MASTER GROUND SIGN AWARENESS 1 1

So what am I looking for?

“absence of the normal; presence of the abnormal” (what’s missing / what’s new) Look out for the following indicators: COLOUR – Unnatural colours or colour change. The difference in colour will depend on the length of time since emplacement, often clearer 24-48 hrs after emplacement. TRANSFERENCE – Soil, sand, foliage and other debris deposited in places where nature would not cause it to be. REGULARITY – Geometric shapes and strange angles which do not naturally occur.

“absence of the normal; presence of the abnormal” (what’s missing / what’s new) FLATTENING – Foliage, grass etc flattened by humans/animals reflects the light at a different angle. DISCARDABLES – Items left visible by the INS when placing IEDs such as cigarette butts, bits of wire or tape. DISTURBANCE – Movement of soil, breaking of foliage and placing of items in an unnatural way to attempt to cover sign.

Some examples: REGULARITY (and some COLOUR change) DISTURBANCE

Some examples: REGULARITY & DISTURBANCE FLATTENING VOIED

Some examples: ??

Some examples: PRESSURE PLATE FLATTENING DISTURBANCE COLOUR Change BATTERY PACK PRESSURE PLATE FLATTENING DISTURBANCE COLOUR Change REGULARITY STONE MARKERS

PRACTICE There’s now a chance to practice looking for the Ground Sign in a number of pictures. Not all the pictures actually have Ground Sign in them – the first two slides are an example of one with and one without – the answer is revealed each time on the next mouse click. The phrase ‘No known indicators’ is used for pictures without Ground Sign – because we don’t know for certain that there was nothing there. In other words, if you see something that you think is suspicious in a picture then you are not wrong. After the two examples there are two presentations with 20 pictures each – the first is easy the second is more difficult. For each picture you should identify any Ground Sign before clicking for the answer.

1 Example One – Identify any Ground Sign. State the Grids it’s in. 2 3 Marker stones placed by LNs to warn of device 4 5 A B C D E F A

1 Example Two – Identify any Ground Sign. State the Grids it’s in. 2 3 4 No known indicators 5 A B C D E F A

PRACTICE ONE EASY!

1 2 3 4 They do get harder! 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 Warning stones 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 No known indicators 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 Warning stones Main charge location 4 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 No Ground Sign visible – there is an IED but too far down track to see. 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 No known indicators 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 5 Markers placed to warn of device A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 5 A B C D E F Warning stones A

1 2 3 4 No known indicators 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 No known indicators 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 Warning stones 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 3 x Marker stones placed by LNs or INS 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 5 Patch of discoloured earth A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 5 Partly uncovered Pressure Plate. A B C D E F A

1 2 .. but this is suspicious also 3 Location of IED Main Charge 4 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 Warning stones 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 No known indicators 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 Warning stones 4 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 No known indicators 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 Marker stones placed by LNs to warn of device 4 5 A B C D E F A

NEXT SLIDE – START OF LEVEL 2 END OF LEVEL 1 NEXT SLIDE – START OF LEVEL 2

1 2 3 4 No known indicators 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 Main charge here. Hard to ID as it just looks like a part of the collapsed wall. 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 No known indicators 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 Warning stones 4 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 No known indicators 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 5 Possible length of Command Wire A B C D E F A

1 2 3 Patch of discoloured earth 4 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 Large patch of disturbed earth 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 No known indicators 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 5 Concealed Battery pack A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 No known indicators 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 No known indicators 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 Linear feature – possible CW 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 Location of Pressure Plate & Main Charge 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 Discoloured patch of earth 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 4 No known indicators 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 3 Pressure Plate - partly uncovered 4 5 A B C D E F A

1 Markers across track 2 3 4 5 A B C D E F A

1 2 Warning stones 3 4 5 A B C D E F A

1 Colour change – main charge hidden in wall and connected to anti-lift on wpn mag. 2 3 Wire Link. 4 5 A B C D E F A