Marines assigned to Company G, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment participated in a four-day experimental testing event at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, which began July 18, while participating in the 2010 Rim of the Pacific Exercise.
RIMPAC provides an opportunity to hone skills as a force in readiness to a broad spectrum of crisis such as forcible entry, limited contingency response, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
The experiment was hosted by the Marine Corps War Fighting Lab from Quantico, Va., and featured three new concepts of technology, which could play a huge role in operations in Afghanistan.
According to Capt. Brian Hollier, a logistics officer with MCWL, the experiment fell in with 2/3’s regular workup training for deployment, giving the battalion a first hand look at the future advancements of the Corps.
During the event, the Marines utilized the new tools while conducting training in a realistic, urban terrain environment with the help of the Department of Technology Services.
Hollier said the California-based private company specializes in using refugees from Afghanistan and United States citizens to role play during the events. The role players inhabited the small Military Operations on Urban Terrain villages donning Afghan clothing and speaking in an Afghan dialect.
During conversations, an interpreter was used to communicate with these inhabitants and in important meetings with town elders.
As the Marines pushed out on patrols, they were followed by one of the four Ground Unmanned Support Surrogates
The gas-powered GUSS can carry up to 1,800 pounds and can move up to five miles per hour. The vehicles are designed to re-supply troops, reduce carried loads and provide an immediate means of evacuation of any casualties in combat.
“It’s the thing to have in the future,” said Pfc. Dylan J. Hoffstatter, grenadier for 3rd Platoon, Company G, 2/3. “It can carry equipment that we wouldn’t be able to physically carry.”
Hoffstatter said the GUSS has come in handy during the exercise and was utilized during a casualty evacuation drill. Instead of taking four Marines out of the fight to transport a wounded Marine, he said they only used one.
The Marines also trained with the Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System.
The remotely-controlled, electric-powered MAARS is based on a modular framework that features a turret system supporting a drop-in manipulator armfor picking up or placing objects.
It also has multiple types of weapon systems and a wide range of sensor packages and camera systems with multiple capabilities that give it a 360 degree view, an aiming system, Infrared camera and more.
The MAARS offers multiple support options, ranging from non-lethal force such as a dazzling eye-safe laser or voice projection through loudspeakers that form part of a two-way communications system. It can also utilize lethal weapons, such as a 40 mm high-explosive grenade launcher or M240B medium machine gun.
An operator can control the robot from a distance of one kilometer by its operator and is designed to tackle all terrains, including stairs.
According to 2nd Lt. Jameson S. Payne, platoon commander, Company G, 2/3, his platoon had conducted training with the MAARS, but hadn’t utilized the system in the field.
Lastly, the Marines tested an experimental communications set which encompassed an inner-network radio and a defense transportation tracking system, or simply a satellite radio.
Each inner-network allowed Marines to stay connected with each other regardless of distance and the DTTS radio was used to contact the command post when necessary.
Payne said he approves of the new concepts, but there were still some discrepancies to be worked out.
“I like the concept of the retransmitting because it allows us to send information down range and it’s clear, but the DTTS has a bit of a delay,” Payne said.
He also said the GUSS has its capabilities, and although it’s not suited for the jungle-like environment here, he believes it will have a great impact in Afghanistan.