TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. --Reservists from every military branch can learn communications-electronics systems troubleshooting and repair techniques here to improve their maintenance and repair readiness. The depot, which enhanced Army and Marine reservist electronic capabilities for years, is now expanding the joint training program to include Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard Military Occupational Specialties (MOS).
Students work alongside Team Tobyhanna's civilian counterparts to gain in-depth knowledge for sustainment of Command, Control, Communication, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance, reconnaissance (C4ISR) equipment associated with their MOS. Depot training reaches beyond the limits of general knowledge skills associated with occupational specialties and dramatically increases work force and unit readiness.
The hands-on experience has proven invaluable for Soldiers and Marines and will do the same for Sailors, Airmen and Coast Guardsmen who might deploy.
"This, by far, is better than any training I've ever had," said a recent National Guardsman. "Training is usually convoluted with information you don't ever use. Here we're learning so many things that we can use in the field."
Servicemembers are assigned to work areas according to their MOS. They spend time in a classroom learning the capabilities of the equipment as well as the test and validation procedures then transition to hands-on training to perform tests and corrective maintenance on a variety of equipment.
"It costs less to bring our Marines here for two weeks than setting up a field exercise somewhere for a long weekend," said one Marine sergeant. "Tobyhanna Army Depot has the facilities to accommodate our needs and there are tangible benefits derived from the relationship between the Marines that use the equipment and the civilians that repair it."
This summer, in addition to traditional MOS courses, the depot is offering an opportunity to study cutting-edge technology that is gaining ground around the Department of Defense - Introduction to Robotics. The course covers the basic principles of robotics as applied in industry and the military. Instruction includes extensive use of an articulated robotic arm throughout the course to demonstrate automation and control processes.
Course topics include robotic arm basics, forward and inverse kinematics, familiarization with the lab-volt servo robot, point-to-point programs, task programs, program editing, servo control systems, robotic peripheral devices such as gravity feeders, pneumatic feeders, linear slides, belt conveyors and rotary carousels, mobile robots such as tracked vehicles and humanoids, and wireless control of robots.
Students will participate in numerous hands on practical exercises emphasizing the programming of a Servo Robot System. They'll also build and program two wireless mobile robots: a tracked vehicle with robotic arm, similar to many used throughout the military, and a humanoid.
Tobyhanna provides a welcoming environment for students to learn, train and gain experience while preparing for deployment.
"We greatly appreciate the professionalism and attentive interpersonal communication from the Tobyhanna staff and civilian work force," a Marine executive officer said. "When our Marines deploy, they'll take with them increased MOS skills thanks to what they learned and experienced at Tobyhanna."
Tobyhanna Army Depot is the Defense Department's largest center for the repair, overhaul and fabrication of a wide variety of electronics systems and components, from tactical field radios to the ground terminals for the defense satellite communications network. Tobyhanna's missions support all branches of the Armed Forces.
For further information, contact Tobyhanna Army Depot Reserve Component Training Coordinator at 570-615-6492, DSN 795-6492.
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