FORT HOOD – Searching for a mock enemy, the soldiers slowly make their way down a gravel road during a training exercise. They spot movement near a hill in the distance, and raise an optic sensor from the vehicle. Zooming in, they can see it is a group of soldiers. Zooming in even more, they can identify them as 'friendlies' wearing U.S. Army uniforms.

“It allows us to look farther, definitely,” said 1st Lt. Danielle Martinez with the 510th Clearance Company. “It allows a lot more options of how we clear the route, how we clear buildings and how we reduce those explosive hazards.”

Martinez is the leader of a platoon currently testing the new Medium Mine Protected Vehicle Type II, or MMPV II. It is a blast protected vehicle wrapped in a cage, and is used by engineer units to help detect IEDs, explosives and other threats as they clear routes during deployments.

“It's a pretty heavy burden. We want to make sure we get it right,” she said. “Every single thing we see that is either good or bad we write it down to make sure we have it on record, so we can improve it for years to come.”

Through the Army's Operational Test Command on Fort Hood, soldiers with the 510th Clearance Company are putting the vehicles through rigorous and realistic combat scenarios such as route clearance and security missions. After three weeks of this phase of testing, the soldiers will give vital feedback that will influence the Army's decision on whether to roll out the new vehicle.

“So far it's been extremely smooth. The unit has been outstanding,” said Sgt. First Class Ralph Sutton with OTC. “Not only are they getting valuable training at their job and what they will do when they deploy, but they're also being able to change the engineer regiment for the next 20 to 30 years with this piece of equipment and have their say in it.”

In addition to major modifications to the configuration inside the vehicle, the additional tools attached to the vehicles have also been upgraded and modified. The VOSS, vehicle optics sensor system, is a telescope like lens that can be raised into the air. It allows soldiers to see potential hazards and enemies at a far distance, 360 degrees around the vehicle.

Another tool is a modified interrogation arm. The mechanical arm is equipped with a claw and camera at the end. It allows soldiers to stay inside the vehicle while inspecting potentially dangerous hazards along the routes. Soldiers can use the claw to dig and maneuver objects near the vehicle.

There are also changes with the Robotic Deployment System. Currently the bulky robot is being stored inside the vehicles. The new MMPV II has a box on the outside of the vehicle to store the robotic system.

“We'd have to open and expose ourselves to explosive devices as well as gunfire. Now with the box on the back of the truck, we can deploy the robot while staying buttoned up inside the vehicle,” said Sutton.

All of these tools are meant to keep the soldier inside the vehicle while improving their ability to detect the threats along their routes. “Now we don't have to dismount as much,” said Martinez. “And it helps save lives in the end because you don't have to put troops on the ground.”

It should be noted that not all of these modified tools are featured on every MMPV II.

After the testing phase by the soldiers, their feedback – good and bad – will go to an evaluation command. They will analyze the data that will then be used to help the Army decide whether to purchase the new equipment and vehicle.