Evan Beckley, age seven, gets a close-up look at the inside of a Stryker ICV on display as part of the Army interactive area of the 2006 Washington Auto Show. (Lt. Col. William Thurmond)
January 28, 2006
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Amidst the 800 shiny new cars at the 2006 Washington D.C. Auto Show, the Stryker stands out like a sturdy green oak in a flower garden.
"We’re here in support of recruiting command and basically to show the taxpayers what they’re getting for their money," said Randall R. Rankin, spokesperson for the Stryker display. "It’s big, it’s green, it’s got a gun on it, and it draws a crowd."
The purpose of the display is to showcase the Army’s newest capabilities, the Stryker family of vehicles being one of the newer vehicles in the military inventory.
Children stared at it with wide eyes before climbing aboard. A gaggle of models taking a break from pitching cars admired the Stryker, lining up to have their pictures taken by the rear door. A pair of potential recruits sitting inside recovered quickly from their surprise and invited the models to join them.
"The Stryker appeals to all ages," said Rankin, noting the different reactions people had as they approached the eight-wheeled, olive-drab armored vehicle. "The older folks, especially the retirees, look at it and say, ‘It’s not my old M-113!’ The real young kids get in there and climb on it and are oohing and aahing. The recruiting targets for the most part ask some intelligent questions. They want to know what we do with it, how it works, and how well they survive."
Rankin rattles off Stryker statistics at machinegun speed: composition, speed, variations, weapons, and the two Medal of Honor recipients, one from World War I, one from Vietnam that the vehicle was named after.
This particular vehicle, an infantry carrier from the assortment of 10 mission-specific configurations in the Stryker family, will go from the DC show to a Chicago show, then on to another show in Cleveland. After that the days of car shows and models will be over and it’s off to duty at Fort Lewis for use by Soldiers.
"I did the show in Detroit and we were non-stop people around the vehicle from start of show to end of show," said Rankin. "Saturday and Sunday is going to be very busy. In Detroit we probably had, in the course of the weekend, a thousand people in and around the vehicle."
Having the Stryker at the auto show helps the recruiting effort, said Staff Sgt. Albert L. Cook, Baltimore Recruiting Battalion.
"We get a lot of contacts," he said. "This is our target market. Its exposure."
"The Stryker generates interest," added fellow recruiter Cpl. Nicholas Watts. "We talk to people, try to get the Army name out there, because a lot of people don’t know all of the things the Army has to offer. As long as we can get that message out to them and better inform the public, the better the recruiting effort will be."
The huge auto show attracted thousands of people, including the mayor of the nation’s capital.
"The Army is a big part of our city and a big part our country, and whenever the Army participates it’s a wonderful thing," said car buff Mayor Anthony A. Williams after a press conference and luncheon at the show. "We’re certainly happy to have them participating."
"I think it gives a very positive image to the public," said Rankin. "It shows that the military is transforming and that we are getting the best equipment possible for Soldiers."
The auto show will continue through Jan. 29.
By John Reese - Army News Service
