Reducing Excess Ammunition and Building Critical Skills in Peru

In September 2016, Peruvian Army commanders were concerned about the stability of aging and deteriorating excess ammunition creating risks to military personnel on base and to the surrounding civilian communities. At the request of the Peruvian government, the Department of State’s QRF, managed by the Golden West, deployed to assist the Peruvian Army with its PSSM management program.

A QRF team conducted initial assessments of ammunition storage facilities in both northern and southern Peru. After evaluating the condition of munitions, storage facilities, and the army’s PSSM training capacity, the QRF discussed the findings with senior Peruvian officials, Golden West, and Department of State personnel.

All agreed that a formal QRF deployment would be beneficial to both the army and local communities. The initial QRF team remained in northern Peru, while Golden West sent another team of senior technical advisors south. Both teams provided ammunition disposal training and reduction of excess, obsolete, and unserviceable ammunition. They were also tasked with assessing a potential contingent of officers and non-commissioned officers for future formal EOD training.

In the north, the QRF team stabilized three remote depots, completely disposing of the contents of two of them. In the south, the Central Ammunition Depot near Paracas held a large amount of excess, unserviceable, and deteriorating ammunition. The Golden West team arrived in mid-October and began conducting ammunition disposal training for the soldiers. Training included basic range safety, demolition procedures, and ammunition recognition, with special emphasis on MANPADS.

The Peruvian military personnel were great students and highly motivated to learn new skills. Many of the officers and noncommissioned officers were also assessed for aptitude and motivation for future formal EOD training, something the Peruvians hoped to develop to export their peacekeeping operations.

The Golden West and QRF teams faced harsh environmental conditions to get the job done. In the thick jungles of northern Peru, teams worked through heavy rains, lightning and floods, as well as a myriad of biting and stinging insects. Desert-like terrain in the south provided dust, heat, and windy conditions. After long days and weeks working on the ranges, the teams succeeded in destroying 12 tons of potentially dangerous munitions in the north and an additional 26 tons in the south. All mission objectives were achieved or exceeded.

The QFR prepares munitions for disposal during one of the planned explosions.

Photo courtesy of Golden West.