What is a Military IED?

If it weren't for its Military, a country would not be safe. These men and women volunteer to put themselves in harm's way for the love and protection of their country and their families. Dangerous situations can arise while they are fighting for a country they love. Weapons have been invented that they must learn about thoroughly so they can be identified.

A military IED, or an improvised explosive device, is commonly referred to as a roadside bomb. These homemade explosives can be filled with almost anything. The shrapnel can have an impressive radius depending on the type of charge used in the device itself. A military grade IED uses typical military explosives and a detonator. This type of bomb is used by commandos, Guerillas and non-typical military units.

IEDs have caused over half the casualties in the Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Most times they are filled with things such as nails, ball bearings or small scrap metal pieces. These explosives are made up of a detonator, a charge and an initiation system. They can be set off by remote, magnetic and pressure triggers, or tip wires.

The sophistication of the military IED depends on the knowledge of the maker. If the maker of the explosive isn't knowledgeable, or the parts are below standard, then pre-detonation is a possibility.  The military is now educating soldiers on how to identify the placement and characteristics of these bombs.

Soldiers often see specific types of IEDs. Command-wire and vehicle borne homemade bombs are generalized types some soldiers have seen during warfare. The classes now being offered for military IED notification are to help soldiers survive. Although an IED can be anywhere in the field, soldiers will now know more about them, what to look for and where.

Military IEDs are just one small, dangerous part of warfare, but the number of casualties they cause can be staggering. The classes for a specialized unit of the military can only come to benefit it as a whole.