Metal Detectors Assist Iraqi Soldiers in Search

American Forces Press Service

BAGHDAD, March 4, 2005 – Iraqi soldiers armed with metal detectors discovered three weapons caches buried in a village just south of Taji during a recent search that also netted three suspected insurgents - one of whom is on the local most wanted list.

Iraqi Army soldiers with the 5th Battalion, 3rd Brigade - who had never seen metal detectors before - went through a short training class on how to use them before heading out on the Feb. 26 search, said U.S. Army Maj. Larry Bradley, a senior adviser to the battalion.

"The metal detectors were the key in finding the caches," Bradley said. "The stuff was buried all over the place. Those soldiers dug for a good three to four hours."

Two of the caches were of medium size and included AK-47 machine guns, an MP-5 machine gun with 12 magazines and materials for making improvised explosive devices. The third and largest cache included 42 mortars and five 127 mm rockets, according to the senior adviser.

Bradley said he is recommending more metal detectors be issued to Iraqi Army units.

(Based on a Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq press release.)