MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. -- Remotec, the Tennessee based robotics company, sent an instructor to educate and train Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians with Marine Wing Support Squadron 374 on EOD robots April 21 - 24 at the Combat Center.
The purpose of the training was to help instruct less experienced Marines in the unit on how to perform standard maintenance on the robots, said Scott Jenkins, a Remotec service technician and instructor, and a native of Clinton, Tenn.
“The Marines here right now are somewhat new to the unit, and that’s why I’m here, to train them,” Jenkins said. “The Marines have to be qualified to work on the robots before they can do it on their own.”
“All the operators must be qualified to do the maintenance for their robots,” he said. “We run the operators through the training on how to do the basic operations with the robots and how to use all the attachments on them.”
“They may not use the robots for every part of their job, but it is still crucial they know how to perform these tasks themselves,” he said. “It’s a big part of their job, and it is good for them to know how to do it.”
Staff Sgt. Michael Engstrom, an EOD technician with MWSS–374, spoke highly of the training and how much it helps the Marines.
“It’s a great course and it helps us to know all the ‘ins and outs’ of the robot,” said the Tucson, Ariz., native. “It really helps us get to know our equipment better.”
Engstrom said the knowledge they get from the class is vital to accomplishing their mission.
“Being more knowledgeable about our equipment really helps with finishing all our operations,” he said. “Instead of having to send things away to be fixed we can do it ourselves.”
The abilities the Marines gain from doing the training is what makes it worth while, he said.
“The training is great, you know the deficiencies, expectations and limits of the machine when you know how every inch of it is put together,” he said.
Having the knowledge and ability to support ourselves will help us in our operations down the road.”