disposed of forty-eight 60 mm mortars, eight hundred .50 cal rounds, and four 155 mm projectiles. A submerged seaplane was confirmed as a New Zealand Catalina PBY-5A, and found with eight hundred .50 cal rounds still onboard, which were later destroyed. A reported sea mine was determined to be a sunken buoy and ruled as no threat to local shipping. On Nukufetau Atoll, 2,000 small arms ammunition rounds were found and disposed of by open pit burn. On Nanumea Atoll, the QRF recovered two 155 mm projectiles and approximately 2,500 rounds of small arms ammunition. Additionally, a 500 lb. general purpose aerial bomb was identified and marked in the lagoon. In all, the QRF found and destroyed six 155 mm projectiles, forty-eight 60 mm mortars, and 5,300 rounds of small arms ammunition in Tuvalu. Moreover, the QRF provided training to the local police force on how to conduct open pit burns in the event more small arms ammunition is located.

The QRF, and its predecessor the Quick Reaction Demining Force, have deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kiribati, the Kyrgyz Republic, Iraq, Libya, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Saint Kitts, Serbia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Tuvalu, Uruguay, and Vietnam.

A QRF EOD specialist carries .50 caliber ammunition recovered from a sunken WWII seaplane. Removing such hazards increases safety for the local populace and aids in conservation efforts.

Photo courtesy of Golden West.