Instructors from the Engineer Explosive Ordinance Clearance Agent Course on Fort Leonard Wood became the students Nov. 26 to 29 as they learned about the Remote Activation Munitions System.
RAMS is a secure, radio-controlled system designed to remotely control demolition charges. It consists of a transmitter and two types of receivers. RAMS is lightweight, just over three pounds for the transmitter and receiver, and has a system range of more than 5 kilometers.
Staff Sgt. Andrew Hoover, new munitions training developer, said the best thing about the RAMS is it gives the route clearance elements a new alternative to shock tube.
"It gives our Route Clearance Teams the ability to function without being tethered to the demolition," Hoover said.
Sgt 1st Class Carlo Adame, EEOCA instructor, agreed.
"When using a robot to place a charge it becomes a plus because we won't have to worry about the robot getting tangled up in the shock tube. This should cut down on mission completion times. The RAMS will also help when trying to maneuver the robot around obstacles," Adame said.
Another positive to the RAMS is the distance it will put between the Soldier and the blast.
"It gives engineers a standoff capability making it safer for them to initiate demolition," Hoover said.
According to Hoover, the RAMS is set to be fielded to Route Clearance Squads in fiscal year 2014. Adame said his students are eager to get their hands on the RAMS.
"A lot of Soldiers are excited about this. When I explained the RAMS to my students, they liked the idea of not having a tether. New operators of the TALON robot are most concerned about getting tangled up, so this will make them more comfortable," Adame said.
The three-day class ended with one day of live fire to demonstrate the RAMS capabilities.
Representatives from the Route Reconnaissance/Clearance Operations Sapper Course and Engineer Advanced Leader Course were also in the class to learn about the RAMS system.
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