FORT IRWIN, Calif.- Fernando Lopez could be called the National Training Center's "robot man," but that would be selling him short for the job he does as a military analyst with the Joint IED Defeat Organization at the Army Center of Excellence at Fort Irwin, Calif.
During each of the 10 training rotations occurring at the National Training Center, Mr. Lopez ensures Soldiers receive hands-on training with counter-IED robots they could encounter in the Afghanistan and Iraq combat theaters during the week leading up to the two-week training exercise in "The Box."
"I try to get them as many repetitions as possible," he said, adding that once Soldiers leave the NTC it could be three to six months before they encounter the robots again.
Currently there are six different robotic platforms used in counter-IED operations, and each platform has different uses, which Mr. Lopez said he does his best to ensure Soldiers are familiar with before they leave the NTC.
Once the Mission Rehearsal Exercise begins, robots often get broken as Soldiers use them for route clearance and other counter-IED tasks, which could reduce the amount of training Soldiers receive during the rotation.
Fortunately, Mr. Lopez and the ACOE are there to step in and keep robots on the battlefield throughout the MRX.
"When a robot gets broken, they call me, and I'll bring a replacement out to them and take the broken one in to get it repaired," Mr. Lopez said, stressing the importance of ensuring Soldiers use of the robots at all times during the MRX.
For Soldiers like Sgt. 1st Class Manuel Sanchez from the 53rd EOD Detachment assigned to the First Brigade, First Armored Division Combat Team out of Fort Bliss, Texas, which recently conducted its MRX at the NTC, having someone like Mr. Lopez to provide assistance during the exercise is vital.
"For EOD it's a lifesaving device when we can use a robot instead of a Soldier to check for IEDs," Sgt. 1st Class Sanchez said. "It's important for us to have them, so we can get used to working with them. "
A combat engineer with the First Brigade, First Armored Division Combat Team said he was impressed with what he saw as the robots were unveiled on the battlefield.
"It's better for us Soldiers, engineers, EOD that are going walking up to the IED or VBID," he said. "We've got the robot handy (which) interrogates and all that, so upgrading technology and helping us out."
The response time from Mr. Lopez and the ACOE is quick as well, he said.
"If something's wrong with the cables or the cameras, they'll come over and fix it pretty quick or give us the part so we can continue our mission," he said.
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