Photo By Staff Sgt. Jill Maynus | A Joint Light Tactical Vehicle is parked inside the motor pool at Camp James A....... read more read more
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NEWTON FALLS, Ohio — A new tactical vehicle pulled into Camp James A. Garfield’s Joint Military Training Center last fall, marking the first step in a large-scale Army plan to field modernized equipment to National Guard units, including the 1st Battalion, 145th Armored Regiment.
The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, or JLTV, was the focus of every wheeled vehicle mechanic in attendance at the field level maintenance new equipment training in October 2023. With full access to the vehicles for the first time, the mechanics’ curiosities and eagerness were evident through their full investigation of the equipment — underneath, inside and all around.
“It’s exciting for this battalion to receive this equipment,” said Capt. Kevin Smith, training officer with the 1-145th Armored Regiment. “Our Soldiers are excited; our leaders are excited.”
The fielding of current generation tactical vehicles is part of a Department of the Army directive to modernize Guard equipment so that units achieve readiness and capabilities commensurate with their active-duty counterparts. Equipment fielding for the 1-145th is scheduled to continue through 2025.
“The 145th Armored Regiment is going to be one of the most modernized battalions in the United States Army,” Smith said. “Our training and our focus is going to be receiving the new equipment, accounting for it, equipping the force, training our Soldiers and preparing for the next mission.”
The JLTV provides Soldiers significantly more protection against multiple threats with improved off-road mobility, fuel efficiency and reliability over other tactical vehicles such as mine-resistant, ambush-protected, or MRAP, all-terrain vehicles and Humvees. The JLTV is equipped with an advanced hydraulic system that allows the vehicle to lower and raise its wheelbase height to the needs of the mission.
“We are able to raise it up and put braces underneath, so you get more clearance when you’re working underneath the vehicle,” said Spc. Jacob Arnold, a wheeled vehicle mechanic with the 1-145th. “There is a lot more opportunity in the vehicle to keep any Solider sitting inside of it safer.”
In addition to aligning with Army modernization plans, the fielding of this new equipment works toward making the 1-145th’s Soldiers and units more lethal to deploy, fight and win the nation’s wars.
“The modern battlefield is always changing, and the U.S. Army is keeping pace with all the technological advances,” Smith said. “It’s highly important that we maintain our edge on the battlefield and the JLTV is the perfect example of how we are competing with near-peer forces.”
Once the wheeled vehicle mechanics are proficient with how to maintain, fix, and recover the JLTV, they will then transition to training their fellow Soldiers.
“The unit and myself are going to benefit from this because it’s newer equipment and because it is something that we all can learn off of and start off new,” Arnold said. “This shows you that we can always improve; we are never going to stay complacent.”
| Date Taken: | 10.31.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 02.15.2024 14:21 |
| Story ID: | 463968 |
| Location: | NEWTON FALLS, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 279 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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