By Spc. Brent M. Williams
49th Public Affairs Detachment (Airborne)

Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan -- A bar, 3.5 meters wide, rotates 72 chain hammers, beating the earth for mines, the remnants of more than 20 years of war in Afghanistan. A pillar of dust churns from underneath the chain-flail as the desert-colored minesweeper digs tracks in the fields. Engineers from the Jordanian Army are using this mechanical chain-flail minesweeper to clear Bagram airfield and the surrounding area of anti-personnel and anti-tank mines. The Jordanian military team is part of the coalition of military forces participating in Operation Enduring Freedom.

American forces are supporting the Jordanian Army by providing shelter, food and security for the engineers. Coalition forces are also supplying the Jordanians with parts and maintenance support, and Afghans are assisting the Jordanians by clearing the land by loader and grader after the engineers sweep with the flail machine.

The Jordanian engineers arrived in Bagram in December to begin mechanical demining operations. They use a minesweeper machine, known as the "Aardvark," to clear mines from areas identified by the Afghan and coalition forces deployed to the airbase, said Jordanian Army 1st Lt. Mohammed Zboun, platoon leader, Royal 7th Armoured Engineer Battalion, Directorate of the Royal Engineer Corps.

The Aardvark is detonating approximately 95 percent of the anti-personnel mines and 100 percent of the anti-tank mines in the areas being cleared daily, said Zboun. With each rotation, a chain hammer, the equivalent of four tons of pressure per square inch, hits the ground and detonates any mines in its path, he said. Under optimum conditions, the machine is capable of clearing 115 meters per hour.

The success of the demining operations in Bagram is the result of a joint effort involving all of the coalition forces in the area, said Zboun. "There is good cooperation," Zboun said. "We will continue demining operations until we finish all areas that are appointed for us by coalition forces."

Drivers, guides, mechanics and maintenance specialists make up the 13-man Jordanian team operating the Aardvark. The Jordanian engineers are using the skills and experience learned in Jordan, said Zboun.

Zboun explained: "In Jordan, we are suffering from the danger of mines, so I think we have great experience in demining." Team mechanic Cpl. Khalil Majaly added, "The work I've done in Jordan gives me good experience for the work here." Majaly also said the work in Afghanistan is more difficult than demining operations in Jordan because the hardness of the ground destroys the chains of the flail. "Because of the nature of the ground here, the team must change the chains on the flail at least every week," said Majaly. In addition to the harsh conditions, the remains of previous battles complicate the demining effort. "We have found a large amount of metal in this area," Zboun added. "I think it may be parts of planes and military cars, which are buried in the ground."

Zboun is proud of his engineers, who are working diligently to overcome the challenges of the environment to make the area safe for the Afghan people so they can resume their lives without fear of injury or death. "I would like to see this area without the danger of mines, and to see the people here return to their homes without being afraid of land mines," said Zboun.

"I am very pleased, very proud to be here to contribute in assistance of this operation with our allies, friends and coalition forces," said Jordanian Sgt. 1st Class Marwan Hmaydeh, driver of the minesweeper. "There is a good cooperation among the Afghan people themselves," Hmaydeh said, "And I think that peace is a dream for everybody who lives in countries like Afghanistan."