Written by Charles Melton
MT2 2010 Volume: 15 Issue: 1 (February)
THE NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER
NTC Uses Technology to Keep Soldiers Sharp Before Entering Combat Theaters.
However, it’s not only the harsh environment, the cunning insurgents portrayed by members of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, or the Afghani and Iraqi villagers played by native speakers and other contract employees that make the NTC the world’s premier combat training center, it’s the technology that encompasses the entirety of each training rotation at Fort Irwin.
“Technology is part of our formations, so part of our job here is to ensure they leave here trained and ready to utilize and leverage all the technology even as it’s just newly fielded,” said NTC Commanding General Brigadier General Robert “Abe” Abrams, noting that this year there are only two Afghan rotations scheduled, but that this could change in the future.
During training rotations, servicemembers receive individual training on the latest command post devices, battle command-andcontrol systems, improvised explosive device equipment, biometrics and new communications systems and devices, Abrams said, adding that in addition to the individual training, servicemembers are trained on how to use the technologies collectively as part of their overall conduct of operations.
“NTC uses much of the same cutting edge technology that is being rushed to soldiers in OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom) and OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom),” said NTC Science and Technology Officer Major Brian J. Gruchacz. “Our intent is to give soldiers the maximum extent possible to ‘train as you fight’ prior to deploying.”
“When cost-effective, we make those technologies available for soldiers to use and refine their TTPs [tactics, techniques and procedures] prior to deployment during their NTC rotation,” he said, noting that GSM, biometrics, UASs and robots are good examples.
“Part of our mission of ‘training the Force’ is staying current with the operational environments of OIF and OEF,” Gruchacz added. “This includes understanding the latest threats and the continuously updating TTPs of our deployed commanders and soldiers,” he said. “We do this through direct and routine contact with deployed commanders, data mining, Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL) reports and leadership visits to theater.”
The NTC also implements a systematic process to continuously review and update its training based on observations from these venues, he said.
As part of his role as the RDECOM (Research Development and Engineering Command) officer on the NTC special staff and a member of the RDECOM Field Assistance in Science and Technology (FAST) team, Gruchacz said his team also maintains situational awareness of the latest technology being developed for theater.
“We provide recommendations to NTC commanders on how this technology might be implemented into training,” he said. “My team also serves the function of making all the skills of the RDECOM engineers and labs available for NTC commanders to help close any training specific capability gaps.”
Organizations such as JIEDDO and the Rapid Equipping Force responsible for getting new technology in theater quickly also play a part in ensuring soldiers have adequate opportunity to train on new systems and equipment at home station or the Combat Training Centers (CTCs) prior to deploying, he said.
“In particular, the JIEDDO’s Joint Center of Excellence (JCOE) exists to quickly close training capability gaps for the Army and all the services,” he said, noting that Brigadier General Abrams is the current director of JCOE. “JCOE oversees theater specific training at home station and the service combat training centers.”
In several cases where it hasn’t been cost effective or the equipment is simply not available for training due to priorities in theater, the NTC has implemented surrogate systems that provide almost the same training effect at a fraction of the cost, Gruchacz said, noting that examples of this are the surrogate Buffalo [MRAP] and Joint EOD Rapid Response Vehicles (JERRV).
“We have incredible technology to help command and control the entire training exercise, because we utilize the full breadth and depth of 1,000 square miles of available training area,” Abrams said. “We have to leverage technology to be able to monitor everything, to keep it safe and to maintain constant situational awareness of what we’re executing.”
To do that the NTC has an extensive network of cameras and mounted and dismounted entity tracking capability, allowing unit commanders, with the coaching, teaching, and mentoring of their O/Cs [observer/controllers], to assess the readiness of their soldiers unlike no other training event, Gruchacz said.
In addition to using technology to provide a real-time picture of all the training conducted at the NTC, the center has found ways to use environmental technologies to enhance the training environment, he said.
“Our environmental related technologies take advantage of our sunny and windy climate, including the Net Zero JCTD (Joint Capability Technology Demonstration) that has foam tents and domes, solar tents, solar panels, and wind power machines in the training area,” he said.
Over the past few years, technology has continued to enhance the training environment, Gruchacz said, noting that a good example of this is the technology in the NTC’s National Urban Warfare Complex.
“In Medina Jabal we now have networked cameras in every room, live soldier location updates, and shoot through the wall capability,” Gruchacz said.
That is just one example of the improvements, tweaks, updates, and latest things the NTC is using to ensure that it remains relevant, Brigadier General Abrams said. In the future improvements will continue to be made, both Abrams and Gruchacz said.
“We will continue to see improvements in our ability to simulate weapons engagements and how we conduct training in the live, virtual, and constructive environments,” Gruchacz said. “Our next generation of tactical radios and Battle Command systems has elements of embedded training capability on the drawing board that potentially will improve how we train at the CTCs.”
To that end, the NTC has already begun looking to how it will train forces for future threats as dwell time increases, Abrams said, adding that technology will be a big part of that as well.
“Regardless of how many soldiers, sailors, airmen or Marines are here we’re going to ensure that every one of them gets a full training opportunity,” he said. “Everybody leaves here trained and ready, not just some units or some staffs. It is a full service training capability that takes very seriously the task to ensure that everyone leaves here trained and ready.”
Those leaving the NTC have to be confident not only in themselves, but in their team and their leaders as well, he said. “They’ve got to leave here confident in their ability to use that technology. I know how to do it, because I’ve been tested on it in incredibly tough conditions,” Abrams said. ♦
Editor’s Note: Charles Melton is assigned to the Fort Irwin Public Affairs Office and may be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .