There was no west side to conduct combat training at Marine Corps Base Quantico 100 years ago, let alone an array of schools and child care centers to worry about.

But since the base’s founding in 1917, the vestiges of those days gone by continue to keep David P. Wolfe busy. As the explosive safety officer for National Capital Region/MCBQ, it’s his job to help facilitate the removal of any unexploded ordnance that might be still be lying around on the former training sites mostly located on the base main side.

“It’s a challenge where our own base has encroached upon itself,” Wolfe said. “They didn’t foresee that the base could expand like it did. The rules were different back then. Now we’re dealing with the changes.”

Few, however, might be as prepared to do that like Wolfe, whose 20 years in the Marine Corps included stints as an explosive safety officer at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, an aviation ordnance Marine and as a ground ammunition officer. Wolfe, a 47-year-old West Virginia native, retired in 2006 as Chief Warrant Officer 2 and assumed his current duties at Quantico shortly afterwards.

He quickly found that Quantico comes with its own set of challenges because of the many schools and child care facilities built on or near the former weapons ranges. The most recent is the upcoming study of 19 acres on the base main side, including the ground outside Russell Elementary School and near the Child Development North Center. Ground penetrating radar will be used to survey the area for any unexploded ordnance prior to the demolition of the school and preparation of the site for the new Quantico Middle/High School.

The data is analyzed and any anomalies deemed to be munitions are removed. The work will be primarily done by contractors, all of whom are former military with Explosive Ordnance Disposal experience, Wolfe said.

Wolfe coordinates the cleanup efforts with base public works, Marine Corps Systems Command, The Natural Resources Environmental Affairs-Munitions Response Program Manager, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington and the Department of Defense.

“If it’s something they have to dig up, they dig it up and get rid of it,” he said of the contractors. “If it’s too dangerous, they call our EOD guys.”

— Writer: jhollis@quanticosentryonline.com