Eglin Air Force Base is reminding residents, visitors and recreators in and around the Eglin Test and Training Complex and surrounding waters never to touch, move, disturb or attempt to recover unidentified military or test-related items.
- According to a public notice issued Thursday, such items may be found on land, along shorelines or in the waters surrounding the complex and in the Gulf. They can include drones or drone components, munitions, test articles, debris and other military or test-related equipment.
The wing cautioned that people should not assume an item is safe, even if it appears damaged, inactive or harmless. According to the notice, test and military-related articles may contain hazards that aren’t readily visible, including explosive components, stored electrical energy or batteries, fuels or other chemicals, pressurized components, sharp or damaged materials and other unknown hazards.
“As good neighbors, we remind people that for their own safety do not touch or handle any unidentified military or test-related items. Please remain clear of test and operational safety zones and report any unidentified items to the proper authorities,” said Col. Brian Taylor, 96th Test Wing Deputy Commander.
The notice also addressed restrictions on the water. U.S. Air Force exercise areas are subject to active Notice to Mariners safety zones and are strictly closed to all unauthorized civilian maritime traffic, and entering the designated safety areas by boat or any other watercraft is a crime, according to the wing.
- All components, debris, avionics and material associated with test operations are the exclusive property of the U.S. government, the notice states. Federal law prohibits anyone from salvaging or retaining any debris, and those who do may face penalties including fines and imprisonment.
Steps
Because Eglin’s primary mission is to execute developmental tests and evaluations for the Air Force, the wing outlined steps for anyone who encounters a suspicious or unidentified item:
Do not touch it. Do not handle, move, open, dismantle, tow or attempt to recover the item.
Keep your distance. Move away from the item and keep others away. Do not approach it simply to get a photograph or identify it.
Mark the location. From a safe location, record the item’s position using a dropped pin, GPS coordinates or, when available, a 10-digit grid coordinate. Note nearby landmarks or other identifying location information.
Report it. On land, notify local law enforcement or the 96th Security Forces Squadron Base Defense Operations Center at 850-882-2000. On the water or in the Gulf of America, notify the U.S. Coast Guard or appropriate maritime authorities.
Leave recovery to trained personnel. Do not attempt to bring the item to law enforcement, a military installation, marina, boat ramp or other location.
According to the wing, the safest course of action is not to touch the item, mark its location and report it. Prompt reporting allows the appropriate authorities to identify, evaluate and, when necessary, safely recover or dispose of an item while reducing risk to the public.
