Photo By Sgt. Laurie Ellen Wash | U.S. Army Soldier Pvt. Nolan Clark, 1st Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment...... read more read more
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Slunj, Croatia - During Immediate Response 19, U.S. Army Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) trained here with the new Army Ground Mobility Vehicle (AGMV).
U.S. Army Europe, allied and partnered armed forces are developing the readiness and interoperability of their troops through exercise IR19, from May 10 through June 7, 2019, in various locations throughout Croatia, Slovenia and Hungary. IR 19 events include air assaults, medical training and the establishment and integration of a multinational battalion with forces from several nations. Through these air assault trainings and and various field trainings, including rushing simulated injured Soldiers to safety, Soldiers are learning more about maneuverability and in a new way with the AGMV.
“We were the first to receive them,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kevin Wigger, a maintenance technician for 1-503rd PIR. “We just received them maybe a month prior, and this is actually our first time implementing them into the field.”
The unit brought 13 of the new vehicles to Croatia for IR19 and immediately began training on sling and air load operations using CH-47 Chinook helicopters.
Exercise Immediate Response is a multinational exercise co-led by Croatian Armed Forces, Slovenian Armed Forces and U.S. Army Europe. The logistics-focused exercise is designed to test and improve the ability to move forces and equipment rapidly from one location to another. The exercise will improve readiness and interoperability among participating allied and partner nations.
“It is way better than a humvee when it comes to loading it on a plane and air- dropping,” Wigger said about the new AGMV.
The AGMV airborne tactical variant weighs 5,000 pounds, while a humvee is roughly 8,000 lbs.
This type of vehicle is used primarily to support troop movement. The AGMV will allow paratroopers to traverse the battlefield at a more rapid rate than road marching by hauling some of the load they normally carry, while also being quiet enough to sneak up on the enemy. This advance in technology is an improvement to the responsiveness, readiness and lethality of our troops.
“With this vehicle, a Soldier can get to the fight and still have plenty of energy,” said 1st Sgt. Jeremy Lemma, Attack Company 1st Sgt., 1-503rd PIR.
A common theme in rotational exercises is the amount of walking. According to Lemma, this vehicle “changes the game for him and his company.”
The AGMVs will be rotated between the three companies of 1st BN.. This way, more Soldiers get to experience this new technology.
“This vehicle is part of force modernization and integrating a civilian platform and better technology, not necessarily to replace the Humvee,” Wigger said. “It is, in essence, a boot extension.”
“This light-weight combat vehicle is meant to be air dropped into combat,” said Sgt. Matthew Holtz, a medic with Attack Company, 1st BN. “It can hold nine passengers, roughly a squad-sized element.”
The AGMV fits smoothly into a CH-47 Chinook. It is height adjustable and can more easily fit into tight spaces than a humvee.
“For us, it’s a great asset because we can drop it, we can sling it, and we can load it in whatever way in order to get it into the battlefield,” Wigger said.
Apart from its easy mobility and benefits to the readiness of the troops, it also serves as a faster means to get help to wounded Soldiers.
“The evacuation of simulated casualties went well with the capabilities the AGMV possesses,” Holtz said. “It can hold one litter and two ambulatory patients, or five ambulatory patients.”
The Army’s modernization strategy has one focus: make Soldiers and units more lethal to win our nation’s wars and come home safely. Modernization ensures we will continue to outmaneuver our adversaries in a fundamentally different future environment.
| Date Taken: | 05.20.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 05.20.2019 12:17 |
| Story ID: | 323063 |
| Location: | SLUNJ, HR |
| Hometown: | VICENZA, IT |
| Web Views: | 157 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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