OBJECTIVE
PREPARE TO SEARCH
2
1. In the past decade, militant groups, criminal elements, and scores of others have manufactured and
used explosives and incendiary devices. Bomb-incident data reflect that bomb incidents pose a
continuing and ever-present threat to civilian and military personnel, property, and operations.
Bombings in the United States have resulted in lives lost, people injured, and millions of dollars of
property damaged. Bombing incidents have not decreased significantly in the past few years. They
will probably continue to plague military and civil facilities and organizations.
2. There is a need for practical knowledge to cope with these violent activities. This need has been
partially met by various law enforcement agencies. Yet, it must be remembered that the protection
of life and property is a responsibility that cannot be delegated solely to law enforcement.
3. Search:
a. Search Teams. There are three groups of individuals who may serve as members of the search
teams. They are building supervisors, building occupants, and special search teams. Of the
three, the specially trained search teams are the most effective, especially when combined with
a brief search by occupants before they are evacuated.
b. Who searches? Except for the most unusual circumstances, EOD and military police will NOT
be used to search for reported explosive devices in barracks, community areas, buildings, and
offices. Rather, such searches will be conducted by designated individuals familiar with the
area and its contents. If an unusual item is found, EOD is to neutralize and evacuate the device
for disposal. Military police are to be employed around the threatened area to control traffic and
provide other regulatory services. Therefore, in the Army, the occupants of the building will
perform the search along with designated search teams.
c. What will be searched? Occupants will search their own work areas and rooms. Search teams
should be assigned to search public areas, rest rooms, and closets. Keys should be available
to searchers so every area can be searched. A complete search must be made, since one or
more bombs could exist.
d. When is the search terminated? After the entire facility has been searched. Remember, the
discovery of one device should not necessarily stop the search; there could be more than one
bomb. This was a tactic used in Saigon.
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