Posted on 11/02/2005 4:49:20 PM PST by SandRat
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 2, 2005) -- With the current improvised explosive device threat in Al Anbar province, and throughout Iraq, the U.S. military has added armor on its vehicles to ensure the safety of service members serving here.
Now, with the Iraqi Security Force growing in size by the day, adding armor to their vehicles has become a top priority.
According to Chief Warrant Officer James Pappas, transportation officer, Iraqi Security Force, II Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD), the Iraqi Security Force was issued commercial vehicles for day-to-day operations. These vehicles provided no type of personal protection. In August 2005, the armoring project was initiated.
“It became apparent that we needed to increase the armor on vehicles operated by the Iraqi Security Forces, not unlike the Marine Corps’ armor situation for our vehicles,” said Maj. Dutch Bertholf, Iraqi Security Forces Directorate, logistic coordinator, II MEF (FWD). “We looked for the most expedient and rapid way to increase serviceability of the Iraqi’s vehicles.”
AVA International, a civilian contractor, is working with the Marines here to get the Iraqi vehicles armored and back in the fight.
“We came up with a design that fits the needs of what they were looking for and fit the capabilities of the vehicles,” said Don Roush, Camp Fallujah base manager, AVA International. “Their vehicles can’t necessarily handle all the weight of armor we would like to provide them with, but it’s a good start.”
The program is designed so the Iraqi units can bring their vehicles to the AVA International workers here to get armored when it’s convenient for their schedule.
They have the ability to request armor through their Military Transition Team, a group of Marines who train the Iraqi troops, according to Bertholf.
In order to increase efficiency, metal from old Marine humvees is used to armor the vehicles, which is higher quality and cheaper than metal bought elsewhere in the region.
“Marines have identified a shortfall with Iraqi vehicles,” said Bertholf. “We figured out how we can immediately assist in a way that’s efficient. It’s just a stop-gap measure until the Iraqi army fields armored vehicles.”
AVA International is responsible for armoring 214 vehicles with more than 75 already completed, however, the goal is to have all vehicles armored within six months.
“Under ideal conditions we can do about five vehicles every two days,” said Roush, a Cleveland, native. “We started production and came up with a prototype. We built the first working model, made some changes to the design and [the Marines] said it was good to go. We use that pattern and create more.”
Currently, AVA International provides armor for the three different vehicles used by Iraqi forces: the Chevy Luv, the Nissan Pickup and the Ashok Leyland.
“The goal is to get them to an increased level of protection,” said Bertholf. “This is not unlike what we went through at the start of the war. They are a little bit behind because they are now emerging as an army.”
Mechanics working hard to keep ISF and Marines in the fight.
BTTT
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