Most of my postings have been about the lighter side of detecting, travels, tales and settings. I am taking my thoughts into another direction to write about something more personal.
Countermine, I bring this up because of something that has happened at a number of shows that I attend, or out in the field when I meet up with other detectorists. I have often been thanked by a solider that shares with me that their introduction to metal detecting or Minelab was in a foreign country in a field clearing land mines, saving lives.
On one hand, there is the incredible feeling of accomplishment in knowing that you have worked with perseverance and cleared an area that in the blink of an eye could injure, maim or destroy every living thing in its wake.
In another hand is the feeling of complete and total lonesomeness while working a lane. If you believe that detecting is not a solitary endeavor, talk to someone that has worked a mine field. Even though there are others sometimes just a few feet away, they are alone, focused with every measure of their life depending on hearing one signal, finding one target, truly living every second, every swing of the coil of their life in the zone.
Since 1998, Minelab has supplied Humanitarian and Military units with the finest landmine detectors available. Although it would be the ultimate victory if the Countermine Division were no longer needed it will probably never happen in my lifetime.
In the foreseeable future, there will always be a need for Countermine and more importantly, there will always be a need for those that risk their lives everyday somewhere in the world, to protect life and create a safe and secure environment where people can prosper without the fear of working a field or even walking to a favorite river bank to reflect.
For these people and to ever member of the Minelab Countermine Division you have my respect, appreciation and support in all that you create with the one unprecedented goal of Saving Lives.
Kevin Hoagland
Comments
Great information about Countermining.
Your old friend,
Ken 'Anami' Williams