Strike troops train on new armored vehicles

Courtesy Photo | The Category II Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle began fielding to Soldiers nearly a month ago. Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), trained on the vehicles Nov. 5-9 at Camp Liberty in western Baghdad, and will receive them upon completion of the training. The MRAP vehicle increases the chance of the survivability and mobility of troops operating against threats in a dangerous area. (U.S. Army photo/Sgt. James P. Hunter, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (Air Assault) Public Affairs)  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

11.14.2007

Courtesy Story

Multi-National Division Baghdad

By Sgt. James P. Hunter
2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div.
(Air Assault) Public Affairs

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Strike Soldier's of the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) conducted training on the new Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle Nov. 5-9.

Over the five-day course, the troops learned about the capabilities of the MRAP, conducted day and night-driving courses, and learned how to properly conduct preventive maintenance checks and services on the new vehicle.

"My initial impression was the vehicle is probably better than anything we've had before," said Spc. Andrew Maicus, a scout/sniper with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-502nd. "It looked like a tough vehicle... The military is trying to defeat IEDs. We are doing a good job finding them, but we are trying to better protect Soldiers."

The MRAP vehicle increases the chance of the survivability and mobility of troops operating against threats in a dangerous area.

It was brought in to better transport troops in and out of combat safely, with the concept to defeat road-side blasts, said John Fields, a logistics assistance representative who is currently working with the project manager of New Equipment Transition Training. In the end, it is all about protecting Soldiers. It meets the immediate need for greater vehicle and troop protection.

The vehicle began fielding to Soldiers nearly a month ago, but has not been seen on the streets of Iraq as of yet, said Fields, a 30-year military veteran of the Ordnance Corps. It offers Soldiers 360-degree vision and situational awareness, something older model vehicles did not offer Soldiers.

Spc. Fernando Williams, scout/sniper, HHC, 1-502nd, said the vehicle has a v-shape bottom, so when struck by an improvised explosive device or explosively formed penetrator the vehicle automatically deflects the blast, not allowing the blast to directly impact the vehicle or the troops within.

Williams, a native of Chicago, feels the vehicle will maneuver great through urban areas, which is what the Soldiers of the Strike BCT will see over the next 15 months. He expects the vehicle to react greatly to explosives, protecting the lives of his fellow Soldiers.

"I can be fully confident that this vehicle is going to do its job," said Maicus, a native of Peru, N.Y.

There are two categories of MRAP vehicles. The first, Category I, seats six passengers and supports operations in urban terrain for patrols, reconnaissance and command and control.

Category II MRAPs, which seats 11 to include the gunner, supports a wide-variety of missions to include transporting troops, explosive ordnance disposal, ambulatory, and combat engineering.
This vehicle is a six-wheeled vehicle, with a turbo charged, six-cylinder engine, has a six-wheel disk brake, with four firing ports accessible to passenger troops.

The 1-502nd troops will receive the Category II vehicles upon completion of the training.

• Date Taken: 11.14.2007
• Date Posted: 11.13.2007 10:10
• Story ID: 13868
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ