Caiman Training at Fort McCoy

Photo By Maj. Michael Lovas | The sun sets over Camp Virginia, Kuwait, where the Battling Bastards of 1-194 AR (CAB) are beginning operations in support of Operation New Dawn, the drawdown phase of the war in Iraq. The 1-194 AR is based out of Brainerd, Minn., and is part of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry “Red Bull” Division.  

FORT MCCOY, WI, UNITED STATES

06.30.2011

Story by Spc. Bob Brown 

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 34th Red Bull Infantry Division

Soldiers from the First Brigade Combat Team’s 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor (1-194 AR (CAB), completed their MRAP training at Fort McCoy, Wis., this week.

MRAP stands for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected, and the Caiman is one of the Army’s newest additions to the MRAP class.

The Caiman provides more armor and has the ability to carry approximately 10 soldiers, where the Humvee only carries five. The Caiman, depending on the model, can weigh up to 52,000 pounds.

It is not just the size that makes the Caiman an outstanding MRAP, the strategic advantages the vehicle offers is a benefit to both the drivers and passengers.

“It has a good, high platform for gunnery, for our guys to be able to work off of. The armor protection both underside and the additional armor throughout is a good protection platform from IEDs (improvised explosive devices),” said 1-194 Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Brian Melton, a native of Moorhead, Minn.

While the Caiman’s size provides valuable protection, the luxury of having more room to work in the passenger compartment cannot be understated. This especially holds true for Spc. Tyler Sparks, a medic that has been converted to a Caiman driver since arriving with the 1-194’s D Company. The St. Cloud, Minn., native appreciates the added size the Caiman offers.

“As a medic I like the amount of room you have to work in the back of the vehicle. It makes a medic’s job a lot easier to do when you have room to work” said Sparks.

The 1-194 CAB is deploying to Kuwait later this summer and will be conducting convoy operations in both Kuwait and Iraq.

• Date Taken: 06.30.2011
• Date Posted: 06.30.2011 17:13
• Story ID: 73049
• Location: FORT MCCOY, WI, US