South Dakota National Guard 

Public Affairs Office 

2823 West Main St. 

Rapid City, S.D. 57702 

Phone 605-737-6721 

E-mail PAO@sd.ngb.army.mil

June 16, 2008 

SDNG-PA-06-16B-08 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Vehicle gives Soldiers eyes on target 

By Sgt. Lance Schroeder, 129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment 

RAPID CITY, S.D. – The convoy has been halted, and the Soldiers dismount and pull security. 

Ahead, near the edge of the road, sits a possible improvised explosive device just waiting for the 

next vehicle to speed by. As convoy commander, what do you do? 

In the past, there were a few possible answers to this question: Call in the Explosive Ordinance 

Detachment, or send one of your own Soldiers to identify the device. Either way, you were 

jeopardizing the lives of your troops. 

Now, there is another option. One that takes the danger out of the equation. Send in the 

MARCbot IV observational vehicle! 

Members of the 166th Aviation Brigade of Fort Riley, Kan., conducted training on the Multifunction Agile Remote Control Robot IV as part of their base defense operations training lane 

Saturday, June 14, at West Camp Rapid during the 24th annual Golden Coyote training exercise. 

“This technology allows maximum standoff, so the Soldier outside the wire can close the gap 

and make a positive identification on the target,” said Sgt. 1st Class Alejandro Garza, Brigade 

IED Master Gunner for the 166th. 

Garza, an instructor on the base defense lane, placed a special emphasis on MARCbot IV 

training for one specific reason. 

“The Soldier doesn’t have to risk his life to determine if there is an actual threat,” Garza said. 

Garza described the MARCbot IV, as a light, portable vehicle that is basically a remotecontrolled car with a camera mounted on an adaptable arm. 

This allows the average Soldier to approach a potential threat and get a good look at it, he added. 
The Soldier uses a remote control unit to drive the MARCbot IV to the suspected explosive 

device. Once in position, the camera and arm are manipulated to see any aspect of the target, 

allowing a positive identification to be made. During this process, the Soldier is positioned safely 

away from the potential blast zone, said Garza. 

Soldiers receiving the MARCbot IV training said they could see the obvious benefits. 

“This is great training!” said Spc. Roseann Deming, a member of the Army Reserve’s 960th 

Quartermaster Company, Sioux City, Iowa. “I’ve received a great idea of what I need to know 

when I get deployed in the future, and the tools I can use to stay safe.” 

“I know for a fact this is a life-saving tool,” said Garza, veteran of two deployments in support of 

Operation Iraqi Freedom. “Anytime we keep Soldiers away from the ‘Boom,’ that’s a life-saving 

tool.” 

-30- 

High resolution photos will be available at the following Web site: 

LINK: https://sdguard.ngb.army.mil/sites/GC2008/default.aspx

Photo Cut Lines: 

080614-A-3871S-075.JPG: Sgt. 1st Class Alejandro Garza of the 166th Aviation Brigade, Fort 

Riley, Kan., uses the onboard camera to drive the MARCbot IV Observational Vehicle during 

base defense training Saturday, June 14, at West Camp Rapid, Rapid City, S.D., as part of the 

24th annual Golden Coyote training exercise. (Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Lance 

Schroeder) (RELEASED) 

080614-A-3871S-115.JPG: Sgt. 1st Class Alejandro Garza of the 166th Aviation Brigade, Fort 

Riley, Kan., maneuvers the MARCbot IV Observational Vehicle during base defense training 

Saturday, June 14, at West Camp Rapid, Rapid City, S.D., as part of the 24th annual Golden 

Coyote training exercise. (Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Lance Schroeder) (RELEASED) 

080614-A-3871S-117.JPG: Sgt. 1st Class Alejandro Garza of the 166th Aviation Brigade, Fort 

Riley, Kan., uses a remote control unit to maneuver the MARCbot IV Observational Vehicle 

toward a target Friday, June 14, at West Camp Rapid, Rapid City, S.D., as part of the 24th 

annual Golden Coyote training exercise. (Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Lance Schroeder) 

(RELEASED) 

080614-A-3871S-152.JPG: The MARCbot IV Observational Vehicle uses its onboard camera to 

examine a possible improvised explosive device during base defense training Friday, June 14, at 

West Camp Rapid, Rapid City, S.D., as part of the 24th annual Golden Coyote training exercise. 

(Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Lance Schroeder) (RELEASED) 

080614-A-3871S-169.JPG: Sgt. 1st Class Alejandro Garza of the 166th Aviation Brigade, Fort 

Riley, Kan., maneuvers the MARCbot IV Observational Vehicle during base defense training 
Friday, June 14, at West Camp Rapid, Rapid City, S.D., as part of the 24th annual Golden 

Coyote training exercise. (Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Lance Schroeder) (RELEASED) 

Location of South Dakota National Guard Public Affairs Office: 

2823 West Main Street 

Building 400 

Rapid City, SD 57702-8186 

(605) 737-6721 

MEDIA WISHING TO EMBED are asked to RSVP with Maj. Orson Ward at (605) 737-

6721, cell (605) 431-8753 or via E-mail at orson.ward@us.army.mil. 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION about the South Dakota National Guard, please visit our 

Web site at https://sdguard.ngb.army.mil/default.aspx

NOTE: The South Dakota National Guard will host the annual Golden Coyote exercise from 

June 7 – 21 in the southern Black Hills. More than 4,000 service members from 92 units 

representing 27 states and four foreign nations are participating in the exercise. The Golden 

Coyote exercise has been conducted for the past 24 years. The exercise provides relevant training 

opportunities in support of the war on terror and homeland defense. 

Residents should be aware of an increase in military traffic throughout the Black Hills and an 

increase in the level of noise due to military operations. Aviation activity will be operating out of 

Camp Rapid and the Army Aviation Support Facility next to the Rapid City Regional Airport. 

Aircraft will be primarily training on equipment and personnel transport missions as well as 

medical evacuation. Aircraft will respond to real-world emergencies during the exercise and 

remain in an all-hours-ready status during the exercise. 

Spectators to military training are welcome, however caution is warranted and spectators are 

asked to remain at a safe distance from all moving military vehicles and aircraft to prevent injury 

to personnel or damage to property.