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UDARI RANGE, Kuwait (March 24, 2009) - Since
Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, commonly referred to as
"MRAP," have been implemented into U.S. military operations in
theater, the number of Soldier deaths and injuries has
significantly decreased.
Recently, units of the Hawaii Army National Guard's 29th
Infantry Brigade Combat Team received their MRAPs as part of an
Army-wide fielding for units operating within Iraq.
What provides the additional safety to Soldiers traveling within
the MRAPs is its V-shaped undercarriage; designed to redirect the
detonation of an Improvised Explosive Device. Experts say it works
better than an up-armored humvee, which most of the Soldiers drive
today.
"For protective purposes I prefer the MRAP over the [up-armored
humvee] for its increased armor against IEDs," said Sgt. Shaun
Shiraki, 1-299th Cav.
Currently, Soldiers of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry and
the 1st Squadron, 299th Cavalry - 29th IBCT units responsible for
escorting convoys into Iraq - are conducting training on the MRAPs;
classroom training as well as hands-on drivers' training are
required for all drivers and assistant drivers before taking the
MRAPs into Iraq.
"You want anybody who is operating any kind of weapons system or
vehicle to operate it safely and in order to do that you have to be
trained to operate it safely," said Lt. Col. Lionel Payes, MRAP
Project Officer, 29th IBCT.
As part of the training, Soldiers are educated on the MRAP's
capabilities and then given the opportunity to operate one.
Once familiarized with the nuts and bolts, Soldiers get behind
the wheel to begin hands-on training taught by master drivers
within the brigade who received additional training in Hawaii,
Texas and Kuwait.
The master drivers are responsible for creating and implementing
the MRAP driver's training program, consisting of obstacle courses,
live fire exercises and 40-hour required driving time.
The objective of the obstacle course is for Soldiers to learn
how to maneuver the MRAP through scenarios they might come across
while on missions, such as making hard turns, reversing and
entering a traffic control point.
Since the MRAP is larger and heavier than up-armored humvees,
said Spc. Gregory Lucas, a driver with the 1-299th Cav., it's
harder to maneuver but easy to adapt to with proper training.
Another difference found between the MRAP and up-armored humvee
is in the gunner's turret; besides being larger, the turret is
roughly ten feet higher, giving the gunner a significant sight
advantage when compared to the up-armored humvee.
During the final days of drivers' training, gunners join their
convoy escort teams to fire their weapons from the MRAP turret.
"It is exciting just trying out new things," Spc. Alejandro
Seguritan, a gunner with the 1-299th Cav., refering to firing from
the turret of an MRAP.
Seguritan, who spends 13 hours on the road in a turret, said he
looks forward to having the extra room that the MRAP turret
provides compared to the up-armored humvee.
Although the training has to be conducted as time permits around
their regular missions, Soldiers agree the sacrifice is not only
necessary, but effective, because the outcome will provide them
with better protection from future threats on the road.
"It is a long course but there was a lot of good information
that they put out," said Lucas, who managed to drive the obstacle
course without hitting one cone.
As training continues and drivers become licensed, the 29th IBCT
hopes to start getting MRAPs out with the convoy escort teams
sometime next month.
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