Keywords: 278th MP Company's new ASVs.jpg en It may have been 98 degrees with a heat index of about 105 out on Fort Stewart ™s Multi-Purpose Range Complex but Christmas came early for 36 Soldiers of Augusta ™s 278th Military Police Company and the Military Police Platoon belonging to Macon ™s 48th Brigade Special Troops Battalion who are the first to get their hands on 12 of the Georgia Army Guard ™s new M1117 Armored Security Vehicles Manufactured by Textron Marine and Land Systems in New Orleans the ASV is an armored wheeled vehicle equipped with a turret and armament system designed to meet the security mission requirements i e quick reaction force main supply route and convoy security of the Military Police Corps It is a 4-wheel-drive vehicle equipped with a 260 horsepower diesel engine 6-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel independent suspension that offers a quality ride while providing superior mobility agility and handling Sergeant 1st Class Meara Brown non commissioned officer-in-charge of training for Decatur ™s 170th MP Battalion “ the 278th ™s parent headquarters “ said the battalion took possession of its nine vehicles on June11 The other three ASVs belong to Macon ™s 48th Brigade Special Troops Battalion These Georgia Soldiers and 25 troops from elements of the Puerto Rico Army Guard ™s 124th and 125th MP battalions have already completed the better part of a week of operator and maintenance training Now the Soldiers are out here getting familiarized with the vehicle ™s weapons systems I ™m here to tell you it ™s like riding in an air-conditioned Cadillac said Sgt James KleinHeinz a team leader with the 278th ™s 1st Platoon and the unit safety NCO Patting the nose of his vehicle as it sat in the MPRC staging area he added There ™s just no comparison between it and the ride you have in a Humvee It ™s like day and night 2010-06-21 http //www flickr com/photos/ganatlguard/4733182397/in/photostream/ Sgt 1st Class Roy Henry see http //gadod net/index php/component/content/article/42-rokstories/261 PD-USGov Uploaded with UploadWizard M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicle Georgia Army National Guard Military Police Corps |