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26th MEU rolls hardened vehicles into service

Marine Corps News

Story Identification #: 20041211172617
Story by Sgt. Roman Yurek

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Dec. 10, 2004) -- The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit began installing armor to its vehicle inventory Dec. 7, as it continues to prepare for deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

This joint effort between the Command Element, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Bn., 8th Marine Regiment and MEU Service Support Group-26 is on track to be completed by January.

More than 200 MEU vehicles including humvees, seven-ton trucks, Logistic Vehicles System (LVS) and five-ton trucks will have new armor added. Of these, more than 30 were completed in the first three days of production, said Chief Warrant Officer Samuel D. Hammonds, MSSG-26 maintenance officer and the officer in charge of the project.

“The Marines are constantly improving and enhancing their newly learned skills,” Hammonds added. “The task is being completed with safety first in mind. We utilized a ‘crawl, walk, run’ philosophy to ensure that the Marines became competent with a totally new armor configuration that no one in the fleet had ever seen. This enabled them to become efficient while avoiding serious injuries.”

The enhancements include armored doors, side panels, roof, backplate, undercarriage, ballistic glass, improved suspension springs and an air-conditioning system.

Specific to the MEU's humvees is the installation of the Marine Armor Kit (MAK), a uniquely Marine product developed by Marine Corps Systems Command and Marine Corps Logistics Command.

The kit, adaptable to two or four-door humvees gives the Marine Corps “a universally applicable humvee armor solution to help shield them from the effects of improvised explosive devices and other ballistic battlefield dangers,” according to a recent press release from Marine Corps Systems Command.

Due to this initiative, the 26th MEU will deploy with the full measure of protection afforded by the latest generation of military vehicle armor helping ensure battlefield success overseas.
The Commanding General of II Marine Expeditionary Force, Lt. Gen. James F. Amos, ordered the start of the hardening process when the word came down for all Marine units to begin the transition in January. The 26th MEU was given top priority in the MEF given their approaching deployment date.

Since the process began, a work detail consisting of BLT Marines, MSSG Marines and civilian contractors has been working in 30-man shifts 24 hours a day in order to ensure the all the vehicles are fully armored long before heading overseas.

Hammonds explained that he wants the “majority of the equipment completed prior to the Christmas holidays in order for the Marines to enjoy the holiday.”