For Lt.-Col. Peter Owen, demining was not a career he chose. "I was assigned
this duty several years ago," he says. "But once you do it, it gets into your
blood and you can't just walk away."
There is a good reason that you can't walk away, he's quick to
point out. "We save people's lives."
Though, he admits, the job has it challenges. "One country we went to,
we were told that often the people of the host nation are afraid of the military,
and they won't communicate with you."
But this time, the experts were wrong. "We went into this small village,
and we were greeted by all of these people. They swarmed around us, and they
were happy to see us. Then they lead us to a 50-pound bomb behind the schoolhouse."
That wasn't all the villagers led the demining team to. "There were
piles of unexploded ordnance. And they helped us to find them before anyone
else got hurt. That's the great part of this job. We save lives."
Of course, for all of the great parts, there are not-so-great parts, too.
"When we are doing country plans, which are two-year plans, then there is
a lot of paperwork and long hours. It's not a fun part of the job, but
it has to be done."
Owen explains that other parts of the job offset the paperwork, though.
"When I work in the field, I work with different U.S. embassies around the
world, and I have been exposed to many different cultures.
"My favorite part of the job is the different people that I get to work
with. Teaching a person from a host nation how to find and remove mines is
very rewarding. You watch them, and they do it right, and it makes you feel
good."
He explains how important it is to teach the people of host nations how
to remove the mines from their native lands. "The people that we train don't
have the resources that we have. And many of the countries in which we work
cannot afford huge demining campaigns. By teaching these natives how to remove
mines on their own, we are saving lives."
Jane Brouillette is a deminer currently in the Republic of Yemen. She feels
her work makes the world a safer place. "The field of demining is making a
big difference in people's lives. Be it that they can safely walk or
that they can farm their land again. To live without fear is a very good feeling."
But Brouillette's job in Yemen is not entirely without fear. "When
there was an attempted hijacking on my car, I had to make a flash decision
to keep going or stop. There were guns pointed at the car. That decision wasn't
nearly as difficult as when you realize a little later that you may have been
shot or kidnapped. Your bed has never felt better."
Brouillette does find it all worth it. "The demining movement is humanitarian
and large in scope," she says. "I am committed to the cause. It is very satisfying
when each of the four components -- clearing mines, mine awareness, identifying
survivors and survivor assistance -- are working together.
"Each component has an important role to play. I guess I am most pleased
when you find someone who has survived and you are able to support them in
their community to lead a more inclusive, ordinary life."
The whole experience has been one of learning for Brouillette. "When you
leave your country of origin and become an expatriate, your work changes all
aspects of your life. As you move for your work, you adapt to each country
that you move to in regards to work hours, food, hobbies, security procedures,
and friends," she says.
"I love movies, music and the performing arts, and none of
this is available in Yemen. In addition, as a single woman I have to watch
who I speak to and follow many of the rules within the culture. This is important
for professional respect."
The career has changed Brouillette in many ways. "I think it is impossible
to maintain your old lifestyle as your experiences influence you to a different
level of understanding," she says.
"I think the humanitarian mine action movement is very interesting," she
adds. "It is a peace initiative and is a concrete way to assist in building
trust and a sense of community."