Indiana University president visits Indiana National Guard facilities

By T.D. Jackson / Camp Atterbury Public Affairs

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. - In an effort to determine academic resources for a future partnership, Indiana University president Michael McRobbie, along with his staff, visited Muscatatuck Urban Training Center and Camp Atterbury Tuesday to see the training sites up close.

Brig. Gen. Clif Tooley, commanding general of Muscatatuck Center for Complex Operations, briefed the group on current and future operations at MUTC and Camp Atterbury, and led them through all of the training areas at MUTC to include the medical and laundry facilities and the detention center.

After observing the burnt out car frames and debris piles, McRobbie said his first impression of MUTC was that it appeared run down.

"But I realized that's exactly the point," he said. "They created an environment like a third world country to simulate those conditions for training. It's absolutely fascinating."

"It is a real revelation that [MUTC] could be playing a vital role in the preparation of Soldiers for military operations," McRobbie said. "I am very impressed by what the Army is doing."

Indiana University president Michael McRobbie (blue sports jacket) and other IU staff members visited Muscatatuck Urban Training Center and Camp Atterbury Tuesday in an effort to determine academic resources for a future partnership. Brig. Gen. Clif Tooley explains to the visitors that deploying troops must clear their weapons of loaded ammunition every time they enter a building. Although the deploying servicemembers at Camp Atterbury do not carry "live" ammunition, the intent is for them to be in the habit of maintaining a safe weapon. Army photo by T.D. Jackson (Released)

One IU staffer, Karen Adams, chief of staff to the president, said she was surprised that the training sites included real buildings instead of props and backdrops.

"I expected it to be painted…"she said, regarding the idea of backdrops. "To be able to envision this…It was just fascinating that it was all put together that way."

At Camp Atterbury the group toured the Joint Simulation Training Exercise Center (JSTEC) where they were shown the environment where groups conduct civil-government, civil-military and military training events, exercises, and even real-world events.

Kirk White, another staff member who accompanied McRobbie on the tour, said perhaps this was where IU could lend a hand.

"Indiana University is capable of contributing to national security by bringing teaching and research capabilities to training programs for military and civilian personnel at Camp Atterbury and Muscatatuck," said White, who is the associate director of IU's Center on American and Global Security and an Indiana National Guard officer.

"Our programs in world languages and cultures, geographic area studies, and international law are nationally ranked," he said.

The group also visited another JSTEC building which houses the Training Aids/Devices and Simulation Systems. Here the group used the Engagement Skills Trainer 2000, which simulates weapons training. The EST 2000 allows users to "fire" weapons in a real time, screen-projected presentation. Users can hear their weapons discharging and feel the recoil after each shot.

The IU group's visit concluded with a brief tour of one of the contingency operating locations, or bases, where deploying troops get a feel for their new "home away from home."