The Evolution of OIF Contingency Pest Control to Enduring Pest Control: The Issues and Challenges

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The Evolution of OIF Contingency Pest Control to
Enduring Pest Control The Issues and Challenges

• LTC Jamie Blow
• 30th Medical Brigade
• Heidelberg, Germany

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Contingency Operations

• An emergency, involving military forces, that is
  caused by natural disasters, terrorists,
  subversives, or by a required military operation.
• Contingencies can range from a few months (short
  term) to years (long term or enduring).

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Short Term Contingency Operations

• Limited duration operations (months not years).
• Base camps usually composed of tents or use
  existing structures.
• Limited improvements made to base camp area.
• Military usually provides pest control however,
  local contractors could also be used.

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Short Term Contingency Operations

• Just Cause, Panama, 1989
• Hurricane Andrew, Florida, 1992
• Restore Hope, Somalia, 1993
• Uphold Democracy, Haiti, 1994
• Hurricane Mitch, Central America 1998
• Operation New Horizon, Central Am, 1999

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Long Term Contingency Operations

• Unspecified duration (gt1 year)
• Base camps become semi-permanent
• Wooden huts, trailers or hardstand structures are
  used for housing and offices.
• Significant improvements are made to buildings
  and new construction occurs.
• Shift from military support services to
  contractor support services (food, water,
  housing, vector, sanitation, etc)

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Long Term Contingency Operations

• JTF Bravo (Honduras) 1982-present
• SFOR (Bosnia) 1995 -2007
• KFOR (Kosov) 1999 - present
• JTF GTMO (Cuba) 1992 - present
• OEF (Afghanistan) 2002 - present
• OIF (Iraq) 2003 - present

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Contingency Pest Control

• Technical Guide (TG) 24 provides guidance on the
  use of pesticides in contingency environments.
• List of approved contingency pesticides is
  limited.
• No specific guidance given on contingency
  contract requirements to include host nation
  contractors.
• No guidance on pesticide storage.
• Shipping of HAZMAT is often an issue.

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OIF 05-07 Pest Control
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Long Term Contingency Operations

• As bases become semi-permanent pest problems
  change and increase.
• Security of pesticides.
• Environmental and human health impacts.
• Cost becomes a significant factor.
• Larger selection of pesticides needed.
• Troops expectations increase.

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Pest Control Issues for Long Term Contingency
Operations

• Contractor requirements
• State or DoD Certification
• What about host or third country nationals
• Pesticides
• DoD approved and Non-approved
• Contingency list vs DoD list
• Pesticide Storage
• What is adequate
• Location and Security
• Oversight
• DoD Certification Who has it and Who needs it

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Conclusion

• Long term contingency operations present unique
  and varying challenges. The pest management
  professional on the ground must implement
  appropriate measures to ensure that the program
  is efficacious and safe. The development of
  guidance for long term operations would help to
  delineate expectations and requirements.