On November 8, the combat engineers of theMarine Infantry Detachment No. 4 Cochraneof theChilean Navycommemorated a new anniversary of the specialty. These troops are currently fulfilling a fundamental task in the humanitarian demining of the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Region.
Combat engineer of MarineInfantry Detachment No. 4 Cochrane. Photo: Chilean Navy
According to the institution, the combat engineers of the Marine Corps form versatile units, capable of executing tasks of mobility, against mobility and survival, in military operations of war and other than war.
The combat engineers of this unit that make up theNavy's Landmine Operations Match (Pomta) of theThird Naval Zone (Terzona) train daily according to international standards of action against these devices.
Marines in training in the use of engineering equipment. Image: Chilean Navy
Likewise, its members maintain their training in shooting techniques, hand-to-hand combat, tactics and techniques of use of engineering material, military constructions and manipulation of explosives.
Intense work
La Pomta, created on 12 June 2000, began humanitarian demining in the islands of the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Region in 2007 with the aim of complying with theOttawa Conventionprohibiting the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and their destruction.
The unit started the process of reconnaissance of minefields on Hornos Island and in 2009 began the neutralization of 200M-178 mines. It was subsequently moved to Picton Island, deactivating a total of 717 antipersonnel mines in five minefields between 2010 and 2017. This work was carried out from 2017 on Isla Nueva and the demining process was completed in theislands of the southern tip of Chile in November 2019.
Combat engineer working in a minefield. Photo: Chilean Navy
"It's something I'm proud of because I had the opportunity to participate in the first unit that went into a minefield and also be in the last of these minefields. It was also a work of family sacrifices for the time you were away from the family, but aware of doing the job well, and bearing in mind that if you did not do it well the only one harmed was you, "said Sergeant 1° IM. (I.C.) Christian San Martin.
Mine destruction. Photo: Chilean Navy
In this context, since 2019, under theOslo Treaty, humanitarian demining work began on land contaminated with submunitions from cluster munitions in the sector of the Punta Zenteno polygon, in the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic region, under demanding security measures.
"The sappers of the soldiers of the sea proudly carry the laurels of duty accomplished, having finished with full success and without casualties to regret the dangerous humanitarian demining work carried out under the Ottawa treaty, earning the recognition of theGeneva International Center for Humanitarian Deminingfor its professionalism," said the head of the Pomta, 2nd Lieutenant IMJosé Salas.
