UXO stands for Un-Exploded Explosive Ordinance.
I used to be a combat engineer in the NATO quick reaction force in Afghanistan. It means mineclearer.
If you are to dig at places where there might be UXO, make sure to have a buddy to stand by if something is to happen, and a decent evacuation plan.
I do not recommend doing this without proper training, so try to find a buddy in the engineer core. If you are going to do this anyway, I want to give a few tips.
NEVER search wider than your shoulders with the detector, and mark your path with spray colored rocks or small flags, markers or so on. On your return path, overlap the last path with half a detector head to make sure you did not miss anything.
Dig up 3 x 3 feet of sand, 2 foot deep on the area you shall search. Make sure this does not contain any metal readings and use this area to calibrate your detector (zero it) before each trip in to the place you shall clear.
When you get a reading:
*Prod the area with a long screwdriver or similar to see if there is a landmine or grenade. Have at least 30 degree angle on it. Do this carefully.
*start digging with a non metallic plastic showel (type garden) at least 15" from the place you pinpointed contact. Make sure to carefully make a trench towards it. Some times there might be stuff like a live hand grenade under a landmine or other object. Boobytraps are frequent among poor soldiers.
*leave all the sand behind you. Some times the sand itself gives a reading.
Again, I do not recommend doing this in such areas without proper training. Minimum training for such in Norway is at least 6 months.
If you find something, clear the area around it and make a huge sandbag pile all around it. Have someone blow it up. Make sure shrapnel does not further contaminate your search area (that a what the sandbags are for).
