Training up on MRAPs

Photo By Spc. Sharla Lewis | Pfc. Jason Earley, with 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, checks the oil of a mine resistant ambush protected vehicle during an operator's course on Fort Hood. The brigade conducted the course to keep its soldiers up-to-date on equipment used in combat today.  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

10.18.2010

Story by Spc. Sharla Lewis 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

FORT HOOD, Texas – Soldiers with 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division conducted training on mine-resistant, ambush protected vehicles recently in order to stay up-to-date on equipment used in combat today.

According to the website, Globalsecurity.org, MRAPs are a family of vehicles that generally incorporate a “V”-shaped hull and armor plating designed to provide protection against mines and improvised explosive device. There are three categories of MRAP weighing between seven and 22 tons, and capable of carrying between six and 12 personnel.

Troops prefer the MRAP to the humvee because of the smoothness of the ride and the air conditioning, but mostly because of the survivability rate, said course instructors.

“This vehicle is designed that if it hit an IED, the Soldiers inside will be pretty shook up, but they’ll be OK,” said David Miller, a government contractor that provides operator and maintenance training on the MRAP vehicle family.

During training, Soldiers gathered at the brigade motor pool for the four-day course and completed classroom, hands-on and night training to familiarize themselves with the vehicles.

They learned about safety and cautions of the vehicle, how to operate and maintain it, how to maneuver the vehicle as well as how to drive it at night.

Leaders there said the training is vital to the success of a deployed unit.

“This is a vehicle that has saved lives in the past in both Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Sgt. Michael Leguillow, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 215th Brigade Support Battalion, from Carolina, Puerto Rico. “It’s great for them to understand the vehicle and how to take care of it down-range.”

• Date Taken: 10.18.2010
• Date Posted: 10.18.2010 13:10
• Story ID: 58337
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US