MTMC begins shipment of Strykers to Army field units
ALEXANDRIA, VA (USTCNS)---The first Stryker Interim Armored Vehicles are being shipped to Army units.
The Military Traffic Management Command is shipping the new family of combat vehicles by commercial truck carriers to receiving units at Fort Lewis, Wash. The vehicles are being shipped from manufacturing facilities in Anniston, Ala., and London, Ontario.
The 19-ton, eight-wheeled vehicles require special expedited permits for oversize loads, said John Piparato, Chief, of MTMC's Domestic Surface Distribution Division.
"We requested the assistance of more than 20 states to help expedite the permit process," said Piparato. "This provided us three different routes. MTMC declared these shipments as 'Essential to National Defense,' and the feedback from the states was overwhelmingly positive, patriotic and supportive."
The request for MTMC transportation support came from the Tank-automotive and Armaments Command and the Defense Contract Management Agency.
As of May 21, four Strykers had been shipped to one of the Army's new Interim Brigade Combat Teams at Fort Lewis, said Piparato. Seven more are en route. Team drivers are being used to expedite movement.
"Our first deliveries are averaging 52 hours," said Piparato. "This is a true example of the industry-government-military partnership in time of crisis."
The cooperation between local government agencies in getting the oversize permits was extraordinary, he said.
"We are writing notes of appreciation to the
transportation departments of all 20 of those states," said Piparato.
The first Strykers are among more than 600 that will eventually be shipped to Fort Lewis, said Brian Ridgway, project officer.
The Strykers are the Army's first new armored vehicles in 18 years. The Army has a $4 billion contract with the joint venture team of General Motors and General Dynamics Land Systems Defense Group LLC that calls for the production of 2,100 Stryker vehicles in the next six years.
(FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
The Military Traffic Management Command is shipping the new family of combat vehicles by commercial truck carriers to receiving units at Fort Lewis, Wash. The vehicles are being shipped from manufacturing facilities in Anniston, Ala., and London, Ontario.
The 19-ton, eight-wheeled vehicles require special expedited permits for oversize loads, said John Piparato, Chief, of MTMC's Domestic Surface Distribution Division.
"We requested the assistance of more than 20 states to help expedite the permit process," said Piparato. "This provided us three different routes. MTMC declared these shipments as 'Essential to National Defense,' and the feedback from the states was overwhelmingly positive, patriotic and supportive."
The request for MTMC transportation support came from the Tank-automotive and Armaments Command and the Defense Contract Management Agency.
As of May 21, four Strykers had been shipped to one of the Army's new Interim Brigade Combat Teams at Fort Lewis, said Piparato. Seven more are en route. Team drivers are being used to expedite movement.
"Our first deliveries are averaging 52 hours," said Piparato. "This is a true example of the industry-government-military partnership in time of crisis."
The cooperation between local government agencies in getting the oversize permits was extraordinary, he said.
"We are writing notes of appreciation to the
transportation departments of all 20 of those states," said Piparato.
The first Strykers are among more than 600 that will eventually be shipped to Fort Lewis, said Brian Ridgway, project officer.
The Strykers are the Army's first new armored vehicles in 18 years. The Army has a $4 billion contract with the joint venture team of General Motors and General Dynamics Land Systems Defense Group LLC that calls for the production of 2,100 Stryker vehicles in the next six years.
(FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
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